Men's lacrosse hotshots show themselves in opening weekend
This was a great opening weekend of lacrosse. Winners this week were North Carolina, UMBC and Notre Dame. The Tar Heels announced themselves as primetime players with a 20-7 win over Denver. Just days after giving props to Penn State and Rutgers, the Nittany Lions fell to Robert Morris and the Scarlet Knights lost to Villanova. Welcome to the Top 20, UMass and Army. Colgate is waiting in the wings to take your spot.
Quint's Power Rankings
1. Virginia
Last week: 1
The Cavaliers beat Drexel 13-7 on Saturday and defeated Bryant 10-4 on Monday. Chad Gaudet, a transfer from Dartmouth who is taking graduate classes at UVA, faced off well Saturday with his long stick and adds a bit of toughness to the lineup. Garrett Billings found the net five times against Drexel, while Shamel and Rhamel Bratton shot a combined 1-for-17 in their sophomore debuts.
2. Syracuse
Last week: 2
The 2008 champion took out Providence on Sunday. Orange must replace face-off man Dan Brennan, Tewaraton winner Mike Leveille and two starting defenders: Kyle Guadagnolo and Evan Brady. That's why I rate them No. 2 right now.
3. Maryland
Last week: 3
Rolled over Presbyterian and Air Force this past weekend in Florida by a combined 33-7. Will Yeatman, the 6-foot-6, 267-pound attackman, had two goals and four assists against Air Force. The midfield units remain a work in progress for coach Dave Cottle. Fun fact: Washington Capitals defender Mike Green set an NHL record for scoring a goal in eight consecutive games Saturday; can Maryland defender Brian Farrell score at that rate this spring? The Terps host Georgetown on Saturday (ESPNU, 1 p.m. ET).
4. Duke
Last week: 4
The Blue Devils beat Bucknell 11-7 as Ned Crotty dished out five assists in his first start on attack. Duke was outshot 37-27 by the Bison and overcame two three-minute stick penalties on face-off man Sam Payton. The ball would not roll out of his stick when tested. Defender Parker McKee scooped up seven ground balls. Duke hosts Colgate on Friday at 4 p.m.
5. North Carolina
Last week: 6
Carolina tarred and feathered Denver 20-7 on Fetzer Field, dominating the ground ball category 49-17 and scoring 20 for the first time in eight years. The Tar Heels jumped out to a 6-0 lead and shot 50 percent for the game, and the attack of Gavin Petracca, Bart Wagner and Billy Bitter combined for 10 goals and nine assists. Shane Walterhoeffer won the first 10 of 15 face-offs. Coach Joe Breschi started Jack Ryan, Ryan Flanagan and freshman Charlie McComas on defense.
6. Georgetown
Last week: 5
Dress rehearsal against Albany in Washington, D.C., on Saturday went well. Face-off man Michael Shotwell was sharp. The strength of the Hoyas are midfielders Andrew Brancaccio and Scott Kocis. The Hoyas play at Maryland on Saturday (ESPNU, 1 p.m. ET).
7. Johns Hopkins
Last week: 7
The Blue Jays took a step in the right direction in a tune-up with Cornell on Saturday. Nine players scored for JHU as their dinged-up roster is starting to get healthy after a rigorous preseason training routine. Goalie Michael Gvozden was exceptional against Cornell. JHU hosts Siena on Friday (ESPNU, 6 p.m. ET).
8. Princeton
Last week: 8
The Tigers host Canisius on Saturday.
9. Cornell
Last week: 9
Big Red dueled with Hopkins in Baltimore on Saturday in a scrimmage. Senior Kyle Harer started in goal and was relieved after three quarters by Matt Martinez. Cornell's attack of Ryan Hurley, Rob Pannell and Kyle Doctor is smart and dangerous off the ground when it looks inside and to the backside. Doctor scored three goals. Max Seibald and John Glynn are as good as advertised.
10. Hofstra
Last week: 10
Hofstra faces UMass in its opener Saturday at 1 p.m.
11. UMBC
Last week: 11
The Retrievers jumped all over Delaware, leading 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. Kyle Wimer scored a career-high five goals. UMBC faces Rutgers on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Catonsville, Md.
12. Albany
Last week: 13
Nine different Danes found the net in a scrimmage against Georgetown: Brian Caufield, Joe Resetarits, Derek Kreuzer, John Carroll, Mark Cometti, Corey Small, Joe Pompo, John Alpizar and Dave Brock. Albany is vulnerable right now at the face-off X. Albany entertains Denver this weekend in an important game for both teams.
13. Denver
Last week: 12
Joey Murray figured in four of Denver's seven goals in a 20-7 loss to North Carolina. Denver managed only 21 shots, and only two by its leading scorer, Jamie Lincoln.
14. Notre Dame
Last week: 15
The Fighting Irish beat Loyola by a goal in Atlanta. Attackman Neal Hicks and midfielder David Earl are two new faces who made an impact for the rebuilt Irish.
15. Navy
Last week: 16
The Midshipmen beat Ohio State 8-6 on Saturday in Annapolis, Ind., shutting out the Buckeyes in the first and fourth quarters. The Buckeyes put only 12 shots on goal and committed 24 turnovers. OSU's Jeff Ryan was flagged with an illegal stick, costing his team a two-goal swing. Navy travels to UNC this week in a rematch of last year's NCAA thriller.
For the rest of Quint's Top 20 this week, go to Inside Lacrosse.
