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No. 3 seed Maryland men’s lacrosse NCAA Tournament preview: Final Four vs No. 2 seed Duke
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After passing its first true playoff test with flying colors, the 2021 No. 3 seed Maryland men’s lacrosse team is just two wins away from perfection and college lacrosse immortality.
It was a stressful quarterfinal weekend for many college lacrosse fans, but this year’s powerhouses pulled through.
Championship weekend will feature the nation s top four programs of the tournament field, positioning Maryland with No. 2 Duke for a highly anticipated semifinal matchup. The two blue-bloods will be facing off in the semifinal for the fourth time in 10 years at East Hartford, Connecticut. The winner will face the victor of the North Carolina vs. Virginia semifinal on Memorial day.
#2 Duke (14-2) vs. #3 Maryland (14-0): NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Final Four Preview
How’d We Get Here?
The second semifinal of the 2021 NCAA Lacrosse Championships is a game that many might’ve predicted as the title matchup before the season. Honestly, this feels like it could be the title game still, were it not for the committee’s decision to drop Maryland to the No. 3 spot. Duke, one of the two ACC co-champions alongside UNC, has the potential to be the best of the ACC, whereas Maryland feels like the leader of The Field, in terms of getting a non-ACC team a title this season.
Friday May 28th, 2021 6:45am
(Photo by Rachel Pincus/NCAA/Notre Dame Athletics)
Aside from Jared Bernhardtâs unstoppable athleticism, Marylandâs turnaround on the defensive side of the ball this season has been one of the chief reasons for their sixth semifinal appearance in the last seven NCAA Tournaments.Â
After giving up 12.5 goals per game in their truncated 2020 season (ranked 46th in Division I), the Terps have cut that down to 10 in 2021 (tied-11th). In two more games, Duke has allowed the same amount of goals per game.Â
Both defenses are tasked with limiting superstar attackmen in Marylandâs Bernhardt and Dukeâs Michael Sowers. Both are tasked in making sure their surrounding casts donât cause irreparable damage.
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(Photo Courtesy Maryland Athletics)
The lacrosse world descends upon Hartford, Conn., this weekend for the greatest stage in the sport: Championship Weekend. On the DI side, only four teams remain standing and bye nightfall on Monday, only one will call themselves champions to end, perhaps, the toughest and most challenging lacrosse season ever.
The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils will take on the No. 3 Maryland Terrapins in the second semifinals contest on Saturday afternoon.
How Did They Get There?
Duke took down Loyola 10-9 in overtime in the quarterfinals to punch their Championship Weekend ticket following a 16-10 defeat of High Point in the first round.