Inside Lacrosse Podcasts

Fresh off Princeton's 16-9 win over Notre Dame in the NCAA Championship, a sweaty and exasperated Nick Ossello joins IL's Terry Foy and Larken Kemp to discuss the Tigers' zone defense, groundball superiority and flow-state offense. From there, they dive into the Tewaaraton race, unpack the Semifinals, break down the latest news on the saga surrounding Lars Tiffany's firing, discuss Charlottesville as a host venue and finish up by talking about Northwestern's ninth national championship — complete with a touch of controversy.

NCAA Championship Weekend Preview Oh, how the season flies by. The college lacrosse season moves like a blink. In early February, teams are grinding through freezing practices and games, breath visible in the air, the whole journey still ahead of them. And then, almost instantly, the cold is gone, the stakes rise, and every game feels like it carries a season’s weight. By late May, only four teams remain. The noise is louder, the weather warmer, and the margin for error gone. Championship Weekend arrives like a rush, the final sprint toward a trophy that suddenly feels both impossibly close and hard‑earned. It’s one of the sport’s quiet wonders: a season that starts in the cold and ends in a blaze, faster than anyone expects. D-Fly and Dixie enlist friends Richard Chizmar and Evan Washburn to help get you set for what should be a fantastic weekend of lacrosse in Charlottesville. First, best-selling author and Virginia Lacrosse parent Chizmar weighs in on the coaching news and gives elite Charlottesville restaurant recommendations. Then, Dixie and his broadcast teammate Washburn break down the two semifinal matchups. GAME PREVIEWS Saturday, May 23 Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Va. Duke (11-4) vs. No. 1 Princeton (15-2) | noon | ESPN2 | Princeton -1.5/24.5 No. 6 Syracuse (13-5) vs. No. 2 Notre Dame (12-2) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | ND -2.5/23.5 Odds to win the NCAA title going into Championship Weekend: ND +175, Princeton +180, Duke +430, Syracuse +500 GIVE & GO In this week’s Championship Weekend-themed Give & Go, Dixie and Evan recount some of their favorite memories of college lacrosse’s pinnacle.

Once again, IL's Terry Foy and Nick Ossello press record during the fourth quarter of the final game of the weekend — this time it wasn't as dramatic as Duke closed out Georgetown, 16-6, to become the fourth team to punch its ticket to Saturday's NCAA Semifinals in Charlottesville, Va. Rewinding to Saturday, they begin with Syracuse's dramatic 13-11 win over North Carolina, replete with injury drama, an important missed (non-reviewable call), a field surface controversy and most importantly, vindication for the sport's biggest star? From there, they dive into Notre Dame's pull-away win over Johns Hopkins, highlighted by Josh Yago's legacy game. They unpack Princeton's similar pull-away win over Penn State to start Sunday, itself marked by injury drama. Last week was by far our most-listened to episode of the season. We really appreciate it and we hope all our new listeners enjoy this one, too!

As spring turns to summer, IL's Terry Foy talks to NextRep founder Logan Frank about his new app, a marketplace launching in the DMV that will match prominent high school and college lacrosse players with aspiring young athletes looking to follow in their footsteps. What's most interesting about Frank and his plan is that he's done it once before — during the pandemic, when he was went home from Susquehanna. He shares what he learned from that experience, how he's been plagued by the desire to launch this app and how he hopes to see it grow.

The latest episode of the D‑Fly & Dixie Podcast arrives just in time for quarterfinal weekend, and the guys bring back longtime friend of the show Christian Swezey to help break down all four matchups. They open with a look back at a wild first round — including Johns Hopkins’ gritty road win at Cornell, where the Blue Jays “won a playoff game on the road with a goalie who made three saves” and Luke Martin earned two bananas from the Blue Jays’ banana crew. From travel‑day chaos to behind‑the‑scenes ops decisions, Christian shares what really shapes NCAA tournament success. The crew then dives into each quarterfinal, starting with Hopkins–Notre Dame, where the Irish’s defensive backbone and the emergence of goalie Thomas Ricciardelli take center stage. They examine whether Syracuse can finally break through against UNC after two losses, debate Penn State–Princeton as potentially the weekend’s best game, and unpack how Georgetown’s toughness — galvanized by the team rallying around teammate James Caretta, who is battling cancer — has fueled the Hoyas’ surge into the final eight. Packed with insight, storytelling, and quarterfinal stakes, it’s one of the most comprehensive breakdowns of the season. GAME PREVIEWS Saturday, May 16 Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, N.Y. Johns Hopkins (10-5) vs. No. 2 Notre Dame (11-2) | noon | ESPNU | ND -2.5/20.5 No. 3 North Carolina (13-4) vs. No. 6 Syracuse (12-5) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU | UNC -1.5/23.5 Sunday, May 17 Delaware Stadium, Newark, Del. No. 8 Penn State (10-5) vs. No. 1 Princeton (14-2) | noon | ESPNU | Princeton -1.5/22.5 Georgetown (11-4) vs. Duke (10-4) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU | Duke -1.5/23.5 GIVE & GO In this week’s fashion-themed Give & Go, the episode closes with hot takes on best and worst uniforms in college lacrosse, sparked by Vermont’s green‑and‑gold look and spiraling into a tour of fashion takes, from Hopkins’ endless combinations to the "brutal" High Point and Richmond kits.

