Only half of the preseason top 20 has opened play, but some early-season matchups between ranked foes yielded upsets.
Then-No. 13 Catholic rallied past then-No. 7 Salisbury and a two-hour weather delay to edge the Sea Gulls, 9-8, in our nation’s capital. The Cardinals ascended to No. 11, while Salisbury dropped to No. 19 and has a trip to 3-0 Marymount Wednesday. Meanwhile, previously 20th-ranked Washington and Lee harassed then-No. 4 Franklin and Marshall into 25 turnovers for a 9-3 upset of the 2016 NCAA semifinalist.
No. 5 Gettysburg, No. 16 St. Mary’s (Md.) and No. 20 Mary Washington each joined the Generals in winning two games last week to move up this week.
The vast majority of the Top 20 will have opened their seasons by Saturday evening.
Feb 27, 2017 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury | 0-0 | 1 | 3/4 vs. Connecticut College |
| 2 | Cortland | 0-0 | 2 | 3/4 vs. Clarkson |
| 3 | Trinity | 0-0 | 3 | 3/4 vs. Williams |
| 4 | TCNJ | 1-0 | 5 | 3/4 vs. FDU-Florham |
| 5 | Gettysburg | 2-0 | 6 | 3/4 at No. 17 St. Mary’s |
| 6 | Brockport | 1-0 | 8 | 3/1 vs. RIT |
| 7 | Amherst | 0-0 | 9 | 3/4 at Bowdoin |
| 8 | Hamilton | 0-0 | 10 | 3/4 at No. 10 Colby |
| 9 | St. John Fisher | 0-0 | 11 | 3/6 vs. Roanoke |
| 10 | Colby | 0-0 | 12 | 3/4 vs. No. 8 Hamilton |
| 11 | Catholic | 1-0 | 13 | 3/1 vs. No. 17 St. Mary’s |
| 12 | Tufts | 0-0 | 14 | 3/4 at MIT |
| 13 | Bates | 0-0 | 15 | 3/1 vs. Wellesley |
| 14 | York | 2-0 | 16 | 3/4 at Franklin & Marshall |
| 15 | William Smith | 0-0 | 17 | 3/4 vs. Geneseo |
| 16 | Washington and Lee | 3-0 | 20 | 3/4 vs. No. 19 Salisbury |
| 17 | St. Mary's (Md.) | 3-0 | 18 | 3/1 at No. 11 Catholic |
| 18 | Ithaca | 1-0 | 19 | 3/4 at St. Lawrence |
| 19 | Salisbury | 1-1 | 7 | 3/1 vs. Marymount |
| 20 | Mary Washington | 3-1 | NR | 3/1 at Randolph-Macon |
Also Considered: Marymount, Franklin & Marshall
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Washington and Lee (+4)
The Generals earned their second win over a ranked team, handling then-No. 4 Franklin & Marshall with relative ease, 9-3. That followed a season-opening defeat of then-No. 10 in-state rival Mary Washington. Sandwiched in between, a 7-5 victory at Christopher Newport. Will Lexington, Va., continue to be a house of horrors for ranked visitors? We’ll find out Saturday, as No. 19 Salisbury invades.
NOT
Franklin & Marshall (-17)
Lofty expectations for the Diplomats, with seven starters among 25 returnees from a national semifinalist squad, resulted in a No. 4 preseason ranking. Franklin & Marshall headed south twice — losing at then-unranked Washington and Lee subsequently to fall out of this week’s Top 20. Likely an extreme slide due in part of many ranked northern teams not having played yet, the Diplomats have an opportunity to return via their home-opener Saturday against No. 14 York.
NEW
Mary Washington
The Eagles, who fell out last week following a road loss at then-unranked Washington and Lee, return following dominant wins over Shenandoah and Lynchburg, 15-5 and 15-2, respectively. For an offense that struggled against the Generals, the outbursts represent a good sign. Mary Washington continues its commonwealth tour Wednesday at Randolph-Macon.
OUT
Franklin & Marshall
As mentioned, the natural disparity in dates of openers across the nation likely played a role in the Diplomats’ exit. Given Washington and Lee’s surge and the bulk of the Top 20 getting underway Saturday at the latest, Franklin & Marshall can make a quick course correction if it can knock off unbeaten No. 14 York Saturday in Lancaster.