For the third time in four years and the eighth time in the program’s history, Adelphi won the national championship and is the number one team in the final Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Women's Top 20.  

Adelphi was the top-ranked team in the poll for most of the 2017 season before slipping to number three following its only loss of the year, a one-goal setback at Le Moyne on April 18. The Panthers avenged that loss in the NE-10 Championship, and then beat Le Moyne again in the national semifinals before slipping past Florida Southern, 6-4, in the NCAA championship game. 

Florida Southern, the 2016 national champ, returned to the final game for the second straight year and finishes the season at number two in the poll. After suffering two losses in February, the Mocs built an 18-game winning streak that ended with the loss to Adelphi in the championship.

No. 3 Lindenwood was the last undefeated team in the nation, winning its first 20 games before a 13-11 loss against Regis in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s championship game. The Lions rebounded to return to the national semifinals, where they lost a one-goal game to FSC.  

Le Moyne finished fourth in the final poll while making its third straight national semifinal appearance and setting a new program record with 19 wins. Both of its losses this season came against Adelphi.
 

Also considered:Indianapolis, McKendree, Pace, Slippery Rock

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women

HOT

Adelphi

Defense carried the Panthers to their latest championship as they limited Florida Southern’s high-scoring offense to just four goals and six shots in the final game. Meanwhile, senior Kate Beier was Adelphi’s offensive hero with four goals. AU’s senior class finished with four championship game appearances, three NCAA titles and a four-year record of 85-3.

Florida Tech (+3)

In just its third season, Florida Tech made a big splash on the national scene, earning its first NCAA tournament berth and advancing to the national quarterfinals as the South Region’s number six seed. The Panthers upset third-seeded East Stroudsburg in the tournament’s first round before falling to Sunshine State Conference rival FSC for the third time this season.

NOT

East Stroudsburg (-4)

It was a memorable season for ESU despite losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Warriors set a school-record with 17 wins, which included a 12-game winning streak, and earned their first NCAA tournament berth while capturing their first PSAC championship.

Limestone (-4)

The Saints were arguably the best team left out of the NCAA tournament. With a 17-3 overall record and its 10th Conference Carolinas championship in 2017, it was another strong season for Limestone, which was the victim of a numbers crunch as the seventh team vying for six spots in the NCAA tournament’s South Region bracket.