Relentless Adelphi is No. 1 in Final USA Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20

The Adelphi Panthers were the team that everyone talked about in hushed tones all season. On tape, they looked beatable. They couldn’t win faceoffs. At times, they struggled to score consistently in half-field sets. They turned the ball over with risky passes.

But they were also relentless. They would chase down ball carriers with aggressive SSDMs, and they had no fear of putting their long poles on an island. And netminder Dylan Renner stopped more shots than Victor Wembanyama.

Sometimes it pays to be underestimated.

Adelphi didn’t start great in the championship game, falling behind 6-4 at the half, but Lenoir-Rhnye just couldn’t pull away because the Bears couldn’t get enough quality shots to drop against Renner. As the defensive momentum built, the game got further and further away from the SAC champion, and the Panthers came out on top, 12-10.

Adelphi head coach Gordon Purdie made a friendly wager with his team this year. Win the title, and he’ll get a haircut. Renner told him after the title game that he should run his fingers through his hair one last time.

As Purdie himself left the press conference, he shouted, “Time to go to the hairdresser!” He was very happy to be paying off that wager.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
MEN’S TOP 20

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Saint Leo (9-6), Seton Hill (11-6), Wilmington (11-4)

HOT

Adelphi (+3)

The old-school style of play is well and alive thanks to teams like the Panthers. Purdie joked postgame that the championship took him back to 1979 when Adelphi won the title without winning a faceoff — because they didn’t have a faceoff. Adelphi didn’t much need to win faceoffs in 2024 either.

Two-way midfielders have come back into vogue because of the shot clock, but the way Adelphi plays middies that excel on both sides of the ball meant that they stayed in the game to do more than stop or kickstart transition.

Purdie’s squad was always going to keep the game within reach as well. Adelphi’s defense is really what helped get the Panthers to the biggest stage.They were second in Division II in scoring defense, allowing just 7.74 goals per game. Having an all-time great goalie to lead your team clearly helps, but defense is a team game, and players like SSDM Jack Hipchen, LSM Aidan Fitzgerald and close defenseman Ryan Butler tied it all together.

Renner is back next season, which is the worst news any shooter or coach could hear heading into 2025.

NOT

Mercyhurst (-3)

This is less of a dig at the Lakers and more of a farewell to the 2011 Division II champions. In its final season of competition in DII, Mercyhurst won the GMAC and was selected to compete in the first round of the DII tournament as a result of that title and its record.

There, the Lakers were taken down by Pace 16-10 in a game that was almost ceremonial. Because it was. Goodbye, Mercyhurst, and best of luck in Division I.