The Syracuse Orange (12-4, 2-2 ACC) face the Maryland Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse tournament. The Orange defeated Albany last week by a score of 11-9 to advance. The Terrapins thumped Quinnipiac 13-6 to move on.
Who's Hot- Nick Mariano
Mariano has been an excellent pickup after transferring in this year. He's scored a goal in every game thus far. He's been particularly hot of late; in his last four games, Mariano has 11 points, six of them goals. He also leads the team in shots (102) and shots on goal (60). His arrival has helped take pressure off of Dylan Donahue, giving the Orange an excellent 1-2 punch on offense.
Blue Blood Matchup
Syracuse vs. Maryland Saturday at Noon. Pre-game at 11:30 on WAER 88.3
For long time lacrosse fans, this is a matchup featuring two of the best programs in lacrosse history. While everyone loves how the sport has grown, it is always awesome to see two excellent programs play in big games. The Terrapins are the No. 1 team in the country, but the Orange have been playing great lately. This game has the makings of an instant classic.
Key Matchup- Syracuse's Offense vs. Maryland's Defense
Just because it's obvious doesn't mean it's not true. The Orange's biggest strength is its offense; they rank seventh in the league in scoring offense. On the flip side, Maryland's biggest strength is its defense; the defense is ranked sixth in division one. Whichever team wins this battle is going to win the game. And as mentioned earlier, this game should be a classic.