| The defending champion
Bantams return as one of the tournament's
favorites. Trinity (Conn.) athletics photo |
By Dave McHugh
D3sports.com
When compared to the men’s tournament bracket, this is a dream. The women’s committee not only made sure most of the top teams weren’t lining up to play each other at least in the first round, but they were also a bit creative.
Sure, there are a number of Top 20 matchups brewing for the second round, but when you look at geography and other games, it isn’t that bad. The very good teams like Trinity (Conn.), Salisbury, Middlebury and Cortland State were all protected in the first two rounds while everyone else has to take on a challenge in the second round – seems fair. Those teams will most likely be hosting the pod of games on the first weekend, so there should be a reward for their seasons.
Yes, I think some teams were left out that deserved to be in (Stevenson to name one), but when you also have teams like Eastern Connecticut State at 7-10 who burst some at-large bubbles by unexpectedly winning their conference the committee is going to get stuck in some tough spots.
We have a competitive and well thought-out bracket. Sure, we can make some small changes here and there with some regional games and some rematches, but you can tell the committee seemed to think this through. As a result, we will have a tournament where the top teams will most likely be battling it out just to get to the final four in Owings Mills, Md. and the teams there are certain to put on a show!
Below I have broken down the brackets by looking at an intriguing matchup, a surprise team, a disappointment and a champion. Because of the nature of the brackets and the tournaments, I don’t necessarily always have a surprise team, but I do pick a team that is likely to disappoint at some point along the way.
The Salisbury Bracket
Cabrini (11-7) at Salisbury (18-0)
Sewanee (13-6) at Christopher Newport (17-2)
Elizabethtown (12-6) at Franklin and Marshall (14-4)
Washington and Lee (10-9) at York, Pa. (13-4)
The overwhelming favorite in this bracket is Salisbury, the 13-time NCAA tournament participant which won its only national title two years ago. What happens outside of that will be fun to watch. I think there are a number of teams who want to not only prove themselves, but prove they can beat Salisbury. Ultimately, there could be some upsets, but Salisbury is walking away from the first week with a trip to Owings Mills still ahead.
Most intriguing matchup: Christopher Newport at Salisbury. These two teams played April 21. It was the last time the Captains had taken the field (thanks to their strange conference tournament and thus the inability to schedule games late in the year) and the Sea Gulls won easily 14-7. However, this is the NCAA Tournament and with that experience to fall back on, CNU might be up for a better game and Salisbury could easily be looking past them – expecting to win easily. This is also a future conference matchup as Christopher Newport joins the Capital Athletic Conference next season. While I don’t think the Captains can pull off the upset, this will be closer than Salisbury would like it to be.
Most likely to surprise: York (Pa.). It is hard to find a lot of surprises in this bracket because of how evenly spread out the good teams are, but I think the Spartans are ready to shake things up and at least be playing for a chance to travel to Owings Mills, Md. York will most likely face a Franklin and Marshall squad they lost to in the first game of the season, but that was Feb. 26 – a lot has changed since then. While York has lost two of its last four, they were both on the road to No. 2 Salisbury. I suspect a short trip down U.S. Route 30 to F&M will be easier this time around.
Most likely to disappoint: Franklin and Marshall. There are high expectations for the No. 6 team in the country, but I think they run into an inspired York squad in the second of two games on the first weekend and won’t be able to get past the Spartans. F&M has had a terrific season with their four losses all coming to teams ranked ahead of them in the IWLCA Top 20, but I am not sure if this is their year.
Champion: Salisbury over York.
The Gettysburg Bracket
Castleton (10-7) at Middlebury (15-2)
Springfield (11-7) at Endicott (12-7)
Rowan (11-5) at Gettysburg (18-1)
St. John Fisher (15-3) at RPI (14-3)
I don’t see a lot of surprises in this bracket, though who hosts the weekend pod of games will be a good debate. I see both Gettysburg and Middlebury being in position to do so and a lot of the criteria are a wash. Gettysburg has played (and beaten) more regionally ranked opponents than Middlebury, the Bullets only loss was to the Panthers, and Middlebury has two regional losses to none for the Bullets. Usually the teams involved would be a factor, but every possible team is within 500 miles of both campuses. Whoever gets home field advantage will have the edge on getting to Owings Mills.
Most intriguing matchup: St. John Fisher at RPI.
Here is a matchup that had you looked at the final public regional rankings you would have thought it would be played at St. John Fisher. Both teams didn’t trip in the final week, so what changed? We won’t know because those pesky final regional rankings are kept nearly as secret as spies for the CIA. Of course, there is a chance St. John Fisher didn’t put in to host, but I don’t know that answer as I write this. It is the first time in program history RPI will host a women’s NCAA tournament game. But what is most intriguing about this game – these two teams have never played each other in the sport of women’s lacrosse. They are both in the state of New York and about 225 miles apart and certainly play a host of schools in the state (thanks in part to their conferences). So, I think it is about time they played!
Most likely to disappoint: Middlebury. This came down to Middlebury or Gettysburg and I went with the Panthers. These two teams will most likely faceoff in the quarterfinals making it a rematch of a game played at Gettysburg in late March. That game was won by Middlebury in a close affair, but I am not sure the Panthers could do it again. As I mentioned earlier, home field will be an advantage, especially resting up for the third game in five days and thus I think the sleeping in your own beds is a deciding factor. So, not being able to play in the semifinals as the No. 3 team in the country would make for a disappointment.
