🧐 WHO'S HEADED TO CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND?

Eight teams remain. Only four will make it to Championship Weekend.

Four of the eight games last weekend were decided by just one goal, including Michigan’s overtime upset over Cornell. A fifth game — Georgetown’s 19-17 thriller vs. Yale — had a two-goal margin of victory.

With trips to Philadelphia for the Final Four on the line, expect to see more dramatic finishes in the NCAA Quarterfinals.

This weekend’s matchups will move to neutral site locations. Two games will be held at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y. on Saturday, and two games will be held at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.

Scroll through this newsletter for more information, including matchups to watch, X-factors and final score predictions.

(2) Virginia 🆚 (7) Georgetown

Matchup To Watch: Connor Shellenberger vs. Will Bowen

Biggest X-Factor: Virginia’s Title Experience

Score Prediction: Virginia 16, Georgetown 13

This matchup features a ton of offensive firepower on both sides. Each team has a Tewaaraton Award finalist, with Connor Shellenberger guiding the Virginia offense and Tucker Dordevic leading the way for Georgetown. Even if the Hoyas are able to neutralize Shellenberger with All-American defender and first-round PLL Draft pick Will Bowen, the Cavaliers are loaded with talent. Several of their top contributors were on the team that won it all in 2021, and some were even around during the 2019 title run. They know how to perform under pressure.

Broadcast Info: Saturday, 12 p.m. ET on ESPNU (Albany, N.Y.)

(1) Duke 🆚 Michigan

Matchup To Watch: Brennan O’Neill vs Michigan’s Defense

Biggest X-Factor: Michigan’s Momentum

Score Prediction: Duke 12, Michigan 11

Top-seeded Duke struggled against Delaware at home in the first-round. Brennan O’Neill had three assists but only scored one goal, and it came when PLL first-round defenseman Owen Grant wasn’t on the field. Michigan doesn’t have an individual defender of Grant’s caliber, so containing O’Neill will have to be a team effort. Duke can’t afford to come out flat; the Wolverines are riding the emotional high of five straight wins. No one expected them to make it this far, but Michael Boehm and company keep pulling off upsets and proving the doubters wrong.

Broadcast Info: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU (Albany, N.Y.)

(5) Penn State 🆚 Army

Matchup To Watch: Knox Dent vs. Penn State’s Offense

Biggest X-Factor: The Neutral Site Location

Score Prediction: Army 11, Penn State 9

In order to win an NCAA Championship, you need a hot goalie — and no one is hotter than Army’s Knox Dent right now. Dent is the reigning TLN Player of the Week, after making 16 saves in the first-round win over Maryland. Penn State’s offensive firepower will be put to the test in this one, as Army allows less than 10 goals per game. Watch for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year TJ Malone to carry the load. Oh, and don’t overlook the game location. The Nittany Lions are 3-4 away from home this season (0-2 at neutral sites).

Broadcast Info: Sunday, 12 p.m. ET on ESPNU (Annapolis, Md.)

(3) Notre Dame 🆚 (6) Johns Hopkins

Matchup To Watch: Russell Melendez vs. Chris Fake

Biggest X-Factor: Notre Dame’s Kavanagh Brothers

Score Prediction: Notre Dame 15, Hopkins 11

Notre Dame is the favorite to win this matchup, but if there’s one player on Hopkins who could thrive in a spoiler role, it’s Russell Melendez. He’s just a different breed of competitor and is sure to be a handful for Notre Dame’s top defenseman Chris Fake on Sunday. Melendez and the rest of the Blue Jays will have to keep pace with Pat and Chris Kavanagh, though. These brothers are determined and focused to bring a National Championship to South Bend, and they realize that this year might be their best opportunity to make their dream a reality.

Broadcast Info: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU (Annapolis, Md.)