The defending champion and the favorite to be crowned the next champion meet in the NCAA semifinals on Saturday. What more could a lacrosse fan want?

Penn State, the mostly unstoppable offensive juggernaut with an embarrassment of riches on attack, has continued to make program history and doesn’t appear as if its anywhere close to stopping.

Yale, on the other hand, strengthened its roster this offseason by adding TD Ierlan but just barely took down Penn in the quarterfinals on Sunday, 19-18. Ierlan, however, was the catalyst behind Penn State’s only loss of the season, a 14-13 loss to the Bulldogs on Feb. 23.

For what it’s worth, a late-February result is hardly convincing enough to lean one way or the other. But Ierlan’s performance does highlight one relative weakness — perhaps the only weakness — for the Nittany Lions against Yale.

Ierlan, perhaps the best faceoff specialist in NCAA history, has won 347 of 456 faceoffs (76.1 percent). Gerard Arceri has won 265 of 419 (63.2 percent), a very good number that is dwarfed by Ierlan’s accomplishments. When they met in February, Ierlan won 25 of 31 attempts (Arceri went 4-for-23).

The best way to limit a potent offense is to prevent it from getting the ball. Can Ierlan do it again?

PENN STATE VS. YALE

WHEN: SATURDAY, 2:30 P.M.
WHERE: LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD
WATCH: ESPN2

The Bulldogs thrived offensively against Penn State, as Jackson Morrill posted seven points (five assists) and both Matt Gaudet and Brendan Rooney tallied hat tricks. Still, Penn State overcame a lopsided faceoff mark to only lose by one goal.

Penn State is efficient in getting high-percentage shots that Mac O’Keefe and Co. almost always bury. With Grant Ament orchestrating the box-like offense, Penn State scored 13 goals on 34 shots in the first meeting. That was actually low for a team that leads the nation with a 43.3 shooting percentage.

The focus then shifts to Yale’s defense, which allows just under 11 goals per game but did hold down Penn State, Albany and Cornell (twice). Will Weitzel, Chris Fake and Aidan Hynes have been lockdown defenders in front of Jack Starr, who has been solid between the pipes.

Yale has been tested during championship weekend before, while this is uncharted territory for Penn State. It would be uncharacteristic for the Nittany Lions to press offensively, but in a potential late-game situation, Yale could have the edge.

In what figures to be a must-watch followup to an exciting quarterfinal weekend, Penn State and Yale collide at the Linc.

VIRGINIA VS. DUKE

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOON
WHERE: LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD
WATCH: ESPN2

With both Virginia and Duke coming off emotional overtime wins in the quarterfinals, the ACC rivals meet in what figures to be a high-energy affair.

Duke beat Virginia on April 13, 12-7, but Virginia hasn’t lost since in large part to the five-headed monster on offense. Matt Moore, Michael Kraus, Ian Laviano, Dox Aitken and Ryan Conrad have given defenses plenty to consider.

If Petey LaSalla — the freshman who won eight of the final nine faceoffs and helped UVA overcome a five-goal fourth-quarter deficit against Maryland on Saturday — can get Virginia the ball, the Cavaliers will likely be in good shape.

Timely comebacks have been Virginia’s specialty. The Cavs have recovered from four fourth-quarter deficits to win. But down 8-6 to Duke entering the fourth quarter in April, they could not recover.

Moore scored four times against the Blue Devils, but Laviano was held to one goal on seven shots, while Aitken and Conrad were held scoreless. Kraus did not play.

JT Giles-Harris, Cade Van Raaphorst and Jack Fowler anchor the Blue Devils in front of Turner Uppgren, who made 12 saves (nine in a huge first half) against the Cavaliers. Ranked sixth nationally with 9.41 goals allowed per game, Duke doesn’t have to score much to win.

To counteract Duke’s strength in a set defense, the Cavaliers could emphasize transition offense to get the Blue Devils moving. Attacking ground balls for extra possessions should get Virginia out and running.

Virginia hasn’t beaten Duke in nine years (10 straight meetings), but few Virginia teams have had as much talent as this one. Duke is the favorite based on seeding and previous results, but will certainly have its hands full against a Virginia team that has the tools to advance.