NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament Quarterfinal Preview

The NCAA Division I men's lacrosse quarterfinals are set for this weekend with a doubleheader at Hofstra on Saturday and another doubleheader at Delaware on Sunday. Three of the top eight seeds were knocked out in the opening round, but the top three seeds — Princeton, Notre Dame and North Carolina are still playing.

Here's what you need to know for the quarterfinals. 

All times Eastern. All games on ESPNU.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y.

#2 Notre Dame (11-2) vs. Johns Hopkins (10-5) 
Saturday, 12 p.m. 

How They Got Here 

Notre Dame had its best offensive game in over two months, dominating Jacksonville 18-5 in the first round. The Irish have lost just twice this season — both games to a Virginia team that is no longer in the field — and they look to bring home their third national championship in the last four years. Tewaaraton finalist Shawn Lyght leads a standout defense that also includes first team All-American LSM Will Donovan and second team All-American goalie Thomas Ricciardelli. 

Speaking of defense, Johns Hopkins put on a master class in the second half of its 9-8 overtime victory over reigning national champion Cornell in the first round. Close defenseman Luke Martin was brilliant, limiting Tewaaraton finalist Willem Firth to one one goal while causing five turnovers. Cornell managed just 11 shots on goal for the entire game and two in the second half and overtime. Jimmy Ayers was clutch for the Blue Jays, scoring a go-ahead goal in the fourth quarter and then the winner in overtime.

Series History 

All seven of the previous matchups in this series have come in the NCAA tournament, including Notre Dame's 12-9 victory over the Blue Jays in the 2023 NCAA quarterfinal at Navy. There a handful of players that played significant roles in that game that are still around, including Johns Hopkins All-American midfielder Matt Collison who scored two goals in the loss. Hopkins leads the all-time series 4-3. 

Storyline to Watch 

Johns Hopkins has one of the nation's better outside shooters in Hunter Chauvette. He leads the Blue Jays with 38 goals and his production will be paramount if the Blue Jays are to crack Notre Dame's defense, which ranks fifth in the country allowing just 8.54 goals per game. In Johns Hopkins' seven games against teams that reached the NCAA tournament, Chauvette has scored 22 goals, including a six-goal effort against Virginia that spurred a Johns Hopkins comeback win.

 #3 North Carolina (13-4) vs. #6 Syracuse (12-5)
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. 

How They Got Here 

North Carolina's Dom Pietramala had a game for the ages, setting North Carolina and NCAA tournament single-game records with 10 goals in the Tar Heels 24-6 victory over UAlbany. The Tar Heels offense has been lethal at times year, fueled by Brady Wambach's dominance on the draw, but since starting the season 10-1, the Tar Heels are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since beating Syracuse on April 4 to stretch a winning streak to five games.

Syracuse's veteran cast gutted out a 16-15 victory over Yale in the first round to complete an undefeated season at home in the JMA Wireless Dome. Can the Orange take their game on the road where they are just 4-5 in road and neutral site games this season? Tewaaraton finalist Joey Spallina leads a formidable offense that can score from the attack and the midfield and goalie Jimmy McCool is unfazed by big moments, including making two saves in the final 30 seconds of the Yale victory.

Series History 

Syracuse holds a 20-15 advantage in the all-time series, but North Carolina has won seven of the last nine games, including both meetings this year. This will be the first NCAA tournament game between the two schools since Syracuse beat the Tar Heels 19-12 in the NCAA quarterfinals in 1996.

Storyline to Watch 

Who is playing for North Carolina. Tewaaraton finalist and UNC leading scorer Owen Duffy missed the UAlbany game with an injury. He was critical in the Tar Heels 12-10 ACC tournament win over Syracuse, scoring a goal and dishing out six assists. North Carolina also surprised people with senior Kent Goode getting the start in goal agianst UAlbany after freshman Josh Marcus had started all season. Goode made eight saves while allowing just four goals and has experience. He's played in 22 games over his four years and has a career save percentage of 60.0. Marcus played well in both wins over Syracuse, making 15 saves in a 14-9 win on April 4 and 11 saves in the 12-10 win in the ACC tournament on May 1.

