Tufts into Top 5 of USA Lacrosse Division III Women's Top 20

Madness in the month of march is not exclusive to college basketball, and this week of women’s lacrosse proved that. A pair of early season top-10 matchups and other notable outcomes made for plenty of shifts in this week’s rankings.

On Saturday, William Smith and York couldn’t decide their heavyweight bout in regulation, knotted at 10 before Natalie Daniels potted the game-winner for the Herons. William Smith goalkeeper Maura Smeader made a key stop in the extra frame to keep the game alive.

A day later, Tufts and Washington and Lee engaged in a high-scoring battle, with Tufts eventually coming out on top 18-16. The Diplomats were down five entering the final two minutes but rattled off three goals in desperation mode. They ran out of time to complete their comeback, though.

Take a look at the rankings update for March 4 below.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III
WOMEN’S TOP 20

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Amherst, Denison, Messiah, MIT, Scranton

HOT

Tufts (+2)

Tufts’ win over Washington and Lee was its second victory of the week, earning it a place among the top five Division III teams this week. Emma Joyce and Maggie Carden have helped guide the offense in tandem and will continue to power that unit through the season.

NOT

York (no change)

York kicked off the year with two of the toughest games it could have had out the gate. The Spartans lost 14-10 to No. 6 Franklin & Marshall before the aforementioned OT defeat to No. 3 William Smith. Still, what the Spartans showed in defeat allowed them to hold at No. 9, with a shot at their first win against Haverford on Wednesday.

IN

Stevens (No. 18)

Stevens looks good early, jumping out to a 4-0 record with another two wins this past week. During Wednesday’s win over Kean, Emily Smart set a program record for assists in a single game (nine). Stevens has a big test coming up on Saturday when it takes on York at home.

Cortland (No. 20)

Cortland is flying high after a dominant 14-5 win over Utica, and it’ll need that heading into its most grueling stretch of the season. In the next four games, Cortland will face Ithaca, William Smith, Tufts and St. John Fisher.

OUT

Capital (was No. 18)

Capital suffered a setback, losing 17-8 to Ohio Wesleyan, and finds itself on the outside of the Top 20. Grace Osborn’s scoring alone won’t be enough for Capital to compete against the top tier of Division III.

Scranton (was No. 20)

The margins are very small toward the bottom of the Top 20 now that every team is playing, and though Scranton didn’t lose last week, its 11-10 win over Haverford was not enough to stay in the Top 20.