Champion: Gettysburg over Middlebury.
The Trinity (Conn.) Bracket
Montclair State (15-4) at Trinity, Conn. (17-0)
Augustana (16-3) at Redlands (15-4)
Eastern Connecticut State (7-11) at TCNJ (13-4)
Lasell (15-3) at Colby (12-4)
Trinity certainly garnered the respect of this bracket. They will not face a major challenge until the quarterfinals which will be played in Connecticut. Sure, you can’t overlook Montclair State in the first round or whomever will be flying to Hartford, but the Bantams are such an incredibly good team I can’t see them losing in this bracket. The rest of the bracket is a real battle with several games including TCNJ versus Colby looming as must-see viewing.
Most intriguing matchup: Augustana at Redlands. Talk about the growth of lacrosse on full display. Augustana is only in its second year of existence in the NCAA. In the meantime, Redlands is in its third straight NCAA tournament for a program that is in its 15th year of existence. Both teams are high scoring and stingy on defense. And I hope they like to fly, because no matter who wins, they are off to Connecticut for the next round.
Most likely to surprise: Augustana. No, I don’t think the Vikings will get past Trinity, but I do think the second year program is capable of heading out to Southern California and coming home a winner. In its first two seasons, Augustana has put up some impressive numbers with some talented players. Granted it is hard to get a lock on Redlands and Augustana because they are on lacrosse islands, but the Vikings seem to have an edge in a lot of statistical categories and certainly will be playing with more emotion.
Most likely to disappoint: TCNJ has had a terrific season with its losses coming to some of the best teams in the country, but I think those losses also show they are not a team that can make a run for a national title. I think they lose to No. 7 Colby in the second round in a game that could be played at TCNJ, but won’t be enough of an advantage. The 29th straight NCAA tournament appearance will end in round two and without an 11th national title.
Champion: Trinity (Conn.) over Colby.
The Cortland State Bracket
Keuka (12-3) at Cortland State (18-1)
Kenyon (13-2) at Adrian (16-2)
Bridgewater State (17-2) at Bowdoin (13-3)
Geneseo State (12-5) at Susquehanna (17-0)
This might be the most interesting of the four brackets. You have a wide range of teams from different regions and I suspect we see at least one upset. Cortland State earned some protection, but I think they are the least protected of the four top seeds. While I think they will get past Keuka, I suspect they will be playing Adrian in the second round and the Bulldogs are a scary team. And should the Red Dragons get past that game they will still have a Top 20 team to play the next day.
Most intriguing matchup: Geneseo State at Susquehanna. The only matchup of Top 20 teams in the first round will certainly be worth keeping an eye on. Susquehanna went west to challenge themselves before conference play this year and I think it did them wonders to play four games in six days (similar to what they will do in the NCAA Tournament’s first week). Geneseo State has had a challenging year with a lot of top teams on their schedule. However, for every big win was a tough loss including a large-margin loss to Cortland State in the conference title game. These two teams will probably go back and forth, but I think Susquehanna will be the team that surprises everyone.
Most likely to surprise: Adrian. I think the Bulldogs will give Cortland State all they can handle in the second round. Adrian has only two losses on the year and they were both close games to Christopher Newport and Denison. They have otherwise dominated their opponents, especially in the MIAA, and could be poised to surprise Cortland State on the road.
Most likely to disappoint: Bowdoin. The Polar Bears are back in the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year. Now Bowdoin would like to rekindle the magic of 2011 when they reached the final four for the first time ever and finished as the national runners-up. However, I think Bowdoin will run into an underrated Susquehanna squad in the second round and their run will end there. Bowdoin has been a strong program for a number of years, but they had really key on that 2011 season and have been rebuilding back to that success – I just don’t think they are there, yet.
Champion: Cortland State over Susquehanna.
The Semifinals
Salisbury over Gettysburg: The Sea Gulls are just too good. Both teams are not that far from the championship weekend, so the crowds should prove to be great, but Salisbury, like their men’s team, has spent years building to the point of being at the top for a long time – and here they are. Salisbury will probably be a bit more rested since the challenge to get here will not have been as demanding as Gettysburg and in the end Salisbury’s experience will win out.
Trinity (Conn.) over Cortland State: The Bantams are the No. 1 team in the country for a reason and Cortland State is in for a battle. I just don’t think the Red Dragons have the depth or the firepower to compete with Trinity and dethrone the national champions. I would love to say this game will be close, but I am not that realistic.
Championship: Division III women’s lacrosse fans have been waiting for this game since last May 21: a rematch between Salisbury and Trinity for the national title. Last year’s game was a thriller. Salisbury came from 4-0 down in the second half scoring five unanswered to take a 5-4 lead. But Trinity responded and scored four straight themselves to take an 8-5 lead. Salisbury would then respond themselves and dray within one with less than 2:30 to play. But Trinity would end up the victor, knocking off the undefeated, top-ranked Sea Gulls for their first ever national title.
Will Salisbury return the favor? Knocking off the undefeated, top-ranked, defending champions? I think they can. Both teams will be undefeated and Salisbury will be playing for a little bit more than last time. The game is also far closer to Salisbury, so I suspect they will have a large fan base on hand to route them on. It is basically a hunch since a game between these two is almost a coin flip, but I am going with Salisbury to win their second national title.