3 Undefeated Teams Remain in USA Lacrosse Division III Women's Top 20

Two more ranked teams lost their undefeated records last week, and another top program survived its first scare of the season.

Pomona-Pitzer started 2024 by flying to a remarkable 9-0 record, but it couldn’t make it through Easter weekend with a “0” in the loss column. A 13-6 loss to Williams — which continues to trend upward — put an end to that.

Stevens also saw its perfect record come crumbling. The Ducks dropped a game in heartbreaking fashion, too — 11-10 to Amherst, which has been flirting in and around the USA Lacrosse Division III Women’s Top 20 for some time now.

Meanwhile, at the top, Middlebury faced a real challenge in Wesleyan, another program that continues to impress. Wesleyan dragged Middlebury into the fourth quarter knotted at 8, but the Panthers narrowly escaped with a 12-10 win.

Take a look at how those scores, and others across the week, affected the Top 20.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III
WOMEN’S TOP 20

1. Middlebury, 8-0 (Prev: 1)
2. William Smith, 9-0 (Prev: 2)
3. Tufts, 9-0 (Prev: 3)
4. Salisbury, 9-2 (Prev: 4)
5. Franklin & Marshall, 7-2 (Prev: 5)
6. Washington and Lee, 9-3 (Prev: 6)
7. Gettysburg, 8-2 (Prev: 7)
8. Wesleyan, 5-2 (Prev: 10)
9. TCNJ, 5-3 (Prev: 8)
10. Colby, 6-2 (Prev: 11)
11. Pomona-Pitzer, 9-1 (Prev: 9)
12. Stevens, 7-1 (Prev. 12)
13. Roanoke, 8-2 (Prev: 13)
14. Williams, 7-1 (Prev. 18)
15. York, 3-6 (Prev: 15)
16. Christopher Newport, 9-4 (Prev. 14)
17. MIT, 8-1 (Prev. 19)
18. Trinity, 5-3 (Prev: 16)
19. Ithaca, 7-1 (Prev. 17)
20. Amherst, 4-4 (Prev. NR)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Babson, Chicago, Denison, Hamilton, Shenandoah

HOT

Wesleyan (+2)

Even in a week in which Wesleyan’s only result was a loss, the Cardinals are a riser in the ranking. Before playing Wesleyan, Middlebury won all seven of its contests by at least eight goals. Six of those wins were by a margin of 10 or more. The Cardinals proved a much tougher challenge to the reigning champions, hence their improved standing.

Williams (+4)

Williams makes a big jump this week, and it’s a completely earned one. Williams has built an impressive resume — including wins over Pomona-Pitzer and Trinity — in one of Division III’s toughest conferences. Williams is a true dark horse contender within the NESCAC.

NOT

TCNJ (-1)

TCNJ belongs squarely in the “not hot” category given it’s now lost three games in a row. But the Lions aren’t dipping too low in the Top 20, and that’s due to their opponents those last three games. Middlebury, Gettysburg and Washington and Lee in a three-game stretch would be difficult for any team to come away from unscathed.

Christopher Newport (-2)

Christopher Newport loaded three games into a five-day stretch, and the results largely did not favor the Captains. They lost to both York and Denison in that stretch, and a bounceback win against Kenyon on Sunday wasn’t enough to keep them from falling.

IN

Amherst (No. 20)

Last week showcased how tight these bottom spots can be in the Top 20. But, after a one-week hiatus, Amherst is back in the fold again. Amherst earned that right with a pair of wins, including one over previously undefeated Stevens.

OUT

Chicago (was No. 20)

Chicago is the odd team out this week after a loss to Catholic University on Monday dropped the Maroons under .500. They rebounded and now sit 4-4, but they don’t quite have the same resume as Amherst or York, which would allow them to sustain their ranking through that record.