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.

Things get even more interesting in the Big Ten this weekend.

Starting Friday afternoon when Northwestern heads to Baltimore to take on Johns Hopkins, the Big Ten will begin its Friday-Sunday schedule format.

Both Maryland and Michigan enter the weekend 0-1, and it’s possible that one will finish the weekend 0-3. The Wolverines head to College Park to play the Terrapins, who lost to Penn State last weekend. Michigan, on the other hand, dropped a surprising result to Ohio State.

As things stand now, Northwestern looks to be far-and-away the best team in the conference. But we’ll see how things stand after this weekend.

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. 5 Stony Brook at No. 2 Syracuse

It’s the second game against a top-five opponent for both of these teams, though they were on opposite ends of the results. Stony Brook fell 14-7 to No. 1 North Carolina, while Syracuse toppled then-No. 3 Loyola 18-6.

Last time these teams played, Stony Brook won a one-goal thriller in the Carrier Dome. Both teams remain largely the same, though Stony Brook has tinkered with its personnel a bit in the early stages of this spring.

With Emily Hawryschuk and Ally Kennedy sharing the same field, there’s top-tier talent to watch in a game that could go down to the wire.

Game No One’s Talking About
No. 19 Ohio State at Rutgers

Technically, this should be plural. Ohio State and Rutgers play twice this weekend — Friday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon — and even though the Buckeyes are coming off a huge win against Michigan, they’re flying somewhat under the radar.

As is Rutgers, which knocked off a respectable Johns Hopkins team last weekend, when Penn State’s and Ohio State’s wins overshadowed the Scarlet Knights’ accomplishment.

UPSET WATCH
No. 18 Virginia Tech at No. 7 Virginia

It’s usually hard to justify one ranked team beating another as an upset. And just last week, Virginia was No. 18 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Top 20 while Virginia Tech was No. 20. Still, Virginia catapulted up the ranks after a defeat of Richmond, and Virginia Tech looked just a bit stagnant in a loss to Duke.

The Hokies are 2-23 against the Cavaliers, and they’ve never won on the road. But this year’s Hokies team boasts a level of talent its never had before. While Virginia touts a deep, versatile offense, Virginia Tech’s midfield is scrappy and tough.

This should be a good one.

Under-the-Radar Stars

Liza Hernandez, Ohio State

Hernandez is the type of program-staple at an underappreciated program who doesn’t always get a ton of attention. In two games this season, she’s scored 10 goals on 14 shots and controlled 14 draws. She entered this season with 99 career goals.

Libby May, Maryland

The sophomore attacker was a bright spot for the Terps in 2020, scoring 10 goals in six games (four starters). She picked up right where she left off in the loss to Penn State, scoring four goals with two assists. As Maryland continues to find its identity, May will be a key part of the offense.

Mackenzie Hoeg, Virginia

The freshman is the latest in the long line of Hoegs to hit the Division I scene. Through two games, she’s scored four goals with three assists and 17 draw controls — including nine in the win over Richmond.

SMALL SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 5 UInday at No. 2 Queens

The first top-5 matchup of the season is also one of the few intersectional contests highlighting the 2021 Division II schedule. UIndy dominated No. 16 Concordia-St. Paul last week, winning 20-1. Sarah Klein and Grace Gunneson led the onslaught with six goals each. Queens had to work a little harder for its opening victory, besting Mt. Olive 12-9, but the Royals found their stride Wednesday, beating SAC foe Newberry 26-6. This is the first meeting between these emerging programs that both have championship aspirations. — Paul Ohanian