The road to lacrosse supremacy culminates this weekend as the top collegiate teams clash in the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Tournament. Hosted by Drexel University and held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this single-elimination tournament crowns the national champion.
The excitement began on May 11th with eight first-round matchups featuring a thrilling mix of veteran powerhouses and hungry upstarts. Powerhouse programs like Notre Dame (ranked #1), Duke (#2), and Johns Hopkins (#3) aim to solidify their legacies, while hungry contenders like Denver and Utah seek to crash the championship party.
The first round witnessed strategic battles and dazzling displays of athleticism. Top seeds like Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins dominated, while upsets brewed elsewhere. Each victory propels a team closer to the coveted national title, while each defeat extinguishes championship dreams.
This weekend (May 12th), the second round commences, narrowing the field to just eight teams. The intensity rises as teams face familiar foes or uncharted territory. Victories here propel teams to the quarterfinals, held on May 15th, where the Final Four contenders are decided.
The journey culminates in Philadelphia with the semifinals on May 25th. Here, the remaining four teams battle for the right to compete in the championship game, held on May 27th. This winner-take-all showdown determines the national champion, etching their names in lacrosse history.
Beyond individual glory, the tournament fosters a sense of community. Dedicated fans from across the country pack stadiums, their cheers and chants echoing through the stands. Players, fueled by their passion for the sport and the unwavering support of their teams, battle for their schools and the ultimate prize: hoisting the national championship trophy.
So, whether you’re a die-hard lacrosse fan or a casual observer, the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament offers captivating story lines, heart-stopping action, and a chance to witness the best collegiate lacrosse players battle for national glory.
NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Bracket 2024
The 2024 NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament will feature 17 teams. That will feature nine automatic berths and eight at-large teams. A look at those seeds, schools, conferences and bids:
| SEED | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE | BID |
| 1 | Notre Dame (12-1) | ACC | At-large |
| 2 | Duke (12-5) | ACC | At-large |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins (10-4) | Big Ten | At-large |
| 4 | Syracuse (11-5) | ACC | At-large |
| 5 | Denver (11-3) | Big East | At-large |
| 6 | Virginia (10-5) | ACC | At-large |
| 7 | Maryland (8-5) | Big Ten | At-large |
| 8 | Georgetown (12-3) | Big East | Automatic |
| – | Penn State (11-4) | Big Ten | At-large |
| – | Princeton (11-4) | Ivy | Automatic |
| – | Saint Joseph’s (12-3) | Atlantic 10 | Automatic |
| – | Michigan (10-6) | Big Ten | Automatic |
| – | Towson (13-3) | CAA | Automatic |
| – | Lehigh (9-6) | Patriot | Automatic |
| – | Utah (12-4) | Atlantic Sun | Automatic |
| – | Albany (9-7) | America East | Automatic |
| – | Sacred Heart (13-4) | MAAC | Automatic |
NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament Schedule
First round
The NCAA men’s lacrosse first round will be held at the higher seeded team’s stadium on Saturday May 11 and Sunday, May 12.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel/Live stream |
| Sat., May 11 | No. 6 Virginia vs. Saint Joseph’s | 12 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sat., May 11 | No. 7 Maryland vs. Princeton | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sat., May 11 | No. 5 Denver vs. Michigan | 5 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sat., May 11 | No. 2 Duke vs. Utah | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sun., May 12 | No. 3 Johns Hopkins vs. Lehigh | 12 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sun., May 12 | No. 8 Georgetown vs. Penn State | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sun., May 12 | No. 1 Notre Dame vs. Albany | 5 p.m. | ESPNU, |
| Sun., May 12 | No. 4 Syracuse vs. Towson | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU, |
Quarterfinals
The NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament quarterfinals will be played on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. and Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md.
| Date | Game | Site | Time (ET) | Channel/Live stream |
| May 18 or 19 | TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBD | ESPNU, |
| May 18 or 19 | TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBD | ESPNU, |
| May 18 or 19 | TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBD | ESPNU, |
| May 18 or 19 | TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBD | ESPNU, |
Semifinals
The NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament semifinals will be on Saturday, May 25, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel/Live stream |
| Sat., May 25 | TBD vs. TBD | TBD | ESPN2, |
| Sat., May 25 | TBD vs. TBD | TBD | ESPN2, |
National championship game
The national championship game, like the national semifinals, will be held at Lincoln Financial Field and is traditionally on Memorial Day.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel/Live stream |
| Mon., May 27 | Semifinal winners | TBD | ESPN, |
Players to watch
Liam Entenmann, Notre Dame
Entenmann has a .556 save percentage and he was dominant in the ACC tournament with 30 saves and a .714 percentage in the victories against Duke and Virginia.
Pat and Chris Kavanagh, Notre Dame
Pat has 20 goals and 37 assists. Chris has 27 goals and 27 assists. They fuel a balanced Notre Dame attack that averages 16 goals per game.
Connor Schellenberger, Virginia
A star on attack, Schellenberger averages 4.93 points per game. He scored 26 goals with 43 assists.
Brennan O’Neill and Dyson Williams, Duke
This a dominant attack duo. Both seniors scored 44 goals this season and are trying to lead the Bulldogs to their first national title since 2014.
Alec Stathakis, Denver
The face-off battles between Stathakis — who has the highest-percentage in the tournament at .620 — should be fun against Michigan’s Justin Wietfeldt, who his at .605.
Preview of NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Tournament 2024
The 2024 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament is in full swing, with the first round complete and the second round kicking off today. Here’s a look at what’s transpired and what’s on tap:
Top Seeds Dominate (Mostly): Powerhouses like #1 Notre Dame, #2 Duke, and #3 Johns Hopkins lived up to their rankings, securing convincing victories in the first round. However, there were some scares. #7 Maryland squeaked by Princeton, a rematch of their regular season meeting, highlighting the competitiveness of the field.
Upsets on the Horizon?: While the top seeds took care of business, teams like #5 Denver and #4 Syracuse face intriguing second-round matchups. Denver takes on a surging Michigan squad, while Syracuse clashes with a physical Towson team. These games could provide upsets and shake up the bracket.
Players to Watch: Keep an eye on offensive powerhouses like Notre Dame’s Ryder Garnsey and Duke’s Brennan O’Neill, who shredded defenses in the first round. Defensively, Johns Hopkins goalie Geoffrey Wickham and Maryland’s long-stick midfielder Luke Wiles look to continue their dominance.
Road to Philly: The second round narrows the field to eight, and the stakes rise dramatically. Victories here propel teams to the quarterfinals on May 15th, held at neutral sites. The winners there punch their tickets to Philadelphia for the semifinals (May 25th) and the championship game (May 27th) at Lincoln Financial Field.
Intrigue Abounds: Will the top seeds continue their reign, or will a mid-major team make a Cinderella run? Can hungry contenders like Denver and Utah pull off upsets? The answers unfold over the next two weekends, promising a thrilling battle for the national championship.
Beyond the Game: The tournament transcends the field. Dedicated fans create a vibrant atmosphere, their cheers fueling the passion of players. The event fosters a sense of community and a chance to witness the future stars of professional lacrosse.
So, buckle up for a thrilling ride! Whether you’re a lacrosse aficionado or a casual observer, the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament offers captivating story lines, heart-stopping action, and a champion crowned in the City of Brotherly Love.
