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Lenoir-Rhyne University is in the NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse national championship bracket for the first time in school history. The Bears are at home Saturday at 2 p.m., facing Tampa in the opening round. PHOTO USAGE COURTESY OF LRU SPORTS INFORMATION.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – History made a visit to Lenoir-Rhyne University on Sunday, and Tampa University will make one to Hickory on Saturday.
The Bears (12-2) were seeded No. 2 in the South Region in NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse — earning the first national bid in school history in the sport for LRU – when pairings were announced on Sunday night.
LRU, ranked No. 7 in the latest NCAA Division II poll, will face No. 3 Tampa (14-4) in an opening-round match on Saturday at LRU at 2 p.m. in Moretz Stadium.
The other two teams in the South Region, No. 4 Wingate (13-3) and No. 1 Limestone (18-1), play Saturday at Limestone at noon.
If the Bears win, they advance to play the Limestone-Wingate winner on May 21. That match would be at Limestone, if it wins, or Wingate would visit LRU.
The North Region pairings pit No. 3 Merrimack (13-3) at No. 2 LeMoyne (14-2) and fourth-seeded Pace (12-3) at top-seeded Adelphia (14-3). Those matches are Saturday.
The semifinal winners advance to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. (home of the New England Patriots) for a 2 p.m. national championship match on May 28 that can be seen live on NCAA.com.
WOMEN: Queens from the SAC is the only women’s team to reach the national tournament, which has a 12-team field.
The Royals (16-3) are a No. 5 seed in the South Region and play Friday against No. 4 Regis, Colo. (17-2) in Lindenwood (Mo.). That winner meets No. 1 Lindenwood for a second-round match on Saturday.
The women’s national championship is scheduled May 21 at Bloomsburg (Pa.) University at 2 p.m.
Notes: Queen topped LRU 10-9 in overtime on April 27 in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) tournament title match… The Bears are regular-season SAC champs… LRU played Limestone and Wingate earlier in the season, falling 19-8 at home to Limestone and defeating Wingate 10-9 on the road.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S LACROSSE PAIRINGS
SOUTH REGION
Saturday’s matches
No. 3 Tampa (14-4) at LENOIR-RHYNE (13-3), 2 p.m.
No. 4 Wingate (13-3) at No. 1 Limestone (18-1), noon
Semifinals, May 21
First-round winners at highest seed, time TBA
National championship, May 28
South vs. North, 2 p.m., Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
NORTH REGION
Saturday’s matches
No. 3 Merrimack (13-3) at No. 2 LeMoyne (14-2)
No. 4 Pace (12-3) at No. 1 Adelphi (14-3)
Semifinals, May 21
First-round winners at highest seed, time TBA
National championship, May 28
South vs. North, 2 p.m., Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.