Weekend One-Liners: What to Watch for in Women's Lacrosse

It’s time to focus on the conference tournaments. This weekend is one of the most fun of the year. Blue bloods will seal their seedings. Bid stealers will become Cinderellas to some and villains to others. First-time dancers will storm the field and hear their names on Selection Sunday.

In short, “weekend one-liners” needed to dress for the occasion, which meant a one-week revamp heading into the weekend when conferences outside of the ACC will crown champions. As such, this week’s column will give one (hopefully punchy) line about each tournament.

Here’s what to watch for leading into Selection Sunday. The women’s bracket will be announced at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU.

Check the 2023 Division I Lacrosse Conference Championship Central for up-to-date scores and matchups.

AMERICA EAST

Semifinals — Friday, May 5

(4) New Hampshire at (1) Albany, 1 p.m. (AmericaEast.tv)
(2) Binghamton vs. (3) Vermont, 4 p.m. (AmericaEast.tv)

Championship – Sunday, May 7

10 a.m. (ESPNU)

Top-seeded Albany has made the finals every year since 2011 but hasn’t won the thing since 2012 — can the AE’s Affirmed breakthrough?

AMERICAN ATHLETIC

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(1) James Madison vs. (4) Cincinnati, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
(2) Florida vs. (3) East Carolina, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Florida has won eight conference tournament titles in a row, including all three in the American Athletic Conference, but regular-season champion James Madison enters the weekend as the frontrunner.   

ATLANTIC SUN

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(1) Liberty vs. (4) Queens, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
(2) Jacksonville vs. (3) Coastal Carolina, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

1 p.m. (ESPN+)

Liberty beat Jacksonville 12-10 for the first time in 11 tries on April 1, a game that ultimately earned the Flames their first regular-season title — will the two teams clash again?

ATLANTIC 10

First Round – Thursday, May 4

(4) Davidson vs. (5) George Washington, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)
(3) Saint Joseph's vs. (6) St. Bonaventure, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

Semifinals – Friday, May 5

(1) UMass vs. (4/5), 12 p.m. (ESPN+)
(2) Richmond vs. (3/6), 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Sunday, May 7

12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Perfect UMass is every bit the favorite, but don’t count out red-hot Richmond or defending champion Saint Joe’s this weekend.

BIG EAST

Semifinals – Friday, May 5

(2) Marquette vs. (3) Connecticut, 1 p.m. (FloSports)
(1) Denver vs. (4) Villanova, 4 p.m. (FloSports)

Championship – Sunday, May 7

12 p.m. (FS2)

The nation’s lone unbeaten team, Denver would be a controversial pick for a top-three NCAA seed and a first-round bye but can state its case this weekend.

BIG SOUTH

Semifinals – Friday, May 5

No. 1 Mercer vs. No. 4 High Point, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 2 Furman vs. No. 3 Campbell, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Sunday, May 7 

12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Keep an eye on Shannon Urey, second in Division I in goals per game (4.24), as Mercer looks to secure its second-straight NCAA berth.

BIG TEN

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(2) Maryland vs. (6), Rutgers, 6 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
(1) Northwestern vs. (4), Michigan 8:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

8 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Top-ranked Northwestern coasting wouldn’t be a surprise, but Izzy Scane remains appointment viewing.

COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(1) Stony Brook vs. (4) Delaware – 12 p.m. (Lacrosse TV)
(2) Towson vs. (3) Drexel – 2:30 p.m. (Lacrosse TV)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

12:30 p.m. (Lacrosse TV)

Stony Brook has treated the CAA like it once treated America East foes and looks to take it all in its first year in the league.

IVY LEAGUE

Semifinals – Friday, May 5

(2) Yale vs. (3) Princeton – 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
(4) Harvard at (1) Penn – 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Sunday, May 7

12 p.m. (ESPN+)

It’s a bit strange to see Princeton at No. 3, but leave it to longtime rival Penn to take the coveted top seed.

METRO ATLANTIC

Semifinals – Friday, May 6

(4) Quinnipiac at (1) Fairfield, 12 p.m. (ESPN+)
(3) Niagara vs. (2) Siena, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Sunday, May 8

12 p.m. (ESPN+)

Ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense (8.75), Fairfield will try to prove true the old adage about the unit winning championships.

MID-AMERICAN

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(4) Youngstown State at (1) Robert Morris, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
(3) Central Michigan vs. (2) Kent State, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

3 p.m. (ESPN+)

Kent State and Robert Morris are the hottest teams in the MAC, but Central Michigan has big game experience — expect close contests in this one-bid league.

NORTHEAST

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(4) St. Francis at (1) Sacred Heart, 1 p.m. (NEC Front Row)
(2) Wagner vs. (3) LIU, 4 p.m. (NEC Front Row)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

1 p.m. (NEC Front Row)

With stalwarts Robert Morris and Mount St. Mary’s gone, Sacred Heart ran the table in the league and now seeks its first crown since 2010.

PAC-12

Semifinals – Thursday, May 5

(1) USC vs. (4) Arizona State, 7:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
(2) Stanford vs. (3) Colorado, 10 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

You’re welcome, East Coast night owls.

PATRIOT LEAGUE

Semifinals – Thursday, May 4

(4) Lehigh at (1) Loyola, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
(3) Navy vs. (2) Army, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Saturday, May 6

2 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

Army has been one of the year’s feel-good stories, but Loyola is the clear favorite after routing the Black Knights less than a month ago.