Chris Rosenthall and Kevin Brown return for the latest PLL Happy Hour to analyze the impressive start to the season for the Waterdogs and Atlas in Utah. From a buzzing atmosphere filled with horns and a new style of play, Rosie and Kevin break down the Archers' weekend plus touch on California's defense and Carolina's second-half effort. Finishing off with a spin forward look to Week 2 in Providence, they circle which game they're looking forward to most as their picks sandwich the ultra-exciting debut of the Women's Lacrosse League.

What a weekend of college lacrosse! If you want to relive it all, join IL's Terry Foy, Nick Ossello and Larken Kemp as they press record with about 9:00 to play in Georgetown's win over Virginia, highlighted by their reaction to Jack Ransom's acrobatic no-foul goal. From their, they rewind back to ’Cuse's harrowing survival vs. Yale, Hopkins' OT win at Cornell and Larken shares his thoughts on the Committee's decision to send Duke to Richmond before they dive into the Blue Devils win. Rounding up the weekend, they discuss North Carolina, Penn State, Notre Dame and Princeton advancing to the Quarterfinals in comparatively comfortable fashion.

MAY MADNESS The latest episode of the D-Fly & Dixie Podcast dives headfirst into the opening weekend of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament, with special guest Ed Lee of The Baltimore Sun joining the show. Dan, Dixie, and Ed start by surveying one of the most wide‑open brackets in recent memory, discussing momentum teams like Princeton, Richmond, Virginia, Penn State, and Army. They also unpack the season‑long turmoil at UMBC, with Ed detailing the prolonged and confusing administrative handling of the Ryan Moran situation. Continuing to get Ed’s expertise on local college sports, the trio then shifts to Maryland’s rare absence from the NCAA field for the first time in 22 years and a brutal school year overall for Terps athletics. From there, they break down all eight first‑round matchups, offering analysis on every game. Packed with insight, storytelling, and tournament energy, it’s one of the most comprehensive May Madness previews the show has ever delivered. GAME PREVIEWS Saturday, May 9 UAlbany (11-5) at No. 3 North Carolina (12-4) | Noon | ESPNU Army (13-3) at No. 8 Penn State (9-5) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU Johns Hopkins (9-5) at No. 7 Cornell (11-4) | 5 p.m. | ESPNU Duke (9-4) at No. 4 Richmond (14-1) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU Sunday, May 10 Jacksonville (11-5) at No. 2 Notre Dame (10-2) | Noon | ESPNU Marist (12-4) at No. 1 Princeton (13-2) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU Yale (9-5) at No. 6 Syracuse (11-5) | 5 p.m. | ESPNU Georgetown (10-4) at No. 5 Virginia (10-6) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU GIVE & GO In this week’s media-themed Give & Go, the guys discuss the best press boxes and media game‑day experiences in college lacrosse, with Ed praising Hofstra’s legendary media fridge and Dixie shouting out Homewood, the Dome, and Dorrance Field.

The eighth Premier Lacrosse League season gets underway this weekend in Salt Lake City, the debut Women's Lacrosse League season starts next weekend in Providence and all of it will air on ESPN after the leagues inked a five-year extension with the Worldwide Leader. On the eve of the opening whistle, IL's Terry Foy went to the leagues' New York City office to sit down with President and Co-Founder Paul Rabil about all that and more. Check out one of the most insightful and candid conversations about the state of pro lacrosse that you'll hear this year.

