Johns Hopkins Lacrosse: The Worst Thing Ever Invented

by Sean Keeley on Mar 20, 2010 2:17 PM EDT

Couple weeks back I tried to figure out whether or not Virginia lacrosse was merely our nemesis or if they were truly our arch-enemy. My findings were that they, and Johns Hopkins, were both arch-enemies of ours. I'd like to rescind those findings. Now that I've had a chance to remember how much Johns Hopkins mere existence disgusts me and see how others feel about them as well...it's not even a discussion, really. We want to beat Virginia...we NEED to beat Johns Hopkins.

Syracuse and Hopkins are the two must successful programs in college lacrosse history. Of the 39 national titles handed out by the NCAA, these two teams own 20 of them (more than 50% if you like math). Tonight at 8pm, they'll decide once and for all which program is the greatest ever and the loser will be banished from the NCAAs forever. I think.

The game itself is huge but it also marks the beginning of a crucial stretch for both teams:

For No. 2 SU (3-1), the game will kick off a stretch in which the team will play seven of its final 10 regular-season games away from the Carrier Dome. Three of them will be against top-10 teams – No. 7 Hopkins, No. 5 Princeton and No. 10 Cornell. The Blue Jays (4-2), who are coming off consecutive losses to Princeton and No. 6 Hofstra, have it even tougher. Their next five games will be vs. No. 2 SU, at No. 1 Virginia, vs. No. 3 North Carolina, vs. Albany and vs. No. 4 Maryland at M&T Bank Stadium.

Cuse Countdown has a mother-lode of preview material for tonight's game, including interviews with SU goalie John Galloway, Hopkins Beat Reporter Ed Lee as well as more analysis on the team and game.

My prediction? Syracuse will represent everything that is pure and good about the sport while Johns Hopkins will represent everything old and stodgy and elitist and snobby about the sport. Oh, and SU will win 14-11.

Good new for Hopkins, though. Even if they lose every game from here on out, they'll be ranked No. 9 in the polls and get a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament. Obviously.