Rollins Nabs First Top 10 Upset of 2023, Rises in Nike/USAL D-II Women's Top 20

Now in his ninth year at Adelphi, Pat McCabe remembers his first game as head coach of the Panthers. It was on Feb. 22, 2015, in Winter Park, Florida, and Alexa Froccaro scored a game-high five goals to help Adelphi to a 15-6 victory at Rollins. Two days later, the Panthers defeated Florida Southern 15-13, and McCabe returned home with two Top 20 victories, a tan and an important lesson learned.

“What I remember about that first trip was my team’s insistence on stopping at Starbucks after practice,” McCabe said. “That was part of my indoctrination, to fully understand what is important to my players. Ever since, I always tell them, ‘This is your bus, so just tell me where we’re going.’”

This week, for the seventh time in his nine years, McCabe’s Panthers are headed back to Florida for their opening games of the season. Adelphi, coming off last year’s final four berth and ranked No. 2 in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Top 20, visits No. 9 Tampa on Tuesday and No. 6 Florida Southern on Friday.

Since that first trip in 2015, McCabe’s teams are 10-2 during their opening southern trips, with nine games featuring a matchup against a top 10 opponent. The Panthers aren’t making the trip to Florida just for peppermint mocha frappuccinos.

“It’s really important to us to play good teams in Florida,” McCabe said. “We want to play meaningful games and test ourselves against quality competition.”

The only disruption to the routine has been in the last two years, with Adelphi bypassing its Florida trip due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. McCabe is excited to be able to restore the program’s Florida tradition this season.

“It’s really beneficial for us to get off campus together as a team and spend this week together without a lot of distractions,” McCabe said. “And getting out of the cold on Long Island and being able to relax and play in the sunshine is important, too.”

Chasing its 10th national championship, Adelphi begins the year as the preseason favorite in the Northeast-10 Conference’s coaches poll.

“Every year brings different challenges, where sometimes you’re on top and other times you’re climbing the ladder,” McCabe said. “The thing that never changes is that you need to be your best, game after game, if you want to survive the schedule.”

For the first time this season, the schedule ahead features every top-15 ranked team in action this week, highlighted by the opening games of the year by No. 1 East Stroudsburg, No. 3 West Chester and No. 4 Le Moyne.

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II WOMEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): IUP, Limestone, Millersville, McKendree, Roberts Wesleyan

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

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

HOT

Rollins (+3)

The Tars registered the first top 10 upset of the season, albeit a mild one at that, as they handed visiting Grand Valley State a 15-11 setback last Saturday. Senior Abigail Cawley enjoyed a huge game for Rollins, tallying nine points on four goals and five assists. The Tars, who jumped three spots this week, used a seven-goal run to build an early lead and never trailed in taking down GVSU, which came in ranked fifth.

Regis (+1)

How did the Rangers respond in their first game in five years without 209-goal scorer and All-American Kyleigh Peoples? Just fine, thank you. They spread the wealth around, with four different players scoring three times each in a 15-11 road win at then No. 14 Lynn. Leading by two goals midway through the final quarter, Regis put the game away with scores from senior Meg Hanson and freshman Shea Murphy in the final three minutes.

Florida Southern (+1)

The Mocs tuned up for this week’s showdown with No. 2 Adelphi by claiming two good road wins in North Carolina, defeating Mt. Olive and No. 16 Wingate. FSC’s offense appeared to be in midseason form, with 73 shots and 36 goals combined in the two games. Graduate transfer Jackie Stoller (Lehigh Univ.) registered six goals and five assists in her first two games for FSC.

NOT

Grand Valley State (-5)

GVSU arrived in Florida last week ranked fifth, but drops five spots after finishing 1-1 in the Sunshine State. The Lakers opened with a solid 14-12 win over an improved Flagler squad, but two days later, they fell behind early and trailed throughout in a 15-11 loss at Rollins. Despite an advantage on draw controls and ground balls, GVSU could not overcome 19 turnovers. The Lakers have 10 days to regroup before returning to action at No. 18 Colorado Mesa on March 3.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS

• Preseason

• Week 1: Feb. 13, 2023