Welcome to the Gameday Guide.

Every weekend during the college lacrosse season, US Lacrosse Magazine staff will riff here on the juiciest matchups, trendiest topics, biggest storylines and hottest takes.

There are too many good games this weekend to limit our “Games to Watch” table below to just 10.

Much of that has to do with the Friday-Sunday (or Thursday-Saturday) doubleheaders made popular in 2021, but if once is good, then twice is just as nice.

Vanderbilt has a chance to firmly enter the national conversation this weekend against Florida. North Carolina finally played a close game last weekend against Notre Dame, and the Tar Heels now get another tough ACC opponent for two games against Virginia.

Notre Dame and Boston College will play the second game of their Thursday-Saturday series at 12 p.m., one of the few marquee Saturday games.

Overall, it’s a compelling weekend of women’s lacrosse sure to shake up the Nike / US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20. What else is new?

As always, check out our TV Listings page for the entire list of games coming up.

GAMES TO WATCH
All times Eastern

GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 4 Notre Dame at No. 5 Boston College

Notre Dame gets a quick chance for a do-over after Boston College throttled the Irish 19-11 on Thursday. BC dominated draws in the first half and Notre Dame's stellar goalie Bridget Deehan made just one first half save. She bounced back to make seven saves in the second half and the draws were even. ND will need to continue those trends if it wants to snap BC's seven-game winning streak.

Boston College ranks second in the country in scoring (17.5 goals/gm) and the offense goes a lot deeper than star Charlotte North (51 goals). Jenn Medjid (35 goals) has at least two goals in every game, Cara Urbank (21g, 19a) provides balance, Belle Smith (29 goals) has had at least a hat trick in five of her last six games and Caitlynn Mossman leads the team with 25 assists.

Game No One’s Talking About
Vanderbilt at No. 10 Florida

Vanderbilt isn’t garnering the type of attention one would expect of an 11-win team in mid-April. Double-digit losses to Notre Dame and North Carolina in February might have taken them off radars long enough for people to not realize that the Commodores are riding a nine-game winning streak into a pivotal doubleheader this weekend against Florida, the other 6-0 team in the AAC.

Outside of a win over Louisville and a close loss to North Carolina, Florida’s resume includes a loss to Jacksonville and nothing resembling a season-defining win. Vanderbilt has the opportunity to march into Gainesville and get on national radars this weekend.

UPSET WATCH
James Madison at No. 19 Towson

Drexel has positioned itself as the cream of the crop in the CAA with a handful of other teams trading quality wins (and sometimes unexpected upsets). James Madison has lost to Elon and Hofstra (though the Hofstra game was technically a non-conference affair) but still has the talent. Towson found its way onto the national scene with a defeat of Loyola but has since been anything but dominant.

James Madison needs a resume-booster at this point in the spring, and beating a ranked Towson team would certainly help. The Dukes have won the last four matchups and seven of the last eight.

MILESTONE WATCH
Janine Tucker, Johns Hopkins

The legendary coach of Johns Hopkins is just one win away from becoming the ninth coach in Division I women’s lacrosse history to reach 300 victories. She gets her next chance at the milestone on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the road against Penn State.

Under-the-Radar Stars

Meredith Chapman, Virginia

The High Point transfer has been one of the best defensive players in the nation, but by nature of her position, Chapman doesn’t always get the most attention. She’s totaled 29 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers and 20 draw controls.

Emily Sterling, Maryland

The sophomore goalie played one of the best games of her young career on Wednesday, making 10 saves in a pivotal 9-8 win over Johns Hopkins. In big games, Sterling shows up.

Gabby Fornia, Vanderbilt

The national leader total assists isn’t Katie Hoeg or Livy Rosenzweig. It’s Fornia, the Commodores’ offensive leader who has been putting up absurd numbers this spring.

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