NEWARK, DEL. 

#1 Princeton (14-2) vs. #8 Penn State (10-5)
Sunday, 12 pm

How They Got Here 

Princeton has been arguably the most consistent team in the country this season and its 17-8 win over Marist in the first round was its ninth straight victory. The Tigers are loaded offensively with five players in double figures in both goals and assists — led by Tewaaraton finalist Nate Kabiri (35g, 41a) — and goalie Ryan Croddick was named a first team All-American by USA Lacrosse. 

Penn State has been an enigma this season — big-time wins mixed with puzzling losses — but the Nittany Lions are cooking right now. They won the Big Ten championship by doubling up Johns Hopkins and then put the clamps on Army in a 10-6 first round victory in the NCAA tournament. Hunter Aquino has battled injuries all year, but he's one of the best in the country when he's on the field. He had a hat trick in the win over Army after combining for five goals in two Big Ten tournament wins.

Series History 

They've only played six times, but one of them was earlier this season when Penn State poured in seven goals in the first quarter in a 13-7 win in Princeton's season-opener. That was just the second win in the series for Penn State, but they've played on three times this century — this year's game, an 11-10 Princeton overtime win last year and a 13-12 Penn State win in 2023.

Storyline to Watch 

Faceoffs are always important, but even more so in this game given the explosiveness of each of these offenses. Penn State won six of the first eight faceoffs to fuel its hot start in the first meeting and 14 of 24 overall. Both teams are capable of getting it done at the dot. Penn State has won 60.2 percent this season with USA Lacrosse HM All-American Reid Gills and Colby Baldwin splitting the duties. Princeton is winning at a 55.3 percent clip with Andrew McMeekin in the primary role. McMeekin has been at least .500 in his last 10 games.

Georgetown (11-4) vs. Duke (10-4)
Sunday, 2:30 p.m. 

How They Got Here 

Georgetown head coach Kevin Warne said that not many people expected Georgetown to beat Virginia, but here the Hoyas are after a 14-10 win on Sunday night. Brothers and Colgate transfers Liam and Rory Connor have been lights out for the Hoyas, combining for 75 goals and 67 assists. Georgetown has been an incredible model of consistency, winning eight straight Big East championships. Now the challenge is to get past the quarterfinal round and return to Championship Weekend for the first time since 1999. 

Not many expected Duke to even be in the dance, but here the Blue Devils are. A dominant 16-12 win to close the regular season over North Carolina, coupled with favorable results from other teams in conference tournaments, got the Blue Devils into the tournament field and they took full advantage. Duke rallied with five straight goals in the fourth quarter to beat Richmond 14-12 in the first round. Duke's star players — Benn Johnston (A), Max Sloat (M), Aidan Maguire (SSDM) and Charlie Johnson (D) — are matchup nightmares.

Series History 

Duke leads the series 10-2, but they've only played once since 2017 — a 16-12 Georgetown win in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. Georgetown dominated the third quarter to break a 7-7 halftime tie and Aidan Carroll, now in the PLL, poured in six goals. The Hoyas also controlled faceoffs, winning 21 of 31, but Duke's Cal Girard is much improved, winning at a 59 percent clip this season. Girard won 21 of 27 against Richmond, his best outing of the season.

Storyline to Watch 

Georgetown goalie Anderson Moore has seen a lot of shots this season and he's held up well with a 56.4 save percentage. He's been in double-digits in saves in all but one game this season, and had a season-high 15 in the win over Virginia. He's as reliable as they come. How will the Blue Devils counter in goal? Duke sophomore Buck Cunningham gave the Blue Devils a spark with 15 saves in a tight 7-6 loss to Notre Dame and then made 12 saves in the win over North Carolina. He made seven first half saves in the win over Richmond, but none in the second half. Junior Patrick Jameison has 48 career starts, including the first 11 games this season, and was an All-ACC selection last year. Who gets the nod?