NESCAC Hierarchy Clears, Impacts Nike/USA Lacrosse D-III Women's Top 20

With the conclusion of the regular-season schedule, the Nike/USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Women’s Top 20 only saw a few changes this week, but two previously ranked teams are back in and the NESCAC picture is finally clearer.

Of course, now the conference playoffs and upcoming NCAA tournament are where teams can really shake things up.

Pomona-Pitzer (17-1) and SUNY Cortland (13-3) are the two new teams in this week after strong finishes to the regular season, and with the help of Stevens’ overtime loss to unranked Misericordia and a pair of tough losses for Williams to end their season for now. 

Aside from the movement out, Trinity’s regular-season finale win over Amherst pushed the Bantams up a spot to No. 13, but they lost to No. 12 Colby in the NESCAC quarterfinals. The Mammoths dropped three spots to No. 16 with that defeat and a NESCAC tournament loss to Tufts.

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION III WOMEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Christopher Newport, Geneseo, Haverford, MIT, Stevens, Williams

UPCOMING GAMES

No. 1 Middlebury 5/6 vs. No. 12 Colby (NESCAC SF)
No. 2 William Smith 5/5 vs. Union/RPI (Liberty SF)
No. 3 Washington and Lee 5/5 Randolph-Macon/Lynchburg (ODAC SF)
No. 4 Salisbury 5/3 vs. TBD (C2C tournament)
No. 5 Wesleyan 5/6 vs. No. 6 Tufts (NESCAC SF)

No. 6 Tufts 5/6 vs. No. 5 Wesleyan (NESCAC SF)
No. 7 Gettysburg 5/5 vs. Washington/Ursinus (Centennial SF)
No. 8 TCNJ 5/3 vs. Kean (NJAC SF)
No. 9 Franklin & Marshall 5/5 vs. Muhlenberg/Haverford (Centennial SF)
No. 10 York 5/3 vs. Widener/Albright (MAC Commonwealth SF)

No. 11 Messiah 5/3 vs. Stevenson (MAC Commonwealth SF)
No. 12 Colby 5/6 at No. 1 Middlebury (NESCAC SF)
No. 13 Trinity (Conn.) Regular season complete
No. 14 St. John Fisher 5/3 vs. Hartwick (Empire 8 SF)
No. 15 Roanoke 5/5 vs. Shenandoah/Bridgewater (ODAC SF)

No. 16 Amherst Regular season complete
No. 17 Pomona-Pitzer 5/3 vs. TBD (SCIAC SF)
No. 18 Kenyon 5/3 vs. DePauw (NCAC SF)
No. 19 Chicago 5/3 vs. Illinois Wesleyan (CCIW SF)
No. 20 SUNY Cortland 5/3 vs. SUNY Brockport (SUNYAC SF)

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women

HOT

Middlebury (no change)

The defending national champions opened the season at No. 1 and never moved out of that spot, as they rolled to a 15-0 regular-season finish, followed by a 16-6 win over Bowdoin in the NESCAC quarterfinals, as Hope Shue tallied seven goals and Annie Enrietto made 10 saves.

Now Middlebury is set to face Colby in the semifinals Saturday and looks to achieve the one thing that alluded them in 2022 — a NESCAC tournament title. The Panthers finished 22-1 last season with the lone loss coming to Tufts in the NESCAC championship, a result they avenged on the biggest stage in the national championship game.

William Smith (no change)

The Herons finished 16-0 for the third time in program history, matching the 1994 and 1995 seasons, and they won their 24th straight Liberty League game Saturday when they beat Vassar 19-8. Katherine Murray scored a career-high six goals, and Maddie Montgomery added six points on five goals and an assist. William Smith earned the lone bye of the Liberty League tournament and awaits an opponent to be determined in the semifinals Friday at home.

NOT

Amherst (-3)

The Mammoths had a chance to continue their recent climb when they faced Trinity College in the regular-season finale April 26, but they came up short in a 13-10 loss. Trinity scored the first five goals of the game and never relinquished the lead. Amherst then suffered an early exit from the NESCAC tournament, falling 11-9 to Tufts in the quarterfinals. Jessye Salmon made 10 saves but the attack came up short despite four goals from Bridget Finley.

IN

Pomona-Pitzer (No. 17)

The Sagehens faced the difficult challenge of having to beat Colorado College twice in a period of three days, thanks to a cancelation earlier this season, but they managed to win both games decisively. In the first game, Pomona-Pitzer rolled to a 20-10 win with Fiona Lewis and Sydney Landauer each recording a game-high four goals, while Ruby Loesch made eight saves in goal. The Sagehens then collected a 21-16 win in the rematch. Lewis led with six goals, while Shoshi Henderson added six points on two goals and four assists.

Pomona-Pitzer finished the regular season later that same day with a win over Cal Lutheran. The Sagehens have won 11 straight going into the conference tournament.

SUNY Cortland (No. 20)

The Red Dragons finished the regular season on a 10-game winning streak, closing it out with a 15-7 decision over Oswego. Cortland took a 7-1 lead and was sparked offensively by Toni Cashman’s four goals and one assist. Amy Hoeffner collected 12 draw controls and five ground balls. Cortland finished the conference schedule 9-0 and 13-3 overall.

OUT

Williams (No. 18)

Williams lost four straight games to end the regular season, then made it five consecutive losses with an 11-6 defeat at the hands of Wesleyan in the NESCAC quarterfinals. The Ephs were playing in their first NESCAC tournament since 2016, but the Cardinals rattled off three goals in the first quarter and were up by five going into halftime. No one for Williams had more than one point in the game. Wesleyan was led by Kate Balicki’s three goals and one assist.

Stevens (No. 17)

The Ducks dropped a triple-overtime loss to unranked Misericordia and finished the regular season 15-2. Stevens attacker Julieann Murphy scored the game-tying goal with 3:55 left in regulation to send the game to overtime, but after two scoreless periods, Misericordia’s Genevieve Montanye broke the stalemate with 1:26 left in the third overtime period. She finished with five goals, including two in the fourth quarter to give her team the lead before Murphy extended the contest. Zoe Cook led Stevens with three goals.

The Ducks had won eight straight since a 20-8 loss to York on March 22.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS

• Preseason

• Week 1: Feb. 20, 2023

• Week 2: Feb. 27, 2023

• Week 3: March 6, 2023

• Week 4: March 13, 2023

• Week 5: March 20, 2023

• Week 6: March 27, 2023

• Week 7: April 3, 2023

• Week 8: April 10, 2023

• Week 9: April 17, 2023

• Week 10: April 24, 2023