First Round
No. 16 Holy Cross (14-6) at No. 1 Duke (16-2)
Duke wins this matchup easily. Holy Cross is only in the tournament this year because it won the Patriot League’s automatic bid. This is the Crusaders first-ever NCAA tournament appearance, but it will not last long.
Daily pick: Duke, 18-6.
No. 9 Richmond (16-3) at No. 8 James Madison (14-4)
Both of these teams were automatic qualifiers – Richmond from the Colonial Athletic Association and James Madison from the Atlantic 10. As the more experienced team, James Madison leads the all-time series 33-2, with their last contest coming in 2001.
Daily pick: James Madison, 12-9.
No. 12 Maryland (12-7) at No. 5 North Carolina (12-5)
This is not only a great ACC rivalry, but this game is ripe for an upset. Although Maryland lost 11-9 when it met the Tar Heels earlier in the season, coach Cindy Timchal is the old-school version of NU coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, meaning she will win.
Daily pick: Maryland, 13-11.
No. 13 Stanford (12-5) at No. 4 NU (16-1)
The Wildcats put away the Cardinal earlier this season and they will do so once again, but this time in front of a home crowd. The Cats are on a mission to repeat as national champs and dispel any doubt that they are the best team in the nation. The Cats top-ranked offense will ultimately prove too much for the Cardinal.
Daily pick: NU, 16-9.
No. 14 Monmouth (13-6) at No. 3 Georgetown (13-3)
Georgetown will make its ninth consecutive tournament appearance and will send Monmouth home early. Hoyas junior Coco Stanwick leads the nation in draw controls, averaging 6.4 per game. With constant possession of the ball, Monmouth will not have a chance to score.
Daily pick: Georgetown, 12-4.
No. 11 Cornell (12-3) at No. 6 Notre Dame (13-3)
Notre Dame is definitely a sleeper team in this tournament and will advance farther than most would expect. With a perfect home record this season, the Fighting Irish will be tough to beat in South Bend. The last time these two teams met, Notre Dame came out on top, 17-15.
Daily pick: Notre Dame, 15-12.
No. 10 Boston University (15-4) at No. 7 Dartmouth (11-5)
This could be one of the closest games in the tournament. However, the home turf gives Dartmouth the advantage. These two teams met recently on April 26, and Dartmouth won 11-5. With the top-ranked scoring defense in the nation, Dartmouth edges BU.
Daily pick: Dartmouth, 10-8.
No. 15 Princeton (11-5) at No. 2 Virginia (15-3)
The last time these teams met, Virginia made quick work of the Ivy-leaguers, 16-3. This time the score will not be much closer. UVA has been in the title game the last three seasons and took home the national title in 2004. Do not forget that UVA has defeated top-seeded Duke twice this season.
Daily pick: Virginia, 15-4.
Quarterfinals
James Madison at Duke
The Tewaaraton Trophy’s 2005 winner Katie Chrest and the nation’s third-best offense will be too much for James Madison to handle.
Daily pick: Duke, 14-8.
Maryland at NU
This is the matchup the lacrosse world has been waiting for. Coach Cindy Timchal and her nine NCAA titles will be put to the test against her former player, NU coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. This will be a gritty prot
