And Then There Were Eight

Lacrosse Extras Staff — May 18, 2023 — Opinion Piece

With six of eight games being decided by two goals or less, the Sweet 16 did not disappoint. Now we are in store for epic Elite 8 matchups. Here are multiple keys to victory for each team in pursuit of a Championship Weekend appearance.

The Orange Will Duke It Out With JMU

Syracuse vs. James Madison: 12 p.m. EST, ESPNU

First up, we have Syracuse vs. James Madison. This will feature a clash of two Tewaaraton finalists, Meagan Tyrell and Isabella Peterson, who each put up an incredible nine points to lead their teams to victories in the previous round. The last and only time these two teams matched up was back in 2010 when ‘Cuse won 7-3.

• ‘Cuse is looking like they are back in their midseason form when they were virtually unstoppable. They have been at their best when their midfield unit is producing in transition. Whether it is Maddy Baxter barreling down the field and scoring, or Nat Smith painting a corner, the Orange will need juice plays from middies to swing momentum in their favor.
• On the defensive end, Delany Sweitzer needs to make early stops to get loose and feel confident. They have young players on defense who are not afraid to take risks; Coco Vandiver came up with two GB and two CT in their win against Johns Hopkins. They will have to stay aggressive and physical to matchup with a strong JMU offense.

• On the flip side, James Madison is going to need a hot start to disrupt the momentum from Syracuse’s 25 goals last time out. Isabella Peterson has shades of Kristen Gaudian, the Dukes’ most recent Tewaaraton finalist, and has proven time and time again that she can take over games when needed. Her draw play will be key as well in helping JMU get possession and set the pace they want to play on offense.
• Redshirt senior Rachel Matey had some huge plays down the stretch in their win against Maryland coming up with two GB, four DC and a caused turnover. JMU will need that spark coming out of their defensive end if they want to hold off the high powered ‘Cuse attack.

Third Time’s A Charm For The Irish?

Boston College vs. Notre Dame: 2:30 p.m. EST, ESPNU

For the third time, these two teams will meet this year, and this ACC rivalry has shaped up to be one of the best. ND has been knocking on the door of beating BC, but has not had enough to find a win yet this season. The last time these two teams met in the NCAA Tournament was back in 2021 when the Eagles knocked out the Irish in the Elite 8 by a score of 21-10 in route to a national championship win.

• Notre Dame’s shooting in their last game against Boston College is what crippled them, and they cannot afford poor shot selection against Shea Dolce again. It will be important for Choma, Wolak and Ahern to take control of the pace of the offense to find the right looks and finish. Choma has produced clutch plays in the first two rounds, but against a strong Eagles team they will need to find consistency.
• Defensively, the Irish will need to match BC’s speed and slow them down in transition offense. Grace Weigand and Aine Maseker each forced three turnovers against Florida. Those possessions will be needed down the stretch.

• Boston College must continue to have strong draw circle play and set the pace on offense with fast ball movement and big lanes to cage. This is where they thrive as well as pushing transition off the long clear from Shea Dolce. BC knows how to go on runs and will need to continue to find sparks from their defense to create momentum.
• BC has some of the strongest 1v1 defenders in the country and will need them to continue to play their role in limiting easy feeds and strong dodges while giving their goalie low-angle shots. A big game from Sidney Scales could mean a win for the Eags.

A Pio Win Would Be Program Shifting

North Carolina vs. Denver: 5 p.m. EST, ESPNU

Liza Kelly and her team have yet to make a final four. Meanwhile, Jenny Levy and the Tar Heels are looking to go to their 5^th straight Championship Weekend. These two teams have not faced one another since 2011, and in the four past matchups, Carolina has won every time.

• North Carolina’s young attacking unit has shown growth with how they have managed and closed out games. Melissa Sconone has come on strong and led UNC with a hat trick and an assist in the win over Richmond, flexing her veteran experience. She will be key in helping the Tar Heels find a rhythm and consistent settled pace on offense.
• Carolina’s draw unit will need to step up and dominate possession to give the offense a chance to wear down Denver’s defense. Olivia Dirks has been a critical piece in controlling the circle and will need to find ways to get her team possession early on.

• The story all season has been Denver’s star-studded defense, and in this game, they will need to continue their dominance on that end of the field to hold off a balanced UNC attack. Trinity McPherson had four GB, three CT and one DC in their win over UAlbany; she needs to get her offense extra possessions.
• Offensively, Denver will need not just Julia Gilbert to produce, but for other players to step up if they want to edge out UNC’s strong 1v1 defensive unit. They need to create big lanes, dodge hard to cage and really look to capitalize on each opportunity.

Sink Or Swim For The Greyhounds At The Lake Show

Northwestern vs. Loyola: 7:30 p.m. EST, ESPNU

Last but certainly not least, we have Loyola traveling to Northwestern. These two teams last faced each other in 1985 and 1986; each team has one win. Loyola is hungry for a Final Four appearance after falling just short against Boston College last year in the quarterfinals, while Northwestern is looking to return to Championship Weekend yet again.

• Loyola needs to make sure Molly Laliberty does not get hot. They have the talent on attack to find the back of the net. Jillian Wilson has been dominating the circle and will have to continue to come up with big draw controls against a tough Northwestern draw unit to give the team opportunities on offense.
• Defensively, Loyola has Katie Detwiler who will look to lead them in shutting off the top options for Northwestern. Despite being the underdog, they definitely have the talent to take this game but will need to find a way to become the calmer and more controlled team to wear down Northwestern’s relentless attack.

• After the near upset loss to Michigan, the Wildcats need to reset, get loose and play fearless against an excellent Loyola squad. With some of the top shooters in the country, they will find a way to get goals. Northwestern will need their experienced players like Hailey Rhatigan to set the tone early with fast cuts and finishes.
• The Wildcat defense put on a clinic against Michigan, causing six turnovers in the 4th quarter to seal the win. Jane Hansen was sensational with five CT and three GB; she will need to stay aggressive in an attempt to rattle Loyola early on and give her team juice plays that spark their offensive unit.

As the years go on, May lacrosse keeps getting better. This year’s nationally televised slate is a prime example, so get ready for nearly nine hours of lacrosse because these are must-watch matchups all day long.