Colorado Mesa Climbing Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20

Some of the most impactful games that affected the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20 took place earlier in the week.

Division II is the sneakiest of all divisions. All the drama of Division III is packed into a grouping fractionally smaller than Division I. The most impactful game on Saturday was Colorado Mesa upsetting this season’s hotshot team, Rollins, 15-10.

The Tars got out to a great start this year, notching impressive wins against Limestone and Anderson. This weekend, though, Colorado Mesa handed Rollins its first loss. This game was a battle throughout, with neither team taking more than a two-goal lead. Colorado Mesa scored seven of the game’s final nine goals, though, and was able to pull away in the fourth.

Mavericks faceoff specialist Dylan Checketts went 12-for-19 on draws, and Jed Brummett had a hat trick. 

In the NE-10, Saint Anselm re-announced itself as a problem team for everyone else in the conference with a landslide 17-6 victory over Bentley. In the top 10, Mercyhurst remained perfect at 4-0 thanks to a dominant 11-2 win over Chestnut Hill. Lenoir-Rhyne also took care of business by beating Florida Tech 20-11 for a fourth straight win. 

Wingate bolstered its position with a two-goal win over Newberry, and Anderson took down Limestone, but the Trojans needed an overtime goal from Brayden Bushnoe to do so.  

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II MEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Belmont Abbey (3-3), Bentley (1-1)

Nike/USA Lacrosse Rankings

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

HOT

Saint Anselm (+1)

The full fury of the Hawks was unleashed against the Falcons. Birds of a feather, not so much sticking together. The NE-10 is not a place where friends are made very often, and the contest between Saint Anselm and Bentley was as perfect example of that. The Hawks battered the Bentley defense with 46 shots and had 15 players get at least one point. 

Colorado Mesa (+4)

A team that has really improved its strength of schedule in 2023, it’s time to put some respect on CM’s name. This team needed a signature win, and unfortunately for Rollins, it came at the Tars’ expense. Aside from a one-goal blip against now-Top-20 departed Belmont Abbey, the Mavericks have been steamrolling opponents all season. Their toughest challenge will come when they face Tampa next Monday, but they must contend with the Panthers of Florida Tech next Saturday before they can set their sights on giant-killing. 

NOT

Rollins (-4)

Tough to slot the Tars here, but a loss on the road to Colorado Mesa will have them tweaking very little. Rollins had a hard time getting their top-tier offense going, as CM packed the poles in and dared the shooters to best them from mid-range. Mavericks netminder Calvin Doucette finished with 12 saves, and the Tars were also outshot 39-26. Rollins has a chance to bounce immediately as they take on Westminster in the second leg of their trip to Salt Lake City. 

IN

Lewis (No. 20)

An Aviation school? In this economy? Yes. Lewis had a big program win over Belmont Abbey earlier in the week and now sits at 5-1. The Flyers, whose mascot is literally an old-timey pilot, are only a few years into their program, but they have made huge strides. Canadian Bayden Boyenko already has 26 points in the first six games, and netminder Riah Rathe made 19 stops in the win over Belmont Abbey but did not play in the 15-2 win against Lees McRae. 

OUT

Bentley (was No. 16)

The fates of the NE-10 are as cruel as they are in the rest of the country. Get punched a little too hard and you fall down the ranks. The Falcons didn’t cover themselves in glory against Saint Anselm, but Luke Jaber still had four points. Their next opponent is Saint Rose, which could get them back in the win column. However, if Coach Murphy’s squad wants to revisit the Top 20, it will have to beat Mercy on Wednesday. 

PREVIOUS RANKINGS

• Preseason

• Week 1: Feb. 13, 2023

• Week 2: Feb. 20, 2023

• Week 3: Feb. 27, 2023

• Week 4: March 6, 2023