The Final Four is within reach for eight teams in the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament this weekend, with a pair of powerhouse programs looking to snap lengthy droughts and a rematch between Princeton and Penn State headlining the quarterfinal action.
On Saturday, No. 2 Notre Dame (11-2) faces Johns Hopkins (10-5) at 12 p.m. ET, followed by No. 3 North Carolina (13-4) taking on No. 6 Syracuse (12-5) at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be played at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. Sunday's slate features No. 1 Princeton (14-2) against No. 8 Penn State (10-5) at 12 p.m., with Georgetown (11-4) meeting Duke (10-4) in the other quarterfinal at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Del. All matchups will be televised on ESPNU.
The Irish enter with momentum after a dominant 18-5 first-round win over Jacksonville, powered by five goals from sophomore Luke Miller. Notre Dame boasts a balanced attack with six players recording at least 20 points this season, while goalie Thomas Ricciardelli anchored the defense with 16 saves. They'll face a stingy Johns Hopkins squad that allows just 10 goals per game and is chasing its first Final Four appearance since 2015. The Blue Jays upset defending champion Cornell 8-7 in the first round, with seven different players finding the net. This marks the eighth NCAA tournament meeting between these storied programs, with Johns Hopkins holding a 4-3 edge.
The North Carolina-Syracuse matchup is a familiar one, as the Tar Heels have already beaten the Orange twice this season—14-9 on April 4 and 12-10 in the ACC tournament on May 1. Junior attackman Dominic Pietramala was electric in the first round, scoring 10 goals against UAlbany. Syracuse will look to flip the script and avoid a third straight loss to their ACC rival.
For lacrosse fans, this weekend is about more than just wins and losses—it's about legacy. Johns Hopkins and Georgetown are both seeking to end long Final Four droughts, while Princeton and Notre Dame aim to cement their places among the elite. Whether you're gearing up for game day or just love the sport, these quarterfinals promise high stakes and even higher intensity.