On the heels of calling the Ivy League Tournament and hosting the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on ESPNU, Quint Kessenich joins IL's Terry Foy to look back at the final weekend of the regular season and look ahead to the opening round of May Madness.

One of the biggest podcasts each year, IL's Terry Foy reacts to the bracket selection, welcoming in: Colagiovanni makes his third and final appearance on this episode, identifying Yale as the last team in and Maryland as the first team out, discussing how the Committee regarded Duke's résumé — especially non-conference strength-of-schedule — why Carolina was seeded ahead of Richmond, Virginia ahead of Syracuse and Cornell and Penn State ahead of Hopkins. From there, Foy talks to Milliman and Shay about getting their teams back into the Dance, Gilardi and Galloway about breaking the seal for the first time at their respective institutions, and Alberici about how his team rebounded from two years of disappointment to close the deal this time.

As National Cancer Research Month gets underway and as stories like Georgetown's James Carretta's diagnosis gain prominence, IL's Terry Foy welcomes in HEADstrong's Pat Colleluori as the organization celebrates its 20th anniversary. While Pat shares the groups origin story around his brother Nick, the conversation moves into ever more personal directions and culminates with where HEADstrong is heading next and how you can help support.

This week’s episode drops a day earlier than usual - right as conference tournament semifinals begin, and D‑Fly and Dixie waste no time diving into the most pivotal stretch of the season. With half the country already done and the other half fighting for their postseason lives, they run through every conference with Inside Lacrosse editor‑in‑chief Matt Kinnear, breaking down favorites, upset formulas, and the ripple effects each result could have on Selection Sunday. From the ACC’s star‑studded slugfest in Charlotte to Albany’s push for another America East title to the A‑Sun’s three‑way deadlock, the crew sorts out which teams are locks for May, which are bid‑stealers, and which storylines — like Duke’s at‑large hopes — hinge on results happening hundreds of miles away. Michigan’s leading scorer, sophomore attackman Nick Roode, joins the show for a wide‑ranging and genuinely fun conversation. He talks about growing up in Peterborough as the son of WWE and TNA star Bobby Roode, sharing stories about taking fan photos for his dad, watching him flip from hero to heel, and what it’s like to have a parent who’s famous everywhere except at home, where he’s simply “Dad.” Nick walks through his path from Peterborough minor lacrosse to Culver Military Academy, explaining how box lacrosse shaped his game, how Culver’s culture sharpened his discipline, and how a fall play day at Brother Rice unexpectedly put him on Michigan’s radar. He reflects on battling injuries his first two seasons — including breaking his hand mid‑game against Maryland — and how being forced to watch, teach, and study film elevated his lacrosse IQ and prepared him for this breakout year. He also discusses Michigan’s resilience after a seven‑game losing streak, the leadership group’s emphasis on belief and process, and why the Wolverines feel like they’re hitting their stride at exactly the right time. On the lighter side, Nick drafts an all‑Culver sixes team (heavy on Peterborough legends), reveals his devotion to buffalo chicken in all forms, and explains why Tommy Renner and Max Bonner are responsible for the most electric aux performances in the locker room. Matt, Mark and Dan of course spotlight the most compelling matchups of the week, including High Point–St. Joe’s in the A‑10, Providence’s chance to shake up the Big East, and a heavyweight Big Ten semifinal between Penn State and Maryland. With discussions ranging from Tewaaraton implications to faceoff‑driven upset potential to which teams are peaking at the right moment, the episode sets the table for a chaotic, high‑stakes weekend across Division I lacrosse. GIVE & GO In this week’s tribute band-themed Give & Go, the three music lovers share good and bad stories and experiences seeing all levels of tribute bands. LINKS Weekend Schedule and Scoreboard Matt Kinnear’s Chaos Ladder & Conference Tournament Predictions Terry Foy’s Third Bracketology

Larken is back! And he rejoins IL's Terry Foy to reflect on how things have changed since their season-opening show at Gillette Stadium and what's happened since. From there, they move to the Big Ten Quarterfinals; Michigan is doing its thing and is Ohio State’s season over? Conversely, Duke is keeping its hopes alive and Notre Dame is tightening its grip on the No. 1 seed. In the Ivy League, Yale claimed the 4-seed and Cornell is hosting again while Princeton continues to chug along. All that plus a Friday night whip-around of the Patriot League, Big East and Atlantic 10.

