3
NORTH CAROLINA 2016 record // 12-6 (3-1 ACC)
Last seen // Celebrating its first NCAA championship since 1991 in the wake of Chris Cloutier’s extra-man goal in overtime against Maryland on Memorial Day.
Starts lost // 26% Scoring lost // 33%
2 MARYLAND 2016 record // 17-3 (5-0 Big Ten)
Last seen // Nearly bringing an end to a 41-year title drought, only to allow the final three goals to North Carolina in one of the best NCAA championship games in recent memory.
Starts lost // 39% Scoring lost // 28%
Forecast // No, Maryland did not win the national title last year. But it was the most complete team of 2016, with the fewest vulnerabilities, and one of the benefits of that is it has fairly established answers for nearly all of the graduation hits it absorbs. The entire starting attack returns, including All-American Matt Rambo. Matt Neufeldt will return from injury and reclaim his long pole spot. Goalie Kyle Bernlohr leaves a substantial hole, but Dan Morris has the coaches’ trust.
ENEMY LINES
“MATT RAMBO COULD BE A TEWAARATON FINALIST. HE DOES GET CREDIT BUT PROBABLY NOT AS MUCH AS HE DESERVES.
34 US LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2017
DIVISION I MEN
Forecast // North Carolina loses only five players off its national championship team, so there’s great temptation to anoint the Tar Heels as the early favorite for 2017. Yet this was still a team that entered May at 8-6. The Tar Heels must find another lead attackman with Steve Pontrello (perhaps Luke Goldstock) graduating, but they enjoyed enough success moving around pieces last year that they’ll be fine. Defensive questions will pop up again.
ENEMY LINES
“NO PRESSURE NOW. SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THEM PLAY LOOSE.”
4 LOYOLA
2016 record // 14-4 (7-0 Patriot League)
Last seen // Surrendering 18 goals to North Carolina (half of them to Chris Cloutier) in the NCAA semifinals, though it should be noted the Patriot League champions’ offense largely did as it pleased whenever it got the ball in that game.
Starts lost // 28% Scoring lost // 24%
Forecast // Pat Spencer (37 goals, 52 assists) was spectacular as a freshman, and he’ll have a good chunk of his supporting cast back (though finisher Zach Herreweyers departs after a 37-goal season). The Greyhounds are the clear-cut Patriot League favorite, and a serious threat to make it to the final weekend in Foxborough.
ENEMY LINES
“SPENCER IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY.”
5
NOTRE DAME 2016 record // 11-4 (3-1 ACC)
Last seen // Having few answers for North Carolina at either end of the field in a surprisingly lopsided NCAA quarterfinal loss.
Starts lost // 51% Scoring lost // 36%
Forecast // It would be overly melodramatic to suggest the Irish missed the best chance they’ll get to break through for their first national title. But 2016 was a missed opportunity based on the depth of the senior class. History suggests the defense will be fine. Ryder Garnsey, Sergio Perkovic and Mikey Wynne are a decent place to start at the other end.
ENEMY LINES
“CAN PERKOVIC PRODUCE CONSISTENTLY?”
USlacrosse.org
NCAA PREVIEW
©BILL DANIELEWSKI (MR); ©JOHN STROHSACKER (LG); ©KELSEY GRANT (PS)
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