BALTIMORE -- Having survived an uncharacteristically poor regular season, the Syracuse lacrosse team plans on a more typical performance this weekend in the Final Four.

The defending champions lost three home games and endured their first three-game losing streak since 1981. Yet the Orangemen have flourished in the postseason, beating Dartmouth and then Princeton to advance to the semifinal round for an unprecedented 21st straight year.

Syracuse (10-5) will face top-seeded Johns Hopkins (13-1), which has won 10 straight and will surely receive plenty of support from an expected crowd of more 32,000 Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.

While some might consider the Orangemen to be the underdog, it's important to note that Syracuse has won this tournament eight times and is 4-0 in the semifinals since 1998.

"It's a pretty daunting opponent," Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala said Friday. "May is their month."

The second semifinal Saturday matches Atlantic Coast Conference foes Virginia (13-2) and Maryland (12-3). The winners meet in the championship game Monday.

A month ago, it appeared that the Final Four might be conducted without Syracuse for the first time since 1982. Successive losses to Rutgers, Hofstra and Massachusetts left the Orangemen with a 7-5 record and plenty of doubts.

But Syracuse rebounded from a 6-3 halftime deficit to beat Georgetown and gain entry to the tournament. After a 13-11 struggle against Dartmouth, the Orangemen finally got it together with a 15-5 quarterfinal rout of six-time NCAA champion Princeton, which beat Syracuse 11-10 on March 22.

"The season was a little shaky for us, but it all came together against Princeton," senior defenseman Solomon Bliss said. "I don't know if we're relieved to be here; we were always planning on it, no matter what."

Syracuse in the Final Four is as much a part of the Memorial Day weekend as cookouts and the opening of the local swimming pool. This year is no different.

"My parents make reservations for the Final Four a year in advance," said Mike Powell, who has 31 goals and 31 assists. "I feel like we were the underdogs until last weekend, when we proved we could play with the best in the country."

Now comes Hopkins. The Blue Jays' lone loss came at Syracuse on March 15, when the Orangemen rallied from an 8-2 deficit for a 15-14 victory.

"In the first half, we played our best lacrosse to date. In the second half, they outworked us," Hopkins midfielder Adam Doneger said. "Syracuse has the ability to do that."

The Blue Jays are making their record 32nd straight tournament appearance, but they've gone since 1987 without a title.

Maryland is seeking to end an even longer dry spell. The Terrapins are making their 17th appearance in the Final Four, but haven't won it all since 1975.

Virginia, champion in 1972 and '99, enters as the ACC champ. The Cavaliers' losses this season came in succession against Hopkins and Maryland, both by an 8-7 score in late March.

"Those games taught us a couple lessons," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "I think right now we're a much more selfless offensive team."

The game will be played at home of the Baltimore Ravens, marking the first time the lacrosse Final Four has been held at a pro venue. Record crowds are expected on both days.