Syracuse at Notre Dame, noon, ESPNU
Each of these teams is coming off a big win. Syracuse claimed its best win of the year last weekend with a 19-7 destruction of Duke, the two-time defending national champions. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish shutout Ohio State 9-0. It’s a battle between No. 1 and No. 2 and with about a month left in the regular season, this one should be a dandy and the postseason picture starts to shape up. Notre Dame has less signature wins than the Orange this year, but a win today would move UND to the nation’s top spot in the polls.
Providence at St. John’s, 1 p.m., ESPN3
The Friars enter their first Big East game with something to prove. The 4-4 squad will play six consecutive conference games the rest of the season and while seemingly no one expects them to compete with the likes of Denver and Marquette and Villanova, perhaps PC can get the ball rolling today against the 2-7 Red Storm. St. John’s has lost three one-goal games this year and also needs to prove it can compete in the improving Big East.
Rutgers at Johns Hopkins, 2 p.m., ESPNU
Johns Hopkins is reeling. After last weekend’s loss to Virginia, the Blue Jays fell to 3-5. In JHU’s first year in the Big Ten, winning the conference and receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament might be its only way to make the field. The Blue Jays will play five of its next six games in the state of Maryland and will look to take advantage at Homewood. Rutgers, on the other hand, has a shot at shocking the lacrosse world. The Scarlet Knights allow 10.5 goals per game while the Blue Jays allow 10.9. As lacrosse grows to nontraditional powers, a win over JHU would put Rutgers on the map.
Colgate at Loyola, 2:30 p.m., CBSSN
Three of No. 17 Loyola’s four losses have come by one goal. The biggest disparity in this game is the offensive firepower that each team possesses. The Greyhounds average 12.1 while Colgate averages 9.5. The Raiders’ offense is centered around the trio of Anthony Abbadessa, Ryan Walsh and Cameron Williams. But Loyola defender Pat Frazier has caused 12 turnovers and picked up 33 ground balls and will likely be able to lock down on the Raiders’ attacks. Led by Nikko Pontrello and breakout star Zach Herreweyers on offense, Loyola is the heavy favorite in this one.
