Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. Overtime thrillers in Hempstead and South Bend. We’ve got our final four.
In Saturday’s Division I Men’s quarterfinals, North Carolina was taken to the brink by unseeded Rutgers in a back-and-forth battle. Connor McCarthy scored the overtime game-winner to clinch a 12-11 victory for the Tar Heels to send them to the final four.
CONNOR MCCARTHY WINS IT. @UNCMensLacrosse HEADS TO THE FINAL FOUR.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 22, 2021
What a game. pic.twitter.com/Wq5XQMaMxW
Virginia dismantled Georgetown in Saturday’s first quarterfinal, coasting to a 14-3 victory over the Hoyas.
Sunday was full of suspense and entertainment. Loyola tested Duke throughout the first quarterfinal at Notre Dame, making a late run to send the game to overtime. In the overtime period, Joe Robertson scored yet another game-winner to save the Blue Devils from an upset bid.
JOE ROBERTSON.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 23, 2021
OVERTIME WINNER.
ABSOLUTELY CLUTCH.@DukeMLAX downs @LoyolaMLAX 10-9 in overtime to make it to the final four. pic.twitter.com/OtgI63aOZr
Not to be outdone, Maryland roared back in the fourth quarter to tie the score late against Notre Dame in the most anticipated game of the weekend. Anthony DeMaio was the overtime hero for the Terps, while Jared Bernhardt dropped six goals to lead Maryland to Championship Weekend and avoid an all-ACC affair.
DEMAIO WINS IT FOR MARYLAND @TerpsMLax down @NDlacrosse 14-13 in overtime to advance to Championship Weekend. pic.twitter.com/x0IPabfMeg
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 23, 2021
RECAPS
Virginia 14, Georgetown 3
North Carolina 12, Rutgers 11
Duke 10, Loyola 9
Maryland 14, Notre Dame 13
2. Top teams were pushed, but the women’s final four we expected is happening.
Top-seeded North Carolina trailed by two goals with minutes left, but Jamie Ortega led a five-goal run that got the Tar Heels past Stony Brook 14-11 to advance to the final four at Towson University.
Second-seeded Northwestern trailed by as many as five goals in the first half against Duke, but Izzy Scane and Lauren Gilbert led an explosion on offense that led to a 22-10 victory, the Wildcats’ first over an ACC team this season.
Syracuse and Boston College punched their tickets to the final four in a much more comfortable fashion. Emma Ward scored six goals to lead the Orange to a 17-11 win over Florida, while Charlotte North scored eight more goals to set an NCAA tournament scoring record and lead the Eagles to a 21-10 win over Notre Dame.
CHARLOTTE WITH THE HESI.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 22, 2021
Woahhhhh.
She gives @BCwlax the 11-6 lead with another crazy effort. pic.twitter.com/Ysp8MeO9iT
RECAPS
North Carolina 14, Stony Brook 11
Northwestern 22, Duke 10
Syracuse 17, Florida 11
Boston College 21, Notre Dame 10
3. Lindenwood wins its first Division II Women’s National Championship.
The Lions jumped out to a huge lead and held off a furious comeback from top-seeded Queens (N.C.) to take home the national title — the westernmost women’s team to win an NCAA title.
Read more about the historic win.
4. Salisbury wins its first Division III Women’s National Championship since 2014.
The Sea Gulls met Tufts in the championship game Sunday, and Mary Claire Hisle's stop with 1:13 left sealed a 14-13 victory. Salisbury finishes the 2021 season at 20-0 with only four games decided by three or fewer goals.
More on another title for Salisbury.
5. RIT and Salisbury will meet in the men's Division III title game.
RIT got past Tufts in a classic semifinal game, getting five goals from Dawson Tait to down the Jumbos 18-16 and edge closer to its first national championship. The Tigers will meet Salisbury, which scored 14 unanswered goals to top Christopher Newport 18-8.
Check out the Division III Men’s recap.
6. Lenoir-Rhyne makes its first Division II final and will face Le Moyne.
The top-seeded Bears won the South Region on Sunday, using six goals from Eric Dickinson to top Wingate 18-10. In the North Region, top-seed Le Moyne shook off a slow start to down Mercyhurst 10-9 and advance to its 10th national championship game.
Read more in the Division II Men’s recap.
WHAT WE’RE READING
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The stick drop has taken the women’s lacrosse world by storm. Nelson Rice went in-depth about the stick drop and its origins.
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Matt DaSilva checked in on Georgetown coach Kevin Warne before his quarterfinal loss to Virginia on Saturday.
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An awesome story out of Detroit, where the Detroit Cass Tech girls’ lacrosse team made the MHSAA state tournament in just its first year as a PSL program.
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Le Moyne men’s lacrosse enjoying the ride en route to what it hopes is its sixth Division II national title, and fourth as an unbeaten team.
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Washington Township (N.J.) star Alex Kunicki is able to play lacrosse despite being born with a heart condition.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Emma Ward channeling the G.O.A.T. with this celly.
Someone page @Jumpman23
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 22, 2021
Emma Ward’s celly game is as good as her blazing shot.@CuseWLAX leads 12-8. pic.twitter.com/v6ICjCkYkj
North Carolina survived a test from Rutgers thanks to some effort plays from Justin Anderson and Chris Gray.
Two of the most important plays in @UNCMensLacrosse’s overtime win.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 22, 2021
Justin Anderson caused turnover at the end of regulation
Chris Gray strip that set up the game-winning goal
Hustle. Hustle. Hustle. pic.twitter.com/NR0YCt4cuk
Alex Brendes broke out the dead fish in Christopher Newport's Division III quarterfinal win.
ALEX BRENDES WINNER.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 22, 2021
ALEX BRENDES DEAD FISH. @CNULacrosse downs Lynchburg in the @NCAADIII quarters. pic.twitter.com/Is6fbe7fug
WHAT’S ON TAP
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We review what went down in Division I, II and III men's and women's tournaments.