Well folks, here we are. This is a HUGE game for both teams. It will be played on Saturday, 04/19/08 at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. If the weather is good, since Annapolis is in a lacrosse hotbed, since the stadium is awesome, since the town is awesome to hang out in, and since the game is so big for both teams, the crowd will be huge. In fact, I would not be one bit surprised if a regular season lacrosse attendance record is set.

After winning the national title last year and having so much talent back from that team, Hopkins has been a disappointment. Their current record is 4-5. To make the NCAA Tournament, which they have never missed, they will need to go 3-1 or better the rest of the way. The teams they still have left to play are:

Navy
Towson
Mt. St. Mary's
Loyola

Of course, Hopkins was in a very similar position at this time last year, and they ended up peaking at the right time and winning it all, so they can't be counted out yet.

Navy, after losing to Army, has three losses(Cornell and Georgetown, both in OT, are the other two.) And, they very well could be a lock for the NCAA Tournament no matter what happens from here on. If they beat Hopkins, though, they will almost definitely make the tournament. If they lose to Hopkins, they very well still could make the tournament, but it may take winning the Patriot League Tournament to make them a lock. Some people were surprised about Navy losing to Army, since Navy was ranked higher and since Navy has dominated Army as of recently. However, since Army has a solid team and is underrated, I wasn't totally surprised.

Still, Navy has had a solid season and has surprised people at times, too. It seems like Navy often does their best when, coming into the season, they don't have a lot of heralded players. And, this is the first season since 2004, the year that Navy went to the title game, where this is the case.

Now, back to this game. Not only is this a huge game for both teams, but there is some serious history here, too. Navy and Hopkins have a lacrosse rivalry, and they have been playing each other in lacrosse for many, many years. And, Hopkins currently has about a 35-game winning streak in this series(Does anyone know exactly how long it has been?). I assume that this is the longest winning streak a team has over a team they play every year in College Lacrosse History. Of course, about five months ago, Navy's football team beat Notre Dame after 43 years, ending the longest winning streak a team had over a team they played every year in College Football History. Wow, how historic would it be if, in the same academic year, Navy beat Notre Dame in football and Navy finally beats Johns Hopkins in lacrosse?

Of course, throughout the 2000's, many of the contests have been close, great games. The last four meetings have all been one-goal Hopkins victories, including two in OT. As for a prediction, I say that it will be a classic game and close all the way. And, for a prediction, I say that Navy FINALLY beats Hopkins, and that the City of Annapolis will be a very fun place to hang out in on Saturday Night.

NAVY-11
HOPKINS-10

IN OVERTIME!!

Predictions, anyone? Are any of you going?