On the eve of the release of his first e-book "Whistle Ready," TFL's Steve Govett joins IL's Terry Foy to discuss his foray into longform writing. Meant to serve as a guide for those (mostly parents) who volunteer — or are "voluntold" — to coach a youth sports team for the first time. A longtime NLL executive who started coaching as a teenager, Govett's goal is to put readers at ease, helping them understand that it's OK to not know what they're doing (and feel overwhelmed as a result), and that they should reframe their approach "skills and drills" to "being the CEO of a small organization."

The episode opens with D‑Fly and Dixie recapping a packed weekend of college lacrosse, highlighting dramatic one‑goal games, strong crowds, and electric atmospheres across the country. They discuss their own on‑site experiences at marquee matchups like Hopkins–Maryland, touch on standout women’s games, and bring in analyst Craig McMichael to break down national trends as the postseason begins. Together, they preview major conference‑shaping games in the Atlantic 10, Big East, Ivy League, ACC, and Big Ten—evaluating RPI implications, at‑large chances, stylistic matchups, and which teams are peaking or fading at the wrong time. Their analysis covers Richmond–High Point, Georgetown–Villanova, Harvard–Cornell, Duke–UNC, Syracuse–Notre Dame, and Maryland–Rutgers, with each host offering predictions and broader context for Selection Sunday. Cornell’s leading scorer, junior attackman Willem Firth, joins the show to talk about his journey from Ottawa to Hill Academy to Cornell. He reflects on Cornell's first national championship in 48 years and shares how the team approached the 2026 season. He emphasized the team's focus on building a new identity rather than replicating last year's success, highlighting a balanced six-man offense and a strong defensive unit anchored by goalie Matthew Tully. Willem discussed his background in Ottawa, his time at the prestigious Hill Academy where he was coached by legends like Jeff Teat and Brody Merrill, and how that experience shaped him as a player. D-Fly & Willem drafted a Hill Academy alumni Sixes Team that could compete with any in the world. He also touched on the upcoming high-stakes Ivy League game against Harvard, which could earn Cornell the No. 1 seed and home-hosting rights. On the lighter side, he named the Celtics as his favorite team, called out two SSDM as his basketball teammate picks, and revealed that house music and 90's throwbacks dominate the Cornell locker room playlist. GAME PREVIEWS FRIDAY No. 4 Richmond (11-1, 5-0 A10) at High Point (6-6, 5-0) | 5 p.m. | ESPN+ | Spiders -6.5/25.5 No. 12 Georgetown (7-4, 4-0 Big East) at Villanova (6-6, 3-1) | 7 p.m. | ESPN+ | Hoyas -5.5/22.5 SATURDAY No. 10 Harvard (9-3, 3-2 Ivy) at No. 6 Cornell (9-3, 4-1) | noon | ESPN+ | Big Red -2.5/24.5 No. 16 Duke (8-4, 0-3 ACC) at No. 3 North Carolina (11-2, 2-1) | noon | ESPNU | Heels -1.5/23.5 No. 5 Syracuse (11-3, 2-1 ACC) at No. 1 Notre Dame (9-1, 2-1) | noon | ACCNX | Irish -1.5/21.5 No. 20 Rutgers (8-6, 1-3 Big Ten) at No. 11 Maryland (6-5, 3-2) | 6 p.m. | B1G+ | Terps -4.5/18.5 GIVE & GO In this week’s Best of TV-themed Give & Go, the guys share their favorite all-time TV drama series and see where those shows compare on an official list of the greatest of all time.

They know this is the third week in a row they're saying it, but IL's Terry Foy and Nick Ossello are back to discuss what was probably the best weekend of the college lacrosse season so far. They start with The Rivalry, where Matt Collison and Oran Gelinas combined to power the Blue Jays to a big — but controversial — win over Maryland. They transition to Columbus where Ohio State withstood an ill-timed timeout call to top Michigan, then transition to Cambridge, where Colin Burns sealed the Tigers' game-of-the-week win over Harvard. From there, they recap the ACC, including Carolina's OT win in Charlottesville and Notre Dame's gutting win at Duke, which leaves the Blue Devils reeling in the NCAA Tournament race. Finally, to Syracuse, where Joey Spallina became the leading scorer in Orange program history.

