Conference Play Looms as USA Lacrosse D-II Men's Top 20 Shifts

Division II lacrosse had one heck of a weekend. Undefeated teams fell, as other squads trudged forward with big wins against highly ranked opponents — all just in time for the beginning of conference play.

The most impactful game of the weekend was UIndy defeating previously unbeaten Rollins 11-7. UIndy has been a solid squad all year but has been misidentified as a mid-level team because of its losses to Lenoir-Rhyne — formerly the No. 1 team in the country — and Newberry, a team that had sort of taken the Greyhounds’ spot from 2023.

But seven wins don’t happen by accident. UIndy ranks fourth in the country in ground balls (301), 10th in team defense (8.25 goals per game allowed) and is Top 20 in assisted goals despite scoring less than 12 times a game.

Newberry also suffered its first loss of the season this week against a determined Wingate team, 11-9. The Wolves kept it tight with a three-goal run in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs clamped down in the final stanza and held Newberry to two goals in the final five minutes.

Limestone is the team to beat in the South, followed by the defending champs, Lenoir-Rhyne. But the bogeyman in the North is a little harder to identify. Every team seems to have had at least one stumbling block, but — like most years — the likeliest candidate will either come from the NE-10 or the ECC.

Right now, the hot hand in the NE-10 is being wielded by an undefeated Pace squad, but Saint Anselm played angry against Mercyhurst for a solid 18-10 win. Adelphi’s 12-9 victory against Bentley has the Panthers back in the top three discussion in their conference, too.

Let’s not forget that Mercy’s only loss is to Adelphi by one goal, and Mercy has found ways to win in their last two games.

Conference play really kicks off next weekend, ensuring that every game from here on out is going to have significance in the endgame of the spring — as well as the Top 20 rankings.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
MEN’S TOP 20

1. Limestone, 10-0 (Prev: 1)
2. Lenoir-Rhyne, 7-1 (Prev: 3)
3. Tampa, 7-1 (Prev: 4)
4. Wingate, 6-2 (Prev: 8)
5. UIndy, 7-2 (Prev: 13)
6. Rollins, 6-1 (Prev: 2)
7. Newberry, 7-1 (Prev: 5)
8. Adelphi, 3-2 (Prev: 7)
9. Mercy, 6-1 (Prev: 6)
10. Saint Anselm, 3-1 (Prev: 10)
11. Bentley, 2-2 (Prev: 9)
12. Pace, 5-0 (Prev: 11)
13. Saint Leo, 6-1 (Prev: 15)
14. Florida Southern, 5-2 (Prev: 19)
15. Mercyhurst, 3-3 (Prev: 12)
16. Lander, 7-2 (Prev: 14)
17. Seton Hill, 4-2 (Prev: 18)
18. Frostburg State, 4-2 (Prev: 16)
19. Westminster, 4-1 (Prev: NR)
20. Maryville, 6-2 (Prev: 17)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Colorado Mesa, Davenport, Palm Beach Atlantic, Rockhurst

HOT

Pace

The Setters may have started a little late, but they remain unblemished thanks to a 20-8 win over NE-10 foe Saint Rose. Only conference games remain for Tom Mariano’s squad, so the real test of how good this team is — and can be — is imminent. Declan Landers, Ryan Kemp and Daniel Zabbia are a scoring hydra that defenses don’t know how to hold down. If you chop off one head, the other two chomp into your flanks. The trio has combined for 70 points through five games, accounting for 45 percent of the team’s offense. 

NOT

Rollins

The undefeated run has come to a close, but Rollins is still a top team in Division II. It took a balanced, and highly opportunistic, offensive attack by UIndy to sink the Tars 11-7 on Saturday. When you compound that with the Rollins offense stalling out in the first half — something that has happened more than once this season — the difference to make up was just too far. The bad news is that conference play starts next weekend, and the first opponent is Tampa. 

IN

Westminster (No. 19)

Westminster enters the Top 20 at No. 19 with a 4-1 record. Its lone loss came this week against Tampa, but Westminster followed with a win against a ranked opponent in Maryville. Westminster also holds a win over Florida Tech, which is better than its record suggests. Sean Gragnola leads Westminster with 14 points but is part of an experienced group in the midfield that has been sharing the wealth and producing at a solid rate. Utah native Christian Jones is stopping the ball at a 60-percent clip, another big reason for Westminster’s success. 

OUT

Palm Beach Atlantic (was No. 20)

The Sailfish dropped out this week after suffering their first loss. They struggled at the faceoff spot, and they went 0-for-3 on the extra man. Margins can be thin in college lacrosse, and coming up short in those two categories can make it difficult to win games. The Sailfish visit Florida Southern this week and can jump right back into the Top 20 with a win — if it’s convincing enough and a few other teams falter. The competition for spots in the Top 20 is at an all-time high, especially in the last five places.