NCAA lacrosse playoff action heats up in the Triangle

The Triangle-area caught fire with hot college lacrosse action this past weekend. Though tempered with some bouts of severe downpours, the weather did not affect the great play and skill showcased by some of the best lacrosse players in the country.

The defending NCAA men's lacrosse champion and fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils began defense of their title by split-dodging past their first opponent, the Delaware Blue Hens, 15-14 to earn a spot in the quarter-finals against #4 Notre Dame. The two teams met in last year's championship final that ended with Duke winning 6-5 in overtime. 

Raleigh Sports Examiner coverage of Duke beginning their title defense in 2011:

Credits: Peter Koutroumpis - PKS Consulting LLC

 

Duke dodges Delaware 15-14 in NCAA lacrosse first-round play

Duke Blue Devils lacrosse ready to defend NCAA title

Did you miss it? Watch the replay of Duke vs. Delaware on ESPN3.com


Raleigh Sports Examiner's coverage of Duke lacrosse in 2010:

Team USA captures lacrosse championship

The Duke Blue Devils lacosse program has had quite a year. The men's lacrosse team won the 2010 NCAA Championship for the first time in school history. Recent graduate, Ned Crotty, was a member of that championship team and...

AP, Rob Carr

2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship: Duke Blue Devils capture first national title

The Duke Blue Devils captured their first-ever national lacrosse championship title as they beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 6-5 in overtime at the 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship held at M & T Bank Stadium...

 

2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship: Duke Blue Devils vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish in final game

The 2010 Men' Lacrosse Championship Final Four weekend taking place at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore MD, continued to provide the college lacrosse world with exciting play and surprise results on Saturday. The #5 Duke Blue Devils...

Watch a replay of the 2010 Championship Game (ESPN3.com) : Duke vs. Notre Dame

Down 15-501 in Chapel Hill

The unranked Maryland Terrapins, but current ACC champions, beat the #8 UNC Tar Heels 13-8 to advance on to play the #1 seeded Syracuse Orange next week. The Terps did not make fans in Chapel Hill feel any better by pulling the 'hidden ball' play on their Tar Heels during the game:

Take a look on YouTube courtesy of ESPN:

 

The possibility exists for Maryland and Duke to meet in the Final Four in Baltimore, MD over Memorial Day weekend. However, the Blue Devils will need to get past the Fighting Irish first and the Terps have a battle of their own to unseed the Orange next week. Should the two ACC teams meet, one can only wonder what tricks will be up the Terps' sleeve after yesterday's performance, and Duke knows it all too well as they fell victim to similar antics last season.

Here is what the current NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Tournament bracket looks like:

2011 NCAA Playoff Tournament Bracket

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