📍 PLL TEAM IN YOUR CITY?

Want a PLL team in your city?

Thousands of pro lacrosse fans do, and that’s why the league announced on Thursday that all eight teams will be assigned home cities in 2024. Here is the official announcement, via the PLL on Instagram:

The PLL’s current touring model will continue into 2024, but each weekend will be hosted by a home team. That team will play a doubleheader when hosting in its home city.

“Moving our eight teams into home cities will mark the biggest investment in the league since its inception,” PLL co-founder Paul Rabil said in a statement. “This move will unlock deeper, more connected relationships between our fans, teams and players. Continuing to build a global presence around lacrosse and driving our mission forward will remain core to our approach. We’re giving the PLL local love and global awareness.”

Team locations will be announced at the end of the year, so stay tuned to see if the PLL will plant its flag in your city.

💥 (1) Duke vs. Penn State

If you’re a fan of Penn State lacrosse, then you must believe in miracles. This program won just seven games in 2021 and 2022 combined, and here they are at 11-4 in the NCAA Semifinals. No one expected the Nittany Lions to knock off Yale, Penn and Cornell in succession; or claim a share of the Big Ten regular-season title; or make it to Championship Weekend. And yet, here they are. That’s a testament to the job head coach Jeff Tambroni has done.

But Penn State hasn’t played anyone like this Duke team. Their best hope to lock up Tewaaraton Award finalist Brennan O’Neill was All-Big Ten defender Jack Posey, who appeared to suffer a serious leg injury in the win over Army last weekend. After bowling over Michigan (2023 Big Ten Champs) in the NCAA Quarterfinals, the Blue Devils look like a heavy favorite in this matchup.

Best Player on the Field: Brennan O’Neill, Duke (No. 34)

Stat That Matters: Penn State has faced zero ACC opponents in 2023

Final Prediction: Duke 15, Penn State 9

💥 (2) Virginia vs. (3) Notre Dame

How hard is it to beat a team three times in one season? We’ll find out on Saturday, as Virginia looks to extend its season sweep of Notre Dame to three games. The first two matchups weren’t particularly close, with the Cavaliers winning by five goals in the first meeting in South Bend and four goals in the rematch at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville. Will a neutral site be any different?

Losing two games to Virginia is just part of the massive chip on Notre Dame’s shoulder this season. They haven’t forgotten about being left out of the NCAA Tournament last year. And now Pat Kavanagh, one of five Tewaaraton Award finalists, was snubbed from the USILA’s list of First-Team All-Americans!? I would hate to be the defender charged with guarding him on Saturday.

Best Player on the Field: Connor Shellenberger, Virginia (No. 1)

Stat That Matters: Virginia is 2-0 vs. Notre Dame in 2023

Final Prediction: Virginia 14, Notre Dame 13

👏 Division II: Ryan Scoble’s Story

When Mercyhurst and Lenoir-Rhyne square off in the Division II final on Sunday, you’re guaranteed to hear the story of Ryan Scoble. Mercyhurst’s senior defenseman was diagnosed with late-stage heart failure in 2021 and needed a heart transplant. He was sidelined for the entire 2022 season, but returned to the field this year and even scored his first collegiate goal last month. Scoble’s story was featured in the Wall Street Journal earlier this spring, and he was even interviewed on FOX News. The entire lacrosse community should be able to come together and rally around Scoble’s comeback this weekend.

🐘 Division III: Undefeated Tufts?

Heading into the Division III Championship against Salisbury, Tufts boasts a perfect 22-0 record. The Jumbos have cruised to this point, winning their first four games in the NCAA Tournament by an average of 12.25 goals per game. Salisbury is no pushover, tough. The Seagulls have only lost one game this season, and they’ve won 12 National Championships under head coach Jim Berkman. This is the fifth time these two teams have met in the title game, and the championship series is split 2-2. Tufts won the first time they met in 2010 and again in 2014, while Salisbury won in 2011 and the most recent meeting in 2016.

💭 Women’s Final Four Thoughts

The Women’s Final Four is being held in Cary, N.C., with the semifinal matchups starting on Friday afternoon. The first matchup features the No. 1 offense (Northwestern) vs. the No. 1 defense (Denver). The second game is a rematch of the regular-season finale in which Boston College stunned then-top-ranked Syracuse.

Syracuse spent the most time at No. 1 this season, but Boston College is used to the big stage. Northwestern may have the most talented roster, featuring a pair of Tewaaraton Award finalists in Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall, but you can’t overlook what Denver has done to defy the odds and go undefeated to this point.

Whoever advances on Friday will meet on Sunday for the Division I title.