The New England Small College Athletic Conference finally announced a decision last week to move forward with the spring season if at least six members are able to play an abbreviated regional schedule.

That means Middlebury, Tufts, Amherst and others likely will have a chance to prove themselves among the top Division III women’s lacrosse teams this season when they start up in mid-April, but in the meantime, they remain in the rankings as projected contenders. After all, the conference left it up to individual universities to make decisions about whether or not they will play.

No teams in the top 10 have lost yet, highlighted by Salisbury’s 4-0 start, but three other teams from last week’s top 20 dropped games to shuffle the bottom half of the rankings. More teams begin play this week, so look for more movement in the next update.

Nike/US Lacrosse
Division III Women’s Top 20

Also considered: Claremont-Mudd Scripps (0-0), Colorado College (0-1), Geneseo (0-0), John Carroll (6-0), Merchant Marine (0-0), Messiah (2-0), Mount Union (5-1), Pomona Pitzer (0-0), Cortland (0-0), Trinity (0-0), William Smith (0-0)

HOT

St. John Fisher (+3)

St. John Fisher opened with a pair of wins against Nazareth College and Clarkson University last week. The opener against Nazareth was a low-scoring affair, but the rust came off in a 14-1 win against Clarkson two days later.

Alyssa Sabotka led with three goals, while Logan Chase filled the stat sheet with two goals, five ground balls, three draw controls and two caused turnovers. The defense has allowed six goals through the first two games.

NOT

Mary Washington (-6)

The Eagles opened with a double-overtime loss to Lynchburg, which dropped them from the No. 13 spot to No. 19, but they will have a chance to redeem themselves Wednesday when they face Salisbury at home. Mary Washington gave up four unanswered goals to end regulation as Lynchburg rallied to send the game to overtime.

IN

St. Mary’s (No. 17)

The Seahawks opened with a win over previously considered Shenandoah, then added a 16-12 win over now-ranked Lynchburg on Wednesday. A 14-10 setback against No. 5 Salisbury didn’t prevent them from joining the rankings.

St. Mary’s got four goals each from Lucy Gussio and Jayne Barkman in the win over Lynchburg.

Lynchburg (No. 18)

After playing a close game with St. Mary’s, the Hornets upset No. 13-ranked Mary Washington 13-12 in double overtime on Saturday to earn a place in the top 20. Graduate student Nicki Santora scored the winner on her fifth goal of the day with 1:53 left in the second overtime.

Lynchburg was trailing 12-8 with 12:47 left. Sophomore goalie Julia Broughton had six saves.  

OUT

Mount Union (was No. 19) 

The Purple Raiders saw a 21-game Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season win streak come to an end with a 19-13 loss to John Carroll on Wednesday. John Carroll also owned the last win over Mount Union on April 5, 2017, before that streak began.

Mount Union had just climbed into the rankings with its 4-0 start. The Raiders will remain a team to watch, as they bounced back with a big 16-5 win against Marietta on Saturday.

Colorado College (was No. 20)

The Tigers suffered a demoralizing defeat to open their season, falling 16-7 to Colorado Mesa University on Friday. The Mavericks jumped out to a 12-2 lead by halftime, and although Colorado College outscored them 5-4 in the second, the hole was insurmountable.

Colorado is young, with just one senior on the roster, so there is still plenty of room for growth as the season continues.