New Year, Same Teams

College Lacrosse Analysis

Perennial Powers Dominate Opening Round Of Ncaa Tournament

Hello, old friend: : Three of the four quarterfinal contests involve rematches from the regular season. Top-seeded Virginia outlasted Johns Hopkins, 16-15, on March 21. No. 3 seed Duke defeated North Carolina twice, and Cornell rattled No. 4 seed Princeton, 10-7, on April 18 en route to the team's seventh consecutive Ivy League title.

On the flip side, No. 2 seed and reigning national champion Syracuse will meet Maryland for the first time since May 24, 1997, when the Terps won an 18-17 thriller in a NCAA tournament semifinal.

This weekend also marks the first time all four Atlantic Coast Conference schools advanced to the quarterfinals in the same tournament.

Luck of the Irish?: : The Fighting Irish's last three trips to the NCAA tournament have ended in losses to the eventual national champion. Notre Dame lost to Virginia and Johns Hopkins in the first round in 2006 and 2007, respectively, and fell to Syracuse last May. Does this bode well for Maryland?

Maryland- Syracuse

@Hofstra

Saturday,

noon or 2 p.m.

Hopkins- Virginia

@Navy

Sunday,

Noon or 2 p.m.