Is it Memorial Day but? This weekend’s NCAA Quarterfinal matchups have that feeling. This afternoon, Maryland will tackle Virginia within the ultimate school lacrosse recreation of the weekend. 

The 2 groups have mixed to win three of the final 4 NCAA Nationwide Championships. They met final yr in an epic NCAA Nationwide Championship bout. Virginia received, however Maryland held with the Cavaliers right down to the final second in probably the greatest lacrosse video games all season. 

In March, the 2 groups met at Audi Area in Washington D.C. The Terps dispatched the Cavaliers 23-12. 

Maryland is on a historic tempo this season. They’re undefeated and profitable video games by a median of 9.2 targets a recreation. Many see the Terps profitable the NCAA Nationwide Championship as inevitable.

Listed here are three keys to figuring out if the Avengers, AKA the Cavaliers, could make it a recreation and pull off the upset. 

The Faceoff 

Luke Wierman set the tone from the primary face-off again in March. Wierman received the clamp and located Keegan Khan 8-seconds into the sport to place the Terps on prime. 

Wierman is second within the nation, profitable 66.3% of his faceoffs. The Terp FOGO went 24-36 on the X in March and enabled Maryland to play make-it-take-it all day towards UVA. 

The Cav’s Petey LaSalla had no solutions for Wierman. He was 5-18 on the day, leaving UVA to show to sophomore Gable Braun, who didn’t fare significantly better.  LaSalla battled a shoulder damage in late March/early April that might’ve contributed to his and UVA’s troubles on the X. 

When LaSalla is true, he offers UVA further possessions and is an offensive risk. His numbers have improved since mid-April. Anticipate a extra even contest on Sunday.

Maryland’s Offense vs. Virginia’s Protection

Maryland’s offense has been practically unstoppable this yr. The highest-ranked Terps have thrived in Bobby Benson’s high-powered offense and are led by Logan Wisnauskas (52G/38A). Maryland leads the nation averaging 18.53 targets a recreation and has seven gamers with 30 or extra factors on the season.  

John Tillman used the Switch Portal to strengthen the Terp offense within the offseason. Including Keegan Khan (Villanova), Jonathan Donville (Cornell), and Owen Murphy (Johns Hopkins). Maryland performs an unselfish model of lacrosse. The Terps thrive on ball motion and discovering the one-more.  

A number of instances throughout the March matchup, the Terps have been capable of make the most of the Cavaliers being out of place or late on the defensive rotation. 

UVA’s protection has been common this season, ranked forty fourth in adjusted effectivity.

On the Quintessential Lacrosse Podcast earlier this week, Quint Kessenich and Syracuse Defensive Coordinator, Dave Pietramala, advised UVA change up their defensive scheme. Implementing a zone or shut-off, to decelerate the Terps and pressure them to regulate.   

The Cavaliers can even want enchancment between the pipes. Freshman goalie Matt Nunes had one in every of his worst performances of the season, saving solely 38.5% of the photographs he confronted towards the Terps.

Virginia’s Offense vs. Maryland’s Protection

Virginia has the fifth greatest offense in Division 1 lacrosse led by Mr. Could, Connor Shellenberger (32G, 44A). 

The Terps held UVA to 12 targets in March and one in every of their lowest efficiencies of the season. Terp’s defensemen Brett Makar and Ajax Zappitello restricted Shellenberger and Matt Moore from discovering success on one-on-one dodges.

Virginia had probably the most success in utilizing their choose recreation and transferring the ball rapidly. The video beneath does a very good job of displaying this motion. Payton Cormier comes off a choose from Jeff Conner to seek out an open Xander Dickson on the crease for the aim.

UVA will want a giant recreation from Shellenberger and Matt Moore. They not solely deliver factors however vitality. They may want the factors and the vitality to defeat the Terps. 

Prediction

No blowout this time. This recreation once more comes right down to the ultimate possession. Logan Wisnauskas finds the web to ship the Terps to Memorial Day weekend. 

Maryland 18 Virginia 17