Welcome to the Gameday Guide.

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

Check out the rankings and TV listings for more.

LAST SEASON WAS THE MOST ANTICIPATED IN HISTORY — AND FOR GOOD REASON. We were robbed of 2020 because of a global pandemic, one that still left its mark on 2021 in some capacity.

But here we are in 2022, and thanks in large part to the exhilarating play we witnessed from the likes of gunslinging Charlotte North, there’s a palpable excitement in the air as the Division I women’s lacrosse season opens this weekend.

There are clear reasons — and examples — of the buzz. North, for one, is back in Chestnut Hill, readying for a title defense with Boston College. ESPN made a statement by putting over 450 games on its family of networks, 29 of which will be on linear television. Then there’s the three-team race at the top of the ACC, with Boston College, North Carolina and Syracuse boasting similarly loaded rosters.

We can keep going, but it’s a long season. We’ll have plenty of time to talk about Kayla Treanor’s new gig, Northwestern’s still-stellar offense, James Madison’s revenge tour through the CAA and so much more.

It’s lacrosse season, friends. Let’s enjoy it.

GAMES TO WATCH
ALL TIMES EASTERN

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 4 Northwestern at No. 1 Boston College

Game of the week? Heck, it could be the game of the year.

OK, probably not. It’s February lacrosse and the first real tune up for both teams. But the caliber of talent on the field in this one is worth the time for anyone able to watch. It’s a potential Championship Weekend preview.

Northwestern took a hit when it lost Izzy Scane to a season-ending ACL injury, but in steps Lauren Gilbert, who is hardly an unknown. She had 66 goals in 2021. Now the No. 1 on offense, Gilbert is in for a big year. We even predicted (boldly, mind you) that she’d reach 100 goals this year.

On the other side is a juggernaut in Boston College, which returns mostly intact on all sides of the ball. The defense is even better with the addition of All-American Courtney Taylor, a transfer from Temple.

This is the type of heavyweight bout you dream of, and we’re getting in Week 1.

BEST GAME NO ONE’S TALKING ABOUT

No. 2 North Carolina at No. 12 James Madison

All the buzz is on Boston College against Northwestern, so this game is getting lost in the shuffle.

James Madison has dropped four straight games to North Carolina, so maybe we’re still stuck in 2018, when the Dukes beat the Tar Heels twice — once to open the season and once in the NCAA semis. But just because we’re living in the past doesn’t mean we don’t have an eye on the future.

If you use “motivation” as a factor when determining a team’s outlook, this game has plenty of it. James Madison can’t play for a CAA tournament championship because of conference bylaws reinforced when the university announced a move to the Sun Belt Conference for next season. That alone means the Dukes are fired up, because the only way into the NCAA tournament is through an at-large berth. Knocking off a ranked team or two would help boost their resumé.

The Tar Heels are about as motivated as ever. The consensus No. 1 team in the nation until the final ranking of 2021, UNC lost in the NCAA semifinals after running roughshod through its competition for most of the campaign. Both sides should be juiced up for this one.

MILESTONE WATCH

Pitt Goes for Win No. 1

It’s time. Pitt announced it would add women’s lacrosse on Nov. 1, 2018. It’s been a long time coming, but the Panthers are set to embark on their first campaign on Friday against Duquesne.

Competing in the ACC, Pitt was picked to finish No. 9 in the conference. That’s last, for the uninitiated. But Emily Boissonneault has put in significant time and effort to build the program from the ground up, and the fruits of her labor are about to be on display.

UNDER-THE-RADAR STARS

Caitlin Muir, Michigan

Back for a fifth year, Muir certainly flies under the radar. To be frank, there might have been a double take upon realizing her name was back on the Michigan roster this season. She had an even 23 goals and 23 assists in 2021 during a disappointing season for the Wolverines. If they’re going to turn it around in the Big Ten, Muir is going to need to be at the center of it.

Galen Lew, Stanford

Lew has started 55 of the 57 games she’s played at Stanford and had a productive 2021 campaign — 27 goals, 19 assists and 18 ground balls. She flies under the radar with Ali Baiocco snatching headlines as a clutch goal-scoring dynamo, but for Stanford to take the next step, Lew will be called upon when teams hone in on her running mate. As a freshman in 2018, Lew scored a career-high 33 goals and shot a career-high 62.3 percent. Her highest shooting percentage since then is 44.4. A course correction would make her — and Stanford — dangerous.

Clancy Rheude, Maryland

You can forgive yourself for not knowing a ton about Rheude, an Albany transfer who played well defensively for the Great Danes but wasn’t marketed as a star due to Albany’s smaller national footprint. Now in the Big Ten on a Maryland team with legit hopes of making a return trip to Championship Weekend, Rheude could be a focal point. In 2021 (with Albany), Rheude produced 38 ground balls, 89 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers.

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