LOCAL GAMES
Georgetown at Villanova
Where » Villanova Stadium
When » Saturday, 7 p.m.
An NCAA elimination game a week early? Both Georgetown (8-5) and Villanova (10-4) are on the bubble. Both have quality wins over Notre Dame and Delaware. The Hoyas made the tournament 11 times, all in consecutive years (1997-2007). The Wildcats made their first NCAA appearance last year. Georgetown is triggered by seniors Craig Dowd (11 goals, 31 assists), Scott Kocis (15 goals, 12 assists) and Chris Nixon (26 caused turnovers), but has had goalie problems (.483 save percentage). Senior middie Paul Webber (29 goals) and sophomore attack Kevin Cunningham (14 goals, 27 assists) lead the Villanova offense while junior Brian Karalunas (51 ground balls, 53 turnovers) sparks the defense. The teams have not met since 1999, but are now conference foes in the Big East. Georgetown trails in the series 9-14, despite winning the last seven meetings.
Johns Hopkins at Loyola
Where » Ridley Athletic Complex
When » Saturday, noon
TV » ESPNU
Radio » 1570 AM
Against its Baltimore rival, much is at stake for Johns Hopkins (6-7), which is on the bubble after making a record 38 straight NCAA appearances. Loyola (9-3) has probably done enough to qualify, but is smarting after a 12-4 loss at Denver, where the ECAC title and an automatic NCAA berth were at stake. Hopkins seniors Steven Boyle (30 goals, 21 assists) and Michael Kimmel (21 goals, 15 assists) will challenge the nation’s third stingiest defense (7.6 goals per game). Loyola went to the NCAAs 14 straight years (1988-2001) under Dave Cottle, but has made it only once (2007) since his departure for Maryland in 2002. Hopkins has won the last 10 meetings, including last year’s 11-10 victory in double OT.
Maryland at Colgate
Where » Manhasset High School (N.Y.)
When » Saturday, 1 p.m.
Maryland (10-3) has an NCAA berth wrapped up and likely will get the No. 3 or No. 4 overall seed. But first it tunes up in the third annual Lacrosse Day of Champions — which concludes with a high school game between defending N.Y. state champion Manhasset High and rival Cold Spring Harbor. This is the first time Maryland has met Colgate (3-9), which plays its season finale after failing to make the Patriot League tournament. The Raiders are led by Peter Baum (27 goals) and 6-4, 235-pound Ben McCabe (24 goals, 8 assists). Maryland answers with juniors Grant Catalino (31 goals, 19 assists), Ryan Young (14 goals, 26 assists) and Brett Schmidt (28 ground balls, 24 caused turnovers).