It's the best time of year on the lacrosse calendar — every high school and college team's season has started and (as far as we know) no team's season has ended (and that's tough with teams in Minnesota and New Hampshire starting so late and teams in South Carolina ending so early). So what better time than now for IL's Terry Foy to bring on former Denver coach and 3d Lacrosse founder Jamie Munro to share his thoughts on the season (particularly dialed in on Princeton's men's team and Northwestern's women's team) before diving on his methodology behind his business, JM3 Lacrosse. Over the last 10 years, Jamie has learned about the field of ecological dynamics, and that leads to a coaching style known as a "constraints-led approach," which more acutely manifests in a "principles-based" way of playing. If you're looking for an academic and theoretical lacrosse conversation to start your Sunday, this one is it.

The episode opens with D‑Fly and Dixie setting up a massive weekend in college lacrosse, highlighted by six Top‑20 matchups and a marquee Patriot League showdown between Loyola and Army. After some light banter about last week’s picks and their “Give & Go” Ravens debate, the hosts dive into a long, impassioned discussion about the UMBC coaching controversy, detailing the months‑long suspension, reinstatement, and sudden termination of head coach Ryan Moran. They cite poor administrative communication, player support for Moran, and broader athletic‑department turmoil. From there, the show shifts into full preview mode, breaking down the weekend’s biggest games across the Big Ten, ACC, Ivy League, and Patriot League. They analyze Penn State–Rutgers, Loyola–Army (with an interview from Loyola goalie Max Watkinson), Notre Dame–Duke, UNC–Virginia, Princeton–Harvard, and the rivalry centerpiece: Maryland at Johns Hopkins on Homewood Field. Matchups, faceoff battles, goaltending edges, RPI implications, and stylistic tendencies all get attention in anchoring the analysis. Loyola senior goalkeeper Max Watkinson joins the show to talk about his journey from local St. Paul’s standout to the Greyhounds’ anchor in net, his unexpected path into high‑level lacrosse, and the program’s resurgence in 2026. He discusses launching his own podcast (Crease Talk), the patience required while waiting behind veteran goalies, and how competing with players like Rutgers’ Carden Stoller shaped his development. Watkinson highlights the impact of new offensive coordinator Justin Ward, the growth of Loyola’s defense, and the emotions surrounding Senior Day with a Patriot League No. 1 seed on the line. He also reflects on his viral goalie goal against BU, shares his favorite Loyola traditions and Baltimore staples, and closes with lighthearted quick hitters about teammates, road-trip mishaps, and who controls the locker room aux. GAME PREVIEWS FRIDAY No. 16 Penn State (6-5, 2-2 B1G) at No. 19 Rutgers (8-5, 1-3) | 8 p.m. | BTN | Nittany Lions -3.5/19.5 SATURDAY No. 14 Army (9-3, 4-2 PL) at No. 18 Loyola (8-4, 5-1) | noon | ESPN + | -1.5/22.5 No. 1 Notre Dame (8-1, 2-1 ACC) at No. 15 Duke (8-3, 0-2) | noon | ESPNU | Irish -2.5/22.5 No. 3 UNC (10-2, 1-1 ACC) at No. 9 Virginia (7-5, 2-1) | noon | ACCNX | Tar Heels -1.5/23.5 No. 2 Princeton (9-2, 3-1 Ivy) at No. 9 Harvard (9-2, 3-1) | 1 p.m. | ESPN+ | -2.5/25.5 No. 7 Maryland (6-4, 3-1 B1G) at No. 13 Johns Hopkins (7-4, 2-2) | 2 p.m | ESPNU | Terps -1.5/20.5 GIVE & GO In this week’s Hopkins-Maryland Rivalry-themed Give & Go, D-Fly challenges Dixie in a playful trivia‑style game comparing the age of the Hopkins–Maryland rivalry to inventions like Duck Pin Bowling, the zipper, escalator, and teddy bear.

On the heels of a surprising 2026 Premier Lacrosse League College Draft, IL's Kevin Brown and Chris Rosenthall break down the Utah Archers selecting Aidan Maguire No. 1, the blockbuster Evan Plunkett trade and Joey Spallina sliding to third overall. What was the biggest surprise? How did Chaos GM Spencer Ford come into the draft with two picks and leave with four players? How does Denver coach Tim Soundan's Plunkett deal signify his desire to win now? Has Waterdogs GM Dave Cottle cultivated the most impressive roster when it comes to depth? Rosie and Kevin analyze each team's draft day haul, the trades that shaped the course of the action and react to the winners and losers of it all.