SafeX Pro:NCAA lacrosse tournament bracket, schedule, preview: Notre Dame leads favorites

Comic legend W. C. Fields might have SafeX Promeant “I’d rather be in Philadelphia” as a putdown of his birth city. But Philadelphia is the ultimate goal for the nation’s top men’s lacrosse teams as the quest for Championship Weekend and the right to play for the Division I title on Memorial Day is officially upon us.

The 17-team bracket was unveiled Sunday night. The road to Philly officially gets underway Wednesday as Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champion and first-time tournament participant Sacred Heart visits America East champ Albany in a play-in game. The top eight seeds will then host first-round contests this weekend, with the winners advancing to quarterfinal sites in Hempstead, New York, and Towson, Maryland, a week later.

Whether you’re a long-time follower or are new to the sport, here are a few things to know about this year’s championship field.

The favorites for the NCAA lacrosse tournament

Notre Dame claimed the program’s first national title a year ago, and the top-seeded Fighting Irish appear to have every intension of repeating. They enter this year’s tourney on a 10-game winning streak, having just blown through the ACC tournament with routs of Virginia and Duke. Those familiar with the sport’s history won’t be surprised to see traditional names like Johns Hopkins and Syracuse near the top of the bracket, but both those storied programs will be seeking their first national crowns in well over a decade.

Who are the top players in the NCAA lacrosse tournament?

The brother tandem of Pat and Chris Kavanagh are still at Notre Dame terrorizing opposing defenses. They enter the NCAA tournament with 59 points each, 22 goals and 37 assists in Pat’s case and 29 and 30 for Chris. Veteran goalie Liam Entenmann, the 2023 championship weekend MVP, is also back for the Irish. Duke attackman Brennan O’Neill (49 G, 25 A), the reigning Tewaaraton Award winner, also seeks a return trip to Philly with the Blue Devils. Other names to know include Virginia attackman Connor Shellenberger, Maryland defenseman Ajax Zappitello and Georgetown midfielder Aidan Carroll.

NCAA lacrosse men's tournament schedule

Play-in game

Wednesday, May 9

Sacred Heart (13-4) at Albany (9-7), 7 p.m.

First round

Saturday, May 11

Saint Joseph's (12-3) at No. 6 Virginia (10-5), noon

Utah (12-4) at No. 2 Duke (12-5), 2:30 p.m.

Michigan (10-6) at No. 5 Denver (11-3), 5 p.m.

Princeton (11-4) at No. 7 Maryland (8-5), 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 12

Lehigh (9-6) at No. 3 Johns Hopkins (10-4), noon

Penn State (11-4) at No. 8 Georgetown (12-3), 2:30 p.m.

Albany-Sacred Heart winner at No. 1 Notre Dame (12-1), 5 p.m.

Towson (13-3) at No. 4 Syracuse, 7:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Saturday, May 18

At James M. Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, N.Y.

Albany-Sacred Heart-Notre Dame winner vs. Penn State-Georgetown winner, TBA

Utah-Duke winner vs. Princeton-Maryland winner, TBA

Sunday, May 19

At Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson, Md.

Saint Joseph's-Virginia winner vs. Lehigh-Johns Hopkins winner, TBA

Towson-Syracuse winner vs. Michigan-Denver winner, TBA

Semifinals

Saturday, May 25

At Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Saint Joseph's-Virginia-Lehigh-Johns Hopkins winner vs. Utah-Duke-Princeton-Maryland winner, TBA

Towson-Syracuse-Michigan-Denver winner vs. Albany-Sacred Heart-Notre Dame-Penn State-Georgetown winner, TBA

Championship game

At Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Monday, May 27

Semifinal winners, TBA