Thursday May 27th, 2021 11:00am
(Photo Courtesy: Northwestern Athletic Communications)
Syracuse-Northwestern. It’s usually a regular-season non-conference game that both teams and lacrosse fans have circled in red Sharpie on their calendars.
Of course, that wasn’t the case this year the Big Ten only played conference opponents.
The two teams last locked horns on Feb. 22, 2020, a 16-11 Syracuse win in Evanston. It was a rematch of a 2019 quarterfinal game, which Northwestern took, 18-14.
“We’ve had some great battles these last two years, and I expect this to be the same,” said Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, who has the Wildcats vying for their eighth national title and first since 2012 (when they beat Syracuse in the national championship game).
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Syracuse, N.Y.
Loyola vs. Hofstra
Loyola (11-2) punched its ticket to the NCAAs by winning its fifth Patriot League championship in seven years last weekend. The Greyhounds have won at least one NCAA Tournament game in seven of its eight appearances under head coach Jen Adams and last made the quarterfinals in 2015. Hofstra (6-6), which earned an at-large bid, is making its first appearance in the tournament since 2007.
Livy Rosenzweig paces the Greyhounds in goals (32), assists (42), points (74) and draws (73). Jillian Wilson (23 G, 16 A, 61 DC, 17 CT) also knows how to stuff a stat sheet. Loyola ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense (7.69) and is anchored by goalie Kaitlyn Larsson (7.84 GAA, .519 save percentage). Larsson’s GAA is fourth in Div. I.