No. 4 seed Denver (15-2) vs. No. 1 seed Notre Dame (12-2)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field
TV: ESPN2
Outlook: The Fighting Irish hold a 14-5 record in this series, but the Pioneers have won the last two meetings. Notre Dame boasts a Tewaaraton Award finalist in junior attackman Matt Kavanagh (27 goals and 24 assists), but the offense's playmaker in the NCAA tournament has been senior attackman Conor Doyle (30 goals and 20 assists), the Towson resident and Gilman graduate who has registered six goals and three assists in the postseason and 19 goals and 13 assists in his last six starts. Not to be outdone, Denver is led by its own Tewaaraton finalist in senior attackman Wesley Berg (50 goals and 20 assists) and also relies heavily on sophomore attackman Connor Cannizzaro (55 goals and 33 assists). Cannizzaro should expect to see a lot of Notre Dame junior defenseman Matt Landis, who limited Albany senior attackman and 2014 co-Tewaaraton winner Lyle Thompson to one goal on 11 shots and forced him into six turnovers. The key to both offenses will be the play at the faceoff X, where Denver freshman Trevor Baptiste outdueled senior Nick Ossello and won 16 of 23 draws in that regular-season meeting.
Johns Hopkins (11-6) vs. No. 6 seed Maryland (14-3)
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field
TV: ESPN2
Outlook: The Blue Jays own a 9-4 advantage in this series in the NCAA tournament, but the Terps have won the last two games and three of the last four — including the teams' last meeting in the Final Four on May 27, 1995 when that squad cruised to a 16-8 victory. Johns Hopkins has scored 35 goals in two postseason contests — the most by any semifinalist — and has been sparked by senior attackman Wells Stanwick. The Baltimore resident and Boys' Latin graduate has recorded 15 goals and 21 assists during the team's seven-game winning streak. The scrutiny will be on fifth-year senior goalkeeper Eric Schneider, who has posted a 9.33 goals-against average and a .574 save percentage during the team's run. Maryland has surrendered just 14 goals in the NCAA tournament — the fewest by any Final Four contender –— and has been anchored by goalkeeper Kyle Bernlohr. The redshirt junior has registered a 7.00 goals-against average and a .622 save percentage in the postseason. The Terps are hoping to continue to ride the hot hand of junior midfielder Bryan Cole, who has compiled eight goals and nine assists in his last four starts.
—Edward Lee