Tampa Takes Over No. 2 Spot in USA Lacrosse D-II Men's Top 20

A shocking debut loss and a Sunday requiem headline this week’s USA Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20.

To start this week talking about a loss feels a little gross. But when a team ranked in the preseason drops its first result of the year to a team very few people have spotlighted, it has to take precedence.

Congratulations and all due respect to Flagler, which had perhaps its biggest win in program history with a 9-8 overtime victory over Southern Florida, but Walsh’s 13-8 victory over Frostburg State was the story of the weekend even before Sunday’s games.

Saturday had a few more results that raised eyebrows, like Seton Hill’s 15-1 demolition of Chestnut Hill. The hill-on-hill crime was followed by a tight battle between Lenoir-Rhyne and UIndy in which the Bears came out on top 15-13.

Lenoir-Rhyne started strong, going up 6-1 in the first quarter, but the Greyhounds sprinted back into the game with a three-goal run thanks to Tristan Shaffer’s natural hat trick. The second quarter belonged to UIndy, which dominated play and possession as it took an 8-7 lead into the break. The Bears could not be denied, though, as they outscored UIndy 8-5 in the second half to secure the victory, not to mention their spot in the top five for another week.

The marquee matchup of the week was played Sunday, as Limestone hosted Tampa. Both teams ranked in the top four, and the game lived up to the billing.

Tampa bolted to an early lead, going up 5-0 in the first six minutes. The stretch included a Ryan Kemp hat trick and a Devon Rasmus short-handed goal. Limestone matched Tampa’s scoring from there, and Tampa led 9-5 at the half. A Kemp goal with just 15 seconds left in the third quarter gave Tampa a five-goal lead again.

A late charge from Limestone included two goals from Zach Terry and a goal from Mike McGarry, as the dynamic duo brought Limestone back within one, but the Saints ran out of time and the comeback came up short. Tampa takes over the No. 2 spot with the win, while Limestone drops to No. 4.

Continue below to see the entire Top 20, which is compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II 
MEN’S TOP 20