Amherst won two games on the road last week, holding each foe to fewer than five goals, and then-No. 1 Salisbury fell flat at then-No. 4 TCNJ to make the Mammoths No. 1 for the first time this season in this week's Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women's Top 20. Amherst completed a journey from not being ranked in the preseason in this space nor in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll in part with a suffocating defense that has held its opponent to the note above on seven occasions this season.

PHOTO BY KEVIN P. TUCKER

The Mammoths' ascension coincides with the Lions' 10-1 humbling of the Sea Gulls Friday night in Ewing, N.J. TCNJ harassed Salisbury into 20 turnovers and allowed it to get off just 10 shots. Middlebury won at then-No. 6 Tufts to move up to No. 3, and York continued its late-season run by knocking off then-No. 3 Gettysburg.

Mary Washington, Trinity, Washington & Lee, and Franklin & Marshall won conference games to round out the top 10.

There aren't many matchups of ranked squads this week, but those appearing here will need to avoid stumbles in league play to assure themselves of favorable seedings in upcoming conference tournaments.

Also considered (alphabetical order): Catholic, Clarkson, Colby, Colorado College, Framingham State, Haverford, Mount Union, Stevens, Washington College

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

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

HOT

St. John Fisher (+1)

The Cardinals, perhaps quietly, have won seven straight games since an 11-4 loss at Empire 8 Conference front-runner Stevens on March 31. The run includes an important league win over Nazareth and an equally significant non-conference defeat of then-No. 13 Geneseo last week. Three games from Tuesday through Saturday may test their endurance, but their opponents' cumulative record is 8-30. Senior Claire Bollin thus far leads St. John Fisher with 41 points on 26 goals and 15 assists.

NOT

Geneseo (-5)

The Blue Knights peaked at No. 8 two weeks ago, but have lost three straight games since. They finish the regular season with two winnable SUNYAC games this week, but likely they will have to make a run in the league tournament, beginning with a May 1 quarterfinal, to give their NCAA tournament hopes a much-needed boost.

IN

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

The Athenas return at No. 19 having finished the regular season unbeaten against Division III opponents, following a 13-6 loss at Division I UC-Davis to open the season. Their divisional non-conference opponents didn't help their strength of schedule, but regardless they appear to be in good position to return to the NCAA tournament if they can continue their dominance of the SCIAC.

OUT

Stevens

The Ducks lost to a ranked, non-conference opponent by a significant margin for the second consecutive week, falling at home to then-No. 10 W&L yesterday, 15-7. They're 6-0 in the Empire 8 Conference and can lock up hosting duties for the May 5-6 tournament with one win in the next two games.