Area capsules | NCAA capsules
Hofstra at Maryland
Where » Byrd Stadium, College Park
When » Saturday, noon
TV » ESPNU
Seeded No. 3, Maryland (11-3) plays host to Hofstra (9-4), which had a topsy-turvy season, failing to get into the CAA tournament despite wins over champions of the regular-season (Towson) and tournament (Delaware). Routs of NCAA-bound Johns Hopkins and Army, by a combined 31-8, got the Pride an at-large bid. Ranking fifth in the NCAA in goals (13.3 per game), Hofstra is propelled by a pair of Canadian attackmen, Jay Card (49 points) and Jamie Lincoln (53 points). Hofstra is solid on faceoffs (56.3 pct.) but has struggled in goal (46.5 save pct.). Maryland answers with athleticism, hustle (36.6 ground balls pg), and an offense sparked by junior attackmen Grant Catalino (53 points) and Ryan Young (44 points). This is the first meeting since Maryland won an opening-round NCAA game in the 2000, 14-12, to take an 8-1 lead in the series.
Johns Hopkins at Duke
Where » Koskinen Stadium, Durham
When » Saturday, noon
TV » ESPN
After closing the regular season with wins over Towson and Loyola, Hopkins (7-7) earned an at-large bid to extend its record streak of NCAA appearances to 39. The Blue Jays have blossomed with the emergence of goalie Pierce Bassett (.581 save pct.), one of four freshmen in the starting lineup. After a slow start, Duke (12-4) rallied to earn the No. 5 seed. In four of the last five years, the Blue Devils have made the Final Four, but are still looking for their first NCAA title. Three of their Final Four losses have come by one goal. Duke has the nation’s most prolific attack. Ned Crotty is the top feeder in Division I (51 assists), getting the ball to Max Quinzani (57 goals) and Zach Howell (41 goals). Hopkins leads the series 12-4, winning the last meeting, 10-9, in the 2008 NCAA semifinals to avenge a 17-6 rout earlier in that season.
Loyola at Cornell
Where » Schoellkopf Field, Ithaca, N.Y.
When » Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
TV » ESPNU
Unseeded Loyola (9-4) limps into the postseason after losses to Denver and Hopkins in which it scored a combined 10 goals. Cornell (10-5), which is seeded No. 7, lost Sunday to Princeton, 10-9, in the first Ivy League tournament final. The defending NCAA runner-up Big Red are led by Ivy player of the year Rob Pannell (70 points), senior attack Ryan Hurley (50 points) and senior defender Pierce Derkac. Loyola answers with ECAC offensive player of the year Cooper MacDonnell (22 goals) and goalie of the year Jake Hagelin, who is second in the nation in goals against average (7.9 pg). This is the first time since 1962 that the teams have met.
NCAA Capsules
Delaware at UNC
Where » Fetzer Field, Chapel Hill
When » Sunday, 5 p.m.
TV » ESPNU
CAA champion Delaware (10-6), which has won six straight, challenges No. 4 seed UNC (12-2) in a battle of Carolina grads, Blue Hens’ 32-year head coach Bob Shillinglaw and Tar Heels’ coach Joe Breschi. UNC is sparked by Gavin Petracca (43 points) and Billy Bitter (40 points). Delaware answers with Tewaaraton Trophy finalist Curtis Dickson, who leads the nation with 62 goals. UNC leads the series, 8-2, the last meeting coming in 2002, a 16-9 Carolina win.
Army at Syracuse
Where » Carrier Dome, Syracuse
When » Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
TV » ESPNU
Patriot League champion Army (10-5) has won seven straight, but is in the deep end of the talent pool against two-time defending NCAA champion and No. 2 seed Syracuse (13-1). Jeremy Boltus (63 points), the top scorer for Army, will receive attention from a Syracuse defense led by junior longstick Joel White (71 ground balls, 30 caused turnovers), a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist. The Orange beat the Black Knights earlier this season, 12-7, and have won 14 of the last 15 meetings.
Notre Dame at Princeton
Where » Class of 1952 Stadium, Princeton, N.J.
When » Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
TV » ESPNU
The unseeded Irish (7-6) squeaked into the NCAAs and will battle a history of postseason failure (5-14 all-time). No. 6 seed Princeton (11-4) is 29-11 in the NCAAs, with six titles in a span of 10 years (1992-2001). Notre Dame’s 6-4, 255-pound goalie Scott Rodgers (.568 save pct.) will battle Princeton standout Jack McBride (46 points), who scored the winning goal with 1 second left in OT as Princeton beat Cornell in the Ivy League tournament final Sunday.
Denver at Stony Brook
Where » LaValle Stadium, Stony Brook, N.Y.
When » Saturday, 5 p.m.
TV » ESPNU
Two novices, neither with an NCAA tournament victory, meet. ECAC champion Denver (12-4), which has won nine straight, has grown under rookie coach Bill Tierney, who guided Princeton to six national championships. Stony Brook (12-3) is led by 6-4 midfielder and Tawaaraton finalist Kevin Crowley (71 points). Denver beat Stony Brook on March, 20, 13-12, outscoring the Seawolves 6-1 in the fourth period as Charley Dickenson notched the game winner.
