Bates (11-5) vs. Cortland (15-5) – NCAA Tournament Second Round

The Second Round of the NCAA Tournament gets rolling with a strong matchup as Bates and Cortland go head-to-head in a battle between two teams that have proven throughout the season they can compete with high-level competition. With a spot in the next round on the line, expect playoff intensity from the opening faceoff.

Bates enters at 11-5 after navigating the brutal NESCAC schedule and proving once again why the conference is one of the toughest in DeeThreeLax. The Bobcats bring a balanced offense with multiple players capable of stepping up in big moments.

Leading the way offensively are Riley McClure (61 pts), Jack Goldbach (46 pts), Gray Doyle (45 pts), and Connor Hartman (44 pts) a deep offensive group that can spread production across the field. Defensively, Teddy Rosen (19 CTs, 32 GBs) and Benjamin Kondner (11 CTs, 22 GBs, 1 pt) will be key in slowing down Cortland’s explosive offense.

Cortland comes in at 15-5 after another strong season against one of the more difficult schedules in the country. The Red Dragons have been battle-tested all year long and continue to look dangerous heading into the NCAA Tournament.

The offense is powered by one of the best trios in DeeThreeLax with Sean Kavanagh (96 pts), Nick Stoecker (94 pts), and Stefan Swedlund (69 pts) all capable of taking over games offensively. Defensively, James Sullivan (21 CTs, 42 GBs, 3 pts), Dino Bowen (18 CTs, 39 GBs), and Patrick O’Doherty (17 CTs, 27 GBs, 7 pts) anchor a physical unit that thrives on forcing turnovers and creating transition opportunities. At the faceoff X, Nicky Miltenberger (208 FO wins, 72%) could become a major factor if Cortland is able to control possession consistently.

There is no recorded history of Bates and Cortland facing each other prior to this NCAA Tournament Second Round matchup, adding another level of intrigue to this battle.

DeeThreeLax Take
What more could you want to kick off the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament? Bates brings the depth and balance you expect from a NESCAC squad, while Cortland has shown all season it can go toe-to-toe with top teams in the country. I think Bates may come in with a slight edge overall, but Cortland absolutely has the firepower and experience to make this a battle deep into the fourth quarter. This feels like a game that could easily turn into one of the better matchups of the weekend.

Hope (18-0) vs. Ithaca (11-6) – NCAA Tournament Second Round

The NCAA Tournament rolls into the Second Round, with what should be fun of the better match ups of the weekend as undefeated Hope is taking on battle-tested Ithaca. With a trip to the third round of the NCAA Tournament on the line, expect intensity to be at an all-time high from the opening whistle.

Hope enters at a perfect 18-0 and continues to prove doubters wrong week after week. The Flying Dutchmen have been one of the biggest stories in DeeThreeLax this season, using explosive offense, physical defensive play, and confidence to steamroll through their schedule and capture the MIAA title.

The offense revolves around superstar Gibson Heethuis (121 pts), who has put together one of the most dominant offensive seasons in the country. He’s joined by Preston Hoexum (83 pts) and Jack Zuiderveen (44 pts) in an offense capable of putting up goals quickly. Defensively, Hope is anchored by two-way midfield standout Tyler Berens (43 CTs, 49 GBs, 8 pts) and close defender John Foster (35 CTs, 62 GBs, 3 pts), who help set the physical tone.

Ithaca enters at 11-6 after surviving the gauntlet that is the Liberty League and looks like a team nobody wants to see in May. The Bombers have played one of the tougher schedules in DeeThreeLax and have consistently found ways to grind out wins against quality opponents.

Leading the offense are Tim Rogers (52 pts), Brendan Occhino (48 pts), and Will Kleine (46 pts) a balanced trio capable of matching offensive runs. Defensively, Jace Dockx (23 CTs, 33 GBs) and Max Warn (12 CTs, 17 GBs)anchor the unit, while midfielder Greg Szyluk (11 CTs, 30 GBs, 1 pt) brings toughness in transition. At the faceoff X, Liam Alberti (214 FO wins, 67%) could become one of the biggest factors in the game if Ithaca can consistently control possessions.

From what I could find, these two programs have never faced each other before, making this a fresh NCAA Tournament matchup with plenty of intrigue.

DeeThreeLax Take
This feels like one of the sneaky games of the Second Round. Hope comes in undefeated and absolutely should not be overlooked, but Ithaca’s experience against elite competition gives the Bombers an edge on paper. If Hope can set the tone early and let its offense get rolling, this game could become much tighter than many expect. On the flip side, if Ithaca comes out firing and controls possession through Alberti at the X, the Bombers could quickly swing momentum their way. Either way, this one has all the makings of a great NCAA Tournament battle.