It all comes down to this. I guess the selection committee got it right when they chose Maryland,
Albany, Yale and Duke to be the 1-4 seeds. These are the best of the best that 2018 has to
offer, and each team boasts a Tewaaraton finalist on the offensive side of the ball to go along
with the All-Americans that each roster has that were announced today.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
Maryland has six All-Americans, highlighted by Connor Kelly on the first team. Top defender
Bryce Young was a second teamer and sophomore Jared Bernhardt made the third team.
Maryland was rounded out by midfielder Tim Rotanz, defender Curtis Corley and goaltender
Dan Morris on the honorable mention team.
Albany also had six members make the All-America teams, with attackman Connor Fields and
goalie JD Colarusso on the first team. Midfielder Kyle McClancy and face-off specialist TD Ierlan
made the second team, while long stick midfielder Troy Reh landed on the third team.
Freshmen phenom Tehoka Nanticoke filled out Albany’s list as an honorable mention
All-American.
Yale too, had six players honored by the USILA. Senior Ben Reeves rightly so was a first team
attackman. On the defensive side, defensive midfielder Tyler Warner and defenseman Chris
Fake were elected to the second team. And finally, midfielder Jack Tigh, defenseman Chris
Keating and face-off specialist Conor Mackie made the third team.
Duke had one less than the rest, as five Blue Devils made the All-America team. Attackman
Justin Guterding, who broke the record for career goals last weekend, was honored as a first
teamer. Defenseman Cade Van-Raaphorst and midfielder Brad Smith also made the first team,
while defenseman JT Giles-Harris made the third team and midfielder Peter Conley was an
honorable mention ALl-American.
But on to this weekend, three games remain in the 2018 college lacrosse season. The four best
teams remain and two haven’t been to championship weekend in a long time. Will Maryland
repeat? Will Duke get its first title since 2014? Or will Yale or Albany break through and win a
National Championship for the newbies.
Albany vs. Yale – 12 PM – ESPNU
Just like last weekend, the face-off battle might determine the outcome of this game. TD Lerlan
vs Conor Mackie is another intriguing matchup, as both were All-Americans this year. I think
Albany will have the edge and therefore will give their high paced offense chances to attack the
cage. Yale did a great job stifling Patrick Spencer and the Loyola offense last weekend, but
Albany has a two-headed monster at attack in Fields and Nanticoke, who can both dodge and
feed. Sure, Yale will get the ball, and Ben Reeves will be able to work his magic, but the
offensive firepower of Albany will push the Great Danes to a date with Memorial Day in what I
think will be a shootout. Prediction: Albany 16, Yale 13.
Duke vs. Maryland – 2:30 PM – ESPNU
Maryland will try to take Duke’s fast-paced offense and slow it and the game into a more
methodical, possession by possession game. Maryland got up big last week, and let Cornell
surge back into the game in the fourth. I think the combination of Giles-Harris and
Van-Raaphorst will size up Bernhardt and Kelly in two matchups that will be interesting to
watch. One of these two teams have been represented in the last nine championship weekends,
and one will get the chance to play for a title Monday afternoon. The Duke seniors haven’t been
here, while Maryland has the past three years. Justin Guterding will lead his offense to push the
pace in this game, while it will throw Maryland for a curveball quite quickly, and I think this will
play to Duke’s advantage. Prediction: Although I hate to say it, Duke 14, Maryland 13.
Albany will get the chance to play Duke on Monday afternoon for the National Championship
Lacrosse Analyst
Sam Kuhn currently is the graduate assistant for the men’s lacrosse program at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio and is working to complete his Masters of Business Administration in 2020. Sam graduated from the College of Wooster in 2018, where he received his Bachelors Degree in English and played lacrosse as well. In his four years, Sam was a two time All-NCAC selection, a first team All-Region selection in 2018, and surpassed 100 goals for his career, one of seven members in program history to do so. Sam has interned with Inside Lacrosse, and wrote for the sports section of The Wooster Voice.