HOT
Boston U (+6)
The Terriers make a jump this week in part as a nod to their one-goal victory at Army, and in part as an acknowledgment that they probably need to be ahead of a Black Knights team with an identical record.
Boston U beat Loyola, Lehigh and Army in three consecutive weeks since its back-to-back losses to Navy and Yale, and the Terriers will look to successfully defend their Patriot League tournament title at home this weekend. They’ll play the lowest-seeded team remaining in the field after Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
Yale (+6)
Was Andy Shay’s team overdue for a re-evaluation? Possibly so. The Bulldogs have won five in a row since sinking under .500 with three consecutive Ivy League losses, and a defense that got rung up for 43 goals in a two-week span by Cornell and Princeton in March has tightened up.
Over the last four games, Yale has allowed 38 goals, and its 14-11 defeat of Harvard (which clinched an Ivy League tournament berth) was the closest of the bunch. With three 30-goal scorers on an attack that features Matt Brandau, Leo Johnson and Chris Lyons, that kind of defensive efficiency could permit the Bulldogs to go on a deep run in May.
NOT
Army (-6)
The Black Knights fall out of the top 10 with their 12-11 loss to Boston U, but from about No. 7 into the mid-teens, there is an argument for shuffling just about anywhere. After all, Army is only a few weeks removed from losing to Cornell by a goal.
Regardless of Friday’s setback, the Black Knights’ strengths remain the same. They boast an excellent defense anchored by senior goalie Knox Dent (17 saves), and they have six players with double-digit goals, which means top scorer Reese Burek (29 goals, 22 assists) routinely receives help. Army remains a contender to win the Patriot League tournament, even if they’ll have to go to Boston to play it.
Delaware (-5)
Didn’t see that one coming. The Blue Hens had won five in a row and were poised to complete a perfect regular-season run through the CAA before tripping up 15-10 at Towson. Delaware trimmed a six-goal deficit at the half to 11-9 before the Tigers pulled away in the second half.
The loss doesn’t change that Delaware must win the CAA tournament to reach the NCAA tournament, and that starts with a quick rematch with Towson. The Blue Hens will play on their home field this week, and two victories will get them back to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.
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