Lacrosse Division I final four preview
Duke's David Lawson holds up the NCAA college Division I championship final lacrosse trophy after defeating Syracuse 16-10 on Monday, May 27, 2013, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP
Defending champion Duke is back in the lacrosse Final Four for an eighth consecutive year under former Hofstra head coach John Danowski, an achievement that would even impress the Blue Devils' iconic basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Duke is the No. 1 seed but will be challenged in Saturday's first semifinal game in Baltimore by high-scoring Denver, guided by former Princeton coach Bill Tierney. In the other semifinal, two teams with stalwart defenses, Notre Dame and Maryland, will meet.
The winners play for the national championship on Memorial Day Monday at 1 p.m.
NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Final Four
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
Saturday Semifinals: 1 and 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
GAME 1: Duke (15-3) vs. Denver (16-2), 1 p.m.
TOP PLAYERS: Duke is led by Tewaaraton candidate Jordan Wolf (59 goals, 33 assists), Deemer Case (33 goals, 27 assists) and Myles Jones (33 goals, 24 assists). Faceoff specialist Brendan Fowler (59.5%) is one of the nation's best. Denver's run-and-gun attack features Wesley Berg (42 goals, 18 assists) and Jack Bobzien (39 goals, 21 assists).
LI LINKS: Jones, an emerging national star, is from Whitman High School. Fowler is from Chaminade. Kyle Keenan from Smithtown West (19 goals) likely will replace injured star Josh Dionne (49 goals) on attack for Duke. Denver hasn't yet recruited heavily on Long Island.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Duke defeated Johns Hopkins, 19-11, and Air Force, 20-9. Denver beat Drexel, 15-6, and North Carolina, 9-5.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Plenty of highlight-reel goals as Duke is No. 2 in the country in scoring (14.82) while Denver is No. 3 (13.18).
GAME 2: Maryland (13-3) vs. Notre Dame (11-5), 3:30 p.m.
TOP PLAYERS: Maryland features the St. Anthony's connection of Mike Chanenchuk (35 goals, 22 assists) and Joe LoCascio (18 goals), plus former Friar Charlie Raffa on faceoffs (No. 2 in nation but questionable with injury). Notre Dame is led by former Chaminade star Matt Kavanaugh (35 goals, 30 assists), who scored game winner in overtime against Albany last Saturday after his hustle play kept the possession alive.
LI LINKS: This game is a showcase for ex-CHSAA stars, as the anchor of Maryland defense is former Chaminade standout Mike Ehrhardt, a long-stick midfielder.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Maryland edged Cornell, 8-7, and trounced Bryant, 16-8. Notre Dame nipped Albany, 14-13, and belted Harvard, 13-5.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Longer possessions and fewer scoring opportunities, as defense is trademark of both teams. They do, however, have some firepower.
