UPDATED: Big Matches in St. Louis, Biggest in Lexington, VA

In the first of two big-time tourneys on consecutive weekends, Wash U will host the Asics Invite this weekend. The lineup of teams (Asics record): No. 4 Ohio Northern (3-1 … W CC, Wash U, Pac Lu; L UWW) No. 8 Wash U (3-1 … W Pac Lu, CC, UWW; L ONU) No. 10 Pacific Lutheran (0-4 … L UWW, Wash U, CC, ONU) No. 17 UW-Whitewater (3-1 … W Pac Lu, CC, ONU; L Wash U) No. 18 Concordia (MN) (1-3 … W Pac Lu; L ONU, UWW, Wash U)

But the biggest match of the weekend? #1 Emory vs. #2 Juniata @ Washington & Lee (JC, 3-1)

Other good ones this weekend: #6 La Verne vs. #16 Trinity (TC, 3-0 … ULV also lost to Pacific yesterday) #13 UW-Eau Claire vs. #21 Saint Benedict (CSB, 3-0) #14 Puget Sound @ #14 Colorado College (CC, 3-0)

Next weekend Wash U hosts the Teri Clemens Invite that will include Juniata, La Verne, Wash U, St. Thomas and others. In other words, about half of the truly elite D-III programs in the country. This year’s Clemens may be better than the NCAA tournament, which Wash U just happens to host next year. But more on the Clemens after this weekend.

-Ricky Nelson