Movement in Top 5 of Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Women's Top 20
After two weeks with no changes among the top five, there’s a slight reshuffle among the top teams in this week’s Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20 following Regis’ first loss of the season. After sitting in the No. 2 position behind West Chester since mid-March, the Rangers slide three spots following their 14-13 upset loss at unranked Colorado Mesa on Sunday.
Moving up to fill the vacated runner-up position is Pace, which is one of the hottest teams in the country. The Setters announced themselves early this year, upsetting preseason No. 1 East Stroudsburg on March 4 and virtually bulldozing their way through the schedule since their only loss of the year at Florida Southern. Pace extended its winning streak to 11 games with two more dominant NE-10 wins, and with one week remaining in the regular season, Pace needs just one more win (or a Le Moyne loss) to clinch the top seed for the NE-10 tournament.
Defending national champion UIndy, which has won five straight since its loss against No. 1 West Chester on April 1, moves up to No. 3 this week, with Tampa and Regis rounding out the top five.
No. 4 Tampa owns the top seed in this week’s four-team SSC tournament after finishing the regular season as the only undefeated squad in league play, and begins play against No. 18 Embry-Riddle on Thursday. With a victory, Tampa advances to face either No. 6 Florida Southern or No. 11 Rollins in the championship game. Additionally, the GLVC, GLIAC, SAC and GSC host their championship tournaments this week.
Also, the NCAA releases its second regional ranking of the season Wednesday. Last week’s first ranking simply listed each region’s top teams in alphabetical order. This week’s ranking is expected to have teams listed in order of merit.
NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II WOMEN’S TOP 20
April 24 |
W/L |
Prev |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
West Chester |
15-0 |
1 |
|
2 |
Pace |
13-1 |
3 |
|
3 |
UIndy |
15-2 |
4 |
|
4 |
Tampa |
15-2 |
5 |
|
5 |
Regis |
13-1 |
2 |
|
6 |
Florida Southern |
15-2 |
6 |
|
7 |
Maryville |
16-1 |
7 |
|
8 |
Le Moyne |
13-2 |
9 |
|
9 |
East Stroudsburg |
12-3 |
8 |
|
10 |
Flagler |
15-1 |
10 |
|
11 |
Rollins |
15-2 |
11 |
|
12 |
Wingate |
15-2 |
12 |
|
13 |
Grand Valley State |
12-4 |
13 |
|
14 |
Saint Anselm |
11-3 |
20 |
|
15 |
Seton Hill |
13-3 |
NR |
|
16 |
Adelphi |
9-5 |
14 |
|
17 |
Limestone |
13-3 |
15 |
|
18 |
Embry-Riddle |
13-4 |
16 |
|
19 |
Kutztown |
11-3 |
NR |
|
20 |
Bentley |
9-5 |
19 |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Colorado Mesa, IUP, Lynn, Mercy, Molloy, Walsh
UPCOMING GAMES
No. 1 West Chester 4/26 vs. No. 19 Kutztown
No. 2 Pace 4/26 at Assumption
No. 3 UIndy 4/28 vs. Missouri Western (GLVC tournament)
No. 4 Tampa 4/27 vs. No. 18 Embry-Riddle (SSC tournament)
No. 5 Regis 4/26 vs. CSU Pueblo
No. 6 Florida Southern 4/27 vs. No. 11 Rollins (SSC tournament)
No. 7 Maryville 4/28 vs. Rockhurst (GLVC tournament)
No. 8 Le Moyne 4/26 vs. S. Connecticut State
No. 9 East Stroudsburg 4/26 at Bloomsburg
No. 10 - Flagler 4/28 vs Lee (GSC tournament)
No. 11 Rollins 4/27 at No. 6 Fla. Southern (SSC tournament)
No. 12 Wingate 4/28 vs TBD (SAC tournament)
No. 13 Grand Valley State 4/28 vs Davenport (GLIAC tournament)
No. 14 Saint Anselm 4/26 at No. 20 Bentley
No. 15 Seton Hill 4/26 at IUP
No. 16 Adelphi 4/26 at Franklin Pierce
No. 17 Limestone 4/25 vs. Lincoln Memorial (SAC tournament)
No. 18 Embry-Riddle 4/27 at No. 4 Tampa (SSC tournament)
No. 19 Kutztown 4/26 at No. 1 West Chester
No. 20 Bentley 4/26 at No. 14 Saint Anselm
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Saint Anselm (+6)
The Hawks have positioned themselves to potentially secure one of the top four seeds in the upcoming NE-10 tournament as they head into the final week of the regular season with games against No. 20 Bentley and Saint Rose. After recording their 11th win of the year with Saturday’s victory over New Haven, the Hawks also need two more wins to tie the program’s single season record, set by the 2014 team. Saint Anselm’s three losses this year have all come against teams ranked in the top 15.
NOT
Adelphi (-2)
The Panthers have never really found their stride this year, beating teams they are expected to beat but failing to register a marquee win along the way. After losing twice against ranked teams last week, they should bounce back this week with games against two of the teams near the bottom of the NE-10.
Limestone (-2)
The Saints had a chance to secure a first place tie in the South Atlantic Conference race in their regular season finale Saturday against No. 12 Wingate but fell flat with a 19-10 loss that also cost them an opening round bye in the SAC tournament. Limestone will now have to play a quarterfinal game against Lincoln Memorial to advance to Friday’s semifinal against second-seeded Newberry.
IN
Seton Hill (No. 15)
The Griffins extended their winning streak to 11 games by scoring the first eight goals in Saturday’s PSAC matchup against Mercyhurst en route to a 15-11 win. Now 11-0 in conference play, SHU can clinch first place in the PSAC’s West Division and a first-round bye in the league playoffs with a win at IUP on Wednesday.
Kutztown (No. 19)
The Golden Bears have won four straight as they head into the final week of the regular season with matchups looming against the PSAC East Division’s top two teams, No. 1 West Chester and No. 9 East Stroudsburg. Saturday’s 17-11 win at Millersville secured Kutztown’s first appearance in the PSAC tournament since the relaunch of the program in 2008. The Golden Bears are also two wins shy of the Kutztown single-season record for wins, set in 1982.
OUT
Lynn (was No. 17)
With losses in three of its last five games, Lynn fell one game shy of qualifying for the SSC’s four-team championship tournament. With a final record of 12-6, the Fighting Knights also finished one game shy of matching the team record for single season victories, established last year.
Molloy (was No. 18)
Every time it appears that a team is taking control in the East Coast Conference race, another surprise pops up. Molloy had a team record 11-game winning streak heading into Saturday’s game at Roberts Wesleyan, but following an overtime loss, now finds itself in a three-way battle with RWU and Mercy for top honors in the ECC regular season.
PREVIOUS RANKINGS
Paul Ohanian
Paul Ohanian has worked at USA Lacrosse since 2006 and is currently the senior manager of program content. Prior to joining USA Lacrosse, he served as SID at a Division III school with a strong lacrosse tradition and learned to appreciate the commitment and passion that athletes at all levels bring to the game.
Categories
Related Articles
