Cortland Stuns St. Lawrence, Joins D-III Men's Top 20

The top quarter of the USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20 is filled with teams that refuse to blink, as every team ranked 1-7 maintained perfect records. Further down, chaos reigned. 

The rub is that the bottom half is the transitive property's worst nightmare. March is here, and it’s not mad — it’s furious.

St. Lawrence was stunned during the week by SUNY Cortland, which dropped the Saints down to No. 15. It was a result that is indicative of St. Lawrence’s tendency to ride the lightning early in the season. Its three games prior to a 17-5 win over Nazareth were all decided by two goals or less.

Cortland will be rewarded for its efforts with a spot in the Top 20. It has won three straight, including an 11-10 weekend victory, on short preparation, over Skidmore. The Dragons’ lone loss came at the hands of No. 4 RPI. Senior netminder Travis Wagner has been critical to their success, averaging 14 saves a game and saving 64 percent on the season. Cortland’s last two wins are by a combined three goals, so it’s not an exaggeration to say that Wagner’s efforts are winning games.

Lynchburg has returned to the Top 20 after a 15-9 win over Denison. The Sunday late afternoon games have been treacherous for a number of Top 20 squads. Is Sunday the new trap game day?

Dickinson lost to perennial bubble team Stevenson, a result that sent the Mustangs into the Top 20 and Dickinson down to No. 14. Washington and Lee took its second straight loss, falling to Gettysburg on Saturday after last week’s defeat to Denison. Middlebury’s truly brutal early season schedule has resulted in an 0-3 record with losses to RPI and Bowdoin this week. Finally, Williams, which made waves pushing into the Top 20 with a big win last week, fell in OT to Bates’ Xander Frey and his post-goal backflip. 

Salisbury’s four-goal win over Wesleyan puts the Cardinals into the loss column for the first time this season, but losing to Salisbury is something that most teams do, so the penalty won’t be that harsh. As long as the NESCAC keeps rolling, the top teams in that conference will be battling for spots in the Top 20.

Swarthmore made its biggest jump this season, though its ascendance is more of a leapfrog effect of being consistently in the win column. As the season goes along, quality wins take on renewed importance, but right now, the quantity is hard to deny.

It’s a banner week ahead for Division III fans. The Callum Robinson Classic takes center stage next week. Three teams in the top five and nine of the 10 teams participating are ranked or also considered. It’s a statement time for teams that fancy themselves contenders for Tufts’ throne. 

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III 
MEN’S TOP 20