Game of Thrones-inspired NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament preview
Previewing the upcoming 2019 NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament with a Game of Thrones twist.
The 2019 NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament is upon us. Championship Weekend is coming.
Yesterday’s announcement of the teams in the 2019 NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament came at 9 p.m. EDT, the same time the fourth episode in the final season of the HBO phenomenon Game of Thrones aired. So it was only fitting to publish a Game of Thrones-inspired preview of the upcoming tournament.
No. 1 Penn State vs Marist / UMBC
The winner of the Marist-UMBC play-in game will take on this year’s powerhouse Penn State. Whether it’s the Red Foxes or Retrievers that advance, they’ll have their work cut out for them in defending Penn State’s Grant Ament. Not only does Ament’s return from last year’s injury mirror Jon Snow’s return from death, but Ament is also a humble leader content with racking up assists more than scoring goals. He and the Nittany Lions are favorites to rule this year’s tournament, but like any Game of Thrones episode, there will be others looking to play spoiler.
No. 2 Duke vs Richmond
Duke defeated Richmond earlier in the year, so the Spiders will be looking to enact some Arya Stark-level revenge on the Blue Devils. However, history shows John Danowski’s Duke squad will be tough to beat, having only lost in the first round twice in the past 12 years. Duke, much like the Lannisters, never seems to go down easy and will likely once again be in the mix up until the end.
No. 3 Virginia vs Robert Morris
Virginia is one of the more fun teams to watch this year and boast a balanced attack. The Cavaliers, much like the Unsullied warriors, have remained unwavering in each of their victories. They’re playing some of their best lacrosse late down the stretch and if they can continue to remain even-keeled, they will be a tough draw for Robert Morris and potentially any other opponent they may face.
No. 4 Penn vs Army
Army made the tournament after making a Patriot League tournament run that saw them upset Loyola and Lehigh. Yet, they’ll have their work cut out for them against a Penn team that has shown no signs of slowing down. Yet a victory for the Night King and his undead army once seemed inevitable. Could we see a surprise knockout blow from Army reminiscent of Arya Stark’s season 8 heroics?
Nichtern says #NotToday Holy Cross😤 With his six assists today, the rookie is tied for first in Army’s single-season assists record with 45👏 #GoArmy #FamilyToughnessTradition pic.twitter.com/BBDKZWXLHK
— Army Men's Lacrosse (@ArmyWP_MLax) April 30, 2019
No. 5 Yale vs Georgetown
Yale may be the defending champions, but it’s their newest weapon in face-off specialist TD Ierlan who makes them so interesting. Much like Tyrion Lannister, Ierlan changed his allegiances for the better when he transferred to Yale this offseason and plays a critical role for the Bulldogs. Yale will need him at his best if they hope to repeat as champions.
No. 6 Towson vs Maryland
This epic meeting between two Maryland teams has “Battle of the Bastards” written all over it. Maryland barely snuck into the tournament with an at-large bid and they’ll look to prove they deserved their shot by taking on a well-rounded Towson team. There’s rich history between these teams despite the last meeting being played in 2011. However, the past hasn’t been too kind to the Tigers who have lost the last nine games and are only 5-28 overall in the series. Will they write a new narrative this time?
No. 7 Notre Dame vs Johns Hopkins
Despite a solid squad every year, the ultimate prize always seems to escape the Fighting Irish’s grasp. Could they fly under the radar like Yara Greyjoy and her fleet and finally get their due this May? If so, they’ll first have to get past a Johns Hopkins team that has come on strong late in the season. While this matchup may not get the most attention, it is certainly one with major implications.
No. 8 Loyola (Md.) vs Syracuse
All the focus will be on Pat Spencer, whose confidence rivals Daenerys and playmaking ability can light a spark that puts a dragon to shame. Despite an early exit in the Patriot League tournament, Loyola is another favorite to make a deep run, but they’ll have some competition in Syracuse’s Dothraki unit that will start the tournament on the road for the first time since 2012.
The tournament begins on Wednesday, May 8 with the play-in game between Marist and UMBC and will continue with first-round matchups on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12.
