The following article will appear in the May edition of InLax Magazine.
Memorial Day weekend is just two weeks away. In Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love it signifies the unofficial start to the summer season. People from all over the tri-state area will head to their beach houses and open them up for the first time this season. This year will also be a rebound year for the Jersey Shore since Super Storm Sandy hit. But for lacrosse enthusiasts Memorial Day means only one thing…….NCAA College Lacrosse Championships.
For the first time since 2005 & 2006 the NCAA Lacrosse Championships return to Philadelphia. In those two years, 111,247 & 120,614 respectively came out to watch lacrosse action here in Philadelphia. In 2007 Baltimore hosted and set a new record for the weekend with 123,225 lax addicts coming out to watch. But since then attendance has dropped every year over the last five years. Last years attendance for the weekend was 79,595 which was the lowest in 10 years (2002 attendance–59,381)
Teams from Div 1, Div II, & Div III along with their family and friends will converge on the city of Philadelphia and watch their teams play it out at Lincoln Financial Field for the right to be called Champions. On Saturday March 25th Division 1 Semi-Finals will take place with the first semi-final game scheduled for a 2:30pm start, and the second semi-final at 5:00pm. The tournament kicks off this weekend. Who will survive and make it to Philadelphia.
On one side of the bracket, (1) Syracuse, Bryant, Yale, (8) Penn State, (5) North Carolina, Lehigh, Albany, (4) Denver will all battle over the next two weekends for the honor to play in the first semi-final.
The other side of the bracket we have, (3) Ohio State, Towson, (6) Maryland, Cornell, (7) Duke, Loyola MD (last years Champions), Detroit, (2) Notre Dame for the right to play in semi-final #2.
On Sunday March 26th Div II & III will take center stage as they will crown their champions.
Div II Championship is slated for a 1pm start. Upper Bracket; (1) Adelphi, (4) NYIT, (3) Le Moyne, (2) LIU Post, will battle to be one of the finalists, and in the Lower Bracket; (1) Merychurst, (4) Lake Erie, (3) Seton Hill, (2) Limestone will battle to be the other finalist.
Div III (first round started May 8th). The remaining 16 teams are; (left bracket) SUNY Cortland, Aurora, Western New England, Nazareth, Tufts, Stevens Inst., Cabrini, Rochester Inst. The right side of the bracket; Dickinson, Adrian, Salisbury, Washington & Lee, Stevenson, Washington (Md), Lynchburg, Roanoke. All 16 teams will battle and one team from each bracket will fight for the Div III Championship on Sunday March 26th at 4:00pm.
In 2005 John Hopkins defeated Virginia 9-8 in OT and Duke doubled up Maryland 18-9 in semi-final action. John Hopkins went on and defeated Duke 9-8 to capture the 8th Championship for the University, and finish 16-0
Some notable names that have gone on to play professionally from this Championship weekend.
J.H.U: Stephen & Greg Peyser, Kyle Harrison, Jamsion Koesterer, Jesse Schwartzman, & Paul Rabil.
Duke : Ryan McFadyen, Matt Danowski, Zack Greer, Ned Crotty.
Virginia: Kip Turner, Steve Holmes, Matt Ward, John Christmas
Maryland: Joe Cinosky, Jeff Reynolds, Bill McGlone, Joe Walters,
In 2006 Virginia got passed the semi-final round and defeated Syracuse 17-10, while UMASS defeated Maryland 8-5. Virginia then went on and defeated UMass 15-7 in one of the hottest weekends to date. Some notables that went to play professionally.
Virginia: Garrett Billings, Danny Glading, Ben Rubeor, Matt Poskay
Syracuse: Matt Abbott, Steve Panarelli, Mike Leveille, Dan Hardy, Brett Bucktooth
UMass
Maryland: Will Harrington
The Orangemen of Syracuse and the North Carolina tar Heels have to be considered two of the favorites in this tournament, but a late season rush by the Buckeyes of Ohio State vaulted them from #11 to #3 in the Rankings by Indoor Lacrosse. This year we have some local flavor to the tournament. Lehigh University, just a couple hour drive along the Pennsylvania Turnpike is looking to make it to Memorial Day weekend and have their family, friends and classmates in attendance to make it feel like a home game. It’s easy to say a team such as UNC, Syracuse, OSU will win. But if there is one thing we have learned, on any given day even the mighty can fall.
Don’t underestimate Div II or Div III. In Div II Mercyhurst is 16-0 and looks to run the table and win the Division II Championship. All eight of the teams in the tournament have no more then 3 losses, so I am sure when two of the teams meet on that Saturday, those in attendance will be witnesses to some fantastic lacrosse action.
In Division III Cortland (16-0) & Dickinson (17-0) are the other undefeated teams looking to make it to Philadelphia. In this division when we get to Championship Weekend, we could see both of these undefeated teams face-off against each other as this could be a classic game for those who attend.
Other then the games going on there will be a Fan Fest for all fans free of charge. It will be just outside Lincoln Financial Field and XFINITY LIVE. This fun-filled, interactive area allows fans of any age a chance to experience the thrills, excitement and spirit of college lacrosse. Whether you try your hand at various skills, get autographs and pictures with well known laxers, watch live entertainment, or just kick back with some of Philly’s best food and drink…this is the place to be on the day of the big game! There will be some Philadelphia Wings players at the festival as well. Keep checking back at inlacrossewetrust.com for a list of Fan Festival Events as well as the matchups for Championship Weekend.
Can you think of a better way to kick off the summer then the NCAA LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS?
And guess what Laxaholics…. The MLL will have their Championship Weekend here on August 24th & 25th at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Home of the Philadelphia Union Soccer Team. What a summer!
