### Cornell and Syracuse Set to Clash with Penn State and Maryland in NCAA Men's Lacrosse Semifinals

The stage is set for the highly anticipated NCAA Men's Lacrosse semifinal matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, this Saturday. Lacrosse fans are eager as two Central New York powerhouses, Cornell and Syracuse, aim to end their prolonged championship dry spells, while Big Ten representatives Penn State and Maryland offer their own compelling narratives.

The first semifinal will witness Cornell taking on Penn State at noon ET, with the game being broadcast on ESPN2. Cornell, riding high on victories against Albany and Richmond, boasts three national championships, albeit their last title win dates back to 1977. Key players for Cornell include CJ Kirst with 76 goals and 32 assists, Ryan Goldstein with 38 goals and 50 assists, and Michael Long who has 29 goals and 38 assists. Penn State, chasing its first-ever championship, reached the semifinals by overcoming Colgate and Notre Dame. Notable contributors for Penn State include Matt Traynor, Hunter Aquino, and Ethan Long.

Cornell has a rich history in the sport but has faced disappointment in crucial moments, such as their narrow loss to Syracuse in the 2009 finals. CJ Kirst looks to further cement his legacy by potentially adding the Tewaaraton Award to his accolades. Penn State, on the other hand, handed Cornell its only loss this season with a dramatic 13-12 overtime win on March 8 and ended Notre Dame’s championship defense in the quarterfinals.

Following the Cornell-Penn State matchup, Maryland will face Syracuse at 2:30 p.m. ET, also on ESPN2. Maryland's path to the semifinals included wins over Air Force and Georgetown. They have four national titles, their latest in 2022. Players like Eric Spanos, Braden Erksa, and Daniel Kelly are expected to make significant impacts. Syracuse entered the semifinals after edging out Harvard and staging a thrilling win against Princeton. The Orange, who have 11 national titles with their last in 2009, have key players such as Joey Spallina, Owen Hiltz, and Michael Leo.

Maryland is making its 30th NCAA semifinal appearance, more than any other Division I team. Contrarily, Syracuse is ending a near decade-long absence from championship weekend, a stark contrast to their dominance from the late 1980s to early 2000s. Their previous encounter on February 15 saw Maryland emerging victorious with an 11-7 win. While Maryland often dictates the game’s tempo, Syracuse has demonstrated their ability to win close, low-scoring affairs, evidenced by their 9-8 victory over Duke in the ACC tournament.

The lacrosse showdown in Foxborough promises to deliver high-octane thrills as these storied programs battle for a place in the championship game.