Dialed In: Your Lacrosse Fix for Tuesday, March 21

March 21, 2023

Beth Ann Mayer

Natalie Ledonne / Duke

Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:

1. No. 1 Duke downs Air Force to move to 8-1.

The Blue Devils scored 13 of the game's first 15 goals and topped Air Force 18-6 in Monday night's only Division I game. Brennan O'Neill tallied a hat trick and an assist, while Dyson Williams poured in a game-high four goals. Duke, winners of five in a row, plays at St. Joseph's in Philly on Saturday. Here's the full recap from Duke Athletics.

2. Three new No. 1’s emerge in Nike/USAL rankings.

Three No.1 teams went down last weekend, and three programs have taken their place in the latest Nike/USAL rankings. Virginia’s overtime loss to Maryland made room for Notre Dame to take over the top spot in the men’s Division I rankings. The Irish are 6-0 and clash with now-No. 4 UVA on Wednesday. Full rankings.

For the first time in 364 days, there’s a new No. 1 in the Division I women’s rankings. Northwestern handed UNC its first regular-season loss in 1,149 days. Syracuse, which beat the Wildcats opening weekend and is 9-0, moves from No. 2 to No. 1. Northwestern is now No. 2, and UNC is No. 3. Denver also moves into the top five at No. 4 after downing Boston College. Full rankings.

And Christopher Newport beat the previous-No. 1 RIT and now is No. 1. The Captains are now 8-0 on the season. RIT drops to No. 3. Full rankings.

3. Jostling continues in the rest of the rankings.

Undefeated LeMoyne (5-0) is still the No. 1 team in the Division II men’s poll. But Adelphi and UIndy are rising. Full rankings.

Maryville moved up six spots to No. 12 in the Division II women’s poll, which West Chester still reigns. Full rankings.

In the Division III poll, defending champion Middlebury remains No. 1, but there’s a new entrant into the top five. Full rankings.

WHAT WE’RE READING

Even the NLL Power Rankings have a new No. 1.
Montreat College head coach Keith Lohmuller passed away at 48. Our thoughts are with the team and Lohmuller’s loved ones.
Newly-minted No. 18 Penn State travels to Pitt today to highlight the women’s Division I slate. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m.
No. 17 Boston University hosts Harvard at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Cavaliers Now gives a post-mort on UVA’s loss to Maryland.
High school lacrosse is growing in SoCal. Here's why, according to the Los Angeles Times.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Because everything went right for Duke last night.

That's one way to make a save @ab0nafede pic.twitter.com/3HcfjBeTtO
— Duke Men's Lacrosse (@DukeMLAX) March 21, 2023

WHAT’S ON TAP

We’ll announce the players of the week across NCAA divisions.
The Penn State women didn’t win a Big Ten game last year. But this week, the Nittany Lions cracked the top 20 of the Nike/USAL Division I women’s poll — how chemistry and loyalty laid the foundation for 2023.

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Written By

Beth Ann Mayer

Beth Ann Mayer is a Long Island-based writer. She joined USA Lacrosse in 2022 after freelancing for Inside Lacrosse for five years. She first began covering the game as a student at Syracuse. When she's not writing, you can find her wrangling her husband, two children and surplus of pets.