The NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament from A-to-Z

Welcome to the postseason, lacrosse fans.

Friday’s opening round features 13 games, so get ready for a day full of upsets, tough competition and great lacrosse. Some of the first-round highlights include Penn State vs. James Madison and Florida vs. North Carolina, but there’s plenty else to keep an eye on.

Here’s our alphabetical guide to the NCAA tournament’s first weekend.

A is for Jen Adams. Adams’ Loyola Greyhounds are a fun watch with a thrilling offense led by Sydni Black and Tewaaraton finalist Chase Boyle. The Greyhounds survived a test from Navy in the Patriot League championship game, taking down the Mids 12-11 in overtime to secure the league’s sole postseason bid. The Greyhounds will face the winner of Penn-Richmond should they advance past Duke.

B is for Bears. Mercer was practically unstoppable in the Big South, going 8-0 in conference play en route to its third consecutive conference championship. Attacker Gabby DiVirgilio (59G, 37A) has led a strong attack with lots of firepower. Expect a fun battle between Mercer’s creative offense and Michigan’s lockdown defense.

C is for Jenika Cuocco. Drexel’s goalkeeper Cuocco has quietly had one of the best defensive seasons in the NCAA, leading the country with an average of 11.94 saves per game. She helped lead the Dragons past competitive opponents like Navy and Penn State, anchoring a defense that allowed just 8.78 goals per game. An agile, versatile keeper, look to Cuocco as the Dragons face Princeton in the opening round.

D is for Katie DeSimone. DeSimone has had an outstanding senior year at Duke, leading the Blue Devils with 58 goals and 21 assists. Duke missed the tournament last season and was a bubble team entering the 2024 tournament. The Blue Devils had some ups and downs in a competitive ACC but scored a signature win against Virginia in March that remains impressive. Their attack should be a fun matchup against Loyola, which also has a strong unit.

E is for Eagles. Boston College can never, ever be counted out in May. The Eagles are searching for their second NCAA championship after reaching six straight title games. They have a group of wildly talented and creative attackers, including four who have scored 60 points or more this season.

F is for four first-timers. The arrival of May means history for four teams. Binghamton, Coastal Carolina, LIU and Niagara are dancing in May for the first time.

G is for Gators. Florida had a strong end to its regular season, winning 17 straight after starting 0-2. The attack, led by veterans Maggi Hall, Danielle Pavinelli and Ashley Gonzalez, leads the country with a blistering average of 18.37 goals per game. The Gators got a tough draw, competing against North Carolina, who they lost to 19-10 in February. But Florida has certainly improved since then, so keep an eye on Friday’s matchup.

H is for Hoos. Virginia was a force this season, boasting a cohesive attack and a strong goalkeeper in Mel Josephson. Sonia LaMonica has impressed in her first season at the helm in Charlottesville, leading the Hoos to a 6-3 record in an extremely competitive ACC. Virginia is looking to extend its season after falling in the opening round last year.

I is for Ivy League. The Ivy League has three bids this year (No. 6 Yale with the AQ, Penn and Princeton), up from just one last year.

J is Blue Jays. Johns Hopkins has been impressive during Tim McCormack’s second year, scoring wins against top opponents like James Madison and Michigan. Goalkeeper Madison Doucette has been electric in cage, while a group of well-rounded attackers have shined on the other end. The Blue Jays are playing their best lacrosse right now, taking down Michigan in the Big Ten tournament.

K is for Liza Kelly. Kelly and her Pioneers are back in the tournament with their trademark stifling defense. Look to stars like Trinity McPherson, Emilia Bohi and Sam Thacker as they try to contain Stanford’s hot offense (15.29 goals per game).

L is for lots of screen time. Get the popcorn out this weekend. Friday features 13 games, many of which will overlap. Start times run from noon to 6 p.m. Eastern, with Robert Morris-Maryland kicking off the slate. All the first- and second-round games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

M is for Ellie Masera. Masera is a force for the Seawolves, tallying 69 goals and 35 assists. A Tewaaraton finalist, Masera is creative and has no trouble imposing her will on any defense.

N is for Nittany Lions. Penn State has been a fiery, fun watch. The Nittany Lions are composed in tough situations and looked quite competitive in the Big Ten tournament. They received a tough draw in the opening round against a talented James Madison squad. Friday’s game is a must-watch.

O is for Orange. Syracuse is back in the hunt. Defender Katie Goodale has impressed, attackers Emma Tyrrell and Olivia Adamson continue to thrill, and goalkeeper Delaney Sweitzer has been an anchor. The Orange are coming off an ACC championship game loss to Boston College but went a blistering 8-1 in conference play during the regular season.

P is for Isabella Peterson. Peterson has impressed in her fifth year, tallying 68 goals and 10 assists. She’s also a powerhouse on the draw (82 DCs). The Dukes fell to Florida in the AAC championship game but earned an at-large bid after a 12-4 season.

Q is for Quakers. Penn holds the No. 8 seed after excelling in a tough Ivy League, going 13-4. The Quakers have the Ivy League Defender of the Year in Izzy Rohr and a strong attack, looking every bit the challenger this May. Their No. 10 scoring defense should be a fun watch against Richmond’s top-25 scoring offense.

R is for Cathy Reese. Cathy Reese has made the Terrapins a staple come May. Maryland was competitive in an extremely strong Big Ten, going 4-2 in conference play en route to the No. 4 seed. Can you ever count out the Terps in May?

S is for Izzy Scane. Watch out, record books: Northwestern’s Izzy Scane is on the hunt this weekend. She has tied Charlotte North’s NCAA Division I career goals record (358) and looks poised to break it in the Wildcats’ second-round game against the winner of Denver-Stanford.

T is for Notre Dame’s trio. It’s the last ride for the Irish’s dynamic trio: Jackie Wolak, Madison Ahern and Kasey Choma. The three have been a staple at Notre Dame, forming the core of the country’s No. 14 offense. Wolak has been especially impressive in her final season, earning Tewaaraton finalist honors with 54 goals and tallied 38 assists.

U is for upset watch. Upsets are, without a doubt, one of the best parts of May. Some fun underdogs to watch include Fairfield, which has a strong defense; Niagara, with its powerful attack and Coastal Carolina, which reached its first tournament behind a veteran offense.

V is for vying for history. Each team comes into the opening round with one primary goal: extending its season. For some programs, that will be history in the making. First-time competitors LIU and Coastal Carolina seek to continue their historic runs. There are loftier goals, too: Syracuse looks to win its first national championship.

W is for Wolverines. Michigan has been a wonderful surprise: dynamic, talented and scrappy. The Wolverines have had some trouble as of late, losing two straight to Northwestern and Johns Hopkins. However, the Wolverines were competitive in both games and look like a serious threat.

X is for the X. Attackers who dominate at X are thrilling to watch. Two to keep an eye on this weekend: Erin Coykendall (44A), who is a major facilitator at Northwestern, and Emma Ward (31A), who excels at playmaking for Syracuse.

Y is for youth movement. Veterans tend to dominate the storylines in May. However, there are several contenders with young stars. Sophomore Madison Taylor has thrilled at Northwestern this season, building on a breakout freshman year to earn Tewaaraton finalist honors. Stanford redshirt-freshman Aliya Polisky has been a force, too, anchoring the Cardinal attack.

Z is for zero. That’s what team records stand at now: 0-0. Buckle up for the postseason, lacrosse fans. It’s going to be a fun ride.