This weekend marked my birthday and another year spent scratching days on the wall with the sharpest yet crudest available tool. It was also an explosive, convincing weekend of college lacrosse, where some small programs moved up in the eyes of national media and fans as mainstays in the sport slid in the rankings amid down years.
Before we get into the last five days of college dodging and spinning, I want to talk pro ball and lay the land for this now-recurring column, SIDE SPIN. This is your new home for unfiltered takes on lacrosse as a growing sport in 2026 and beyond, technical analysis and amplification of trends in a game I believe more people must follow.
Recent professional play across the U.S., world
The Premier Lacrosse League, which features traditional 10-man field lacrosse, opens its 12-week 2026 season the weekend of May 8 in Utah. Annapolis, Maryland, hosts the all star game July 5 and the playoffs begin Aug. 29. The championship is slated for Sept. 20 in New Jersey.
If you like box lacrosse — I’m not the most partial to it outside of the hockey-style brawls and bare-fist knockouts — the National Lacrosse League features gritty teams in even grittier cities. The league is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, which is an impressive milestone considering the Major Lacrosse League lasted less than two decades from its birth in 2001 to its merger with the PLL in 2020. The Buffalo Bandits, whose floor sits less than two hours drive from the birthplace of lacrosse, are breathing on a league three-peat in the playoffs.
The NLL regular season is dwindling with just two or three games left per team, but the playoffs are starting soon in April and throughout May. I’ll try to follow that but man does it move fast on the court, and those players just seem too big for it to begin with.
I like the PLL because it’s got that beautiful field-game feel of the college game — except the players are unreal. Right now, the PLL assembled a team of the league’s best players for an all star squad, and they’re on tour in Japan performing clinics and playing exhibitions, like the one against Crosse Crosse on Mar. 21. The All Stars won the game by six goals, but it was a high scoring affair ending at 26-20 for the Americans.
All of those activities abroad help bring awareness to what I’ve already said is an expanding sport. Lacrosse will feature in the 2028 Olympics in a six-on-six format, and it seems like the PLL is trying to do its part in broadening the awareness for the Indigenous-originated sport. The Haudenosaunee people are fighting to play under their flag in the Games, and the creators deserve their spot.
The college game and its movement
Now onto these vastly entertaining collegiate athletes. I read a riveting story about the decade-long build by Richmond men’s lacrosse, which has now earned its first-ever No. 1 ranking in Division 1. The Spiders play a fundamental brand of defensive lacrosse, which they’ve always done, but their pretty campus and modern facilities still aren’t attracting top-100 high school commitments. The Lacrosse Network’s Top 20 works on a public voting system, and programs mostly get similar votes to venerated media polls and the NCAA’s RPI system — but there are sometimes twists, hot takes and weird movement.
I’m interested in Denver as a program, which has historically punched above its belt line in this particular sport — they moved up a spot alongside St. Joes, but both schools lost to Syracuse. Those are two better-looking wins for the Orange, who sit at No. 3 in the USILA poll but moved up two spots to No. 5 in The People’s with a back and forth win versus rival Duke. The Ivy League has recruited the last four years well and it shows, but so has the ACC, with programs like UNC and Virginia consistently drawing five-star commits. UNC is winning while Virginia is now just two games over .500. As a relative Syracuse fan, I’m a bit worried for the game versus UVa, but I’m glad it’s at the Dome. Regardless, the Hoos have been up and down yet reeled in a win versus No. 1 Notre Dame Saturday. They have talent, but some fans are chirping about coach Lars’ tenure. Rutgers moved up three spots in The People’s, and it’s nice to see that program making waves in Big Ten play after a solid non conference. Maryland isn’t really even worth talking about right now, but it’s a team worth watching for two potential PLL lottery picks.
Things confusing me, what I’m excited about
In my time watching game reps so far this season, Georgetown has maybe been the hardest power school to understand. They’ve reeled in blue-chip talent in recent years, including a productive freshman class. I even covered them in person for The NewsHouse in a loss at Syracuse, where they looked intimidating pregame and threatened the Orange in bunches outside of a devastating 7-0 run by SU in the middle of the match. The Hoyas are 4-4 but sit in the top 10 in RPI. They’ve only played two home games and have threatening shooters, athletes and passers, alongside a relatively stout defense — I think outside of Anderson Moore.
He’s up and down in goal, making some incredible saves while falling vicim to creative and sudden shots. He gave up 18 saves at Syracuse, a team that didn’t actually look six or ten points better overall that day. I’ll have more on him to come, in addition to some coverage about my favorite current backup college players threatening for more burn next season.
My favorite play this weekend was — and I promise it won’t be Syracuse every time — SU attack Finn Thomson’s behind-the-back goal on a dime from Joey Spallina. The Orange’s number 22 is a projected top five pick in the PLL draft, but I think his Canadian teammate and fellow five-star recruit should be headed to the pros as well:
No. 1 Richmond travels to No. 4 Notre Dame, who slid a bit this weekend after a loss, but that game should be another test for the Spiders that shows us who they are. I’m inclined to think it’ll be close, but I won’t be surprised if the larger program wins out. If not, it’s Richmond’s year until they prove otherwise. No. 3 Syracuse hosts No. 3 UNC, and the Tar Heels are loaded and confident. I will watch that game in person and return here with thoughts on how serious the Orange really are, although it’s a fact their strength of schedule has been impressive.
James Hoagland: contact@theeight30.com
