Way Early 2025 Rankings: Nos. 20-16 (Division I Women)

College campuses are awakening again with students reporting for the 2024-25 academic year.

But forget the 2024 part. We’re already looking ahead to 2025.

With the launch of a new college year soon comes the beginning of fall ball, meaning it’ll soon be time to count the days before the next college lacrosse season begins.

Here’s our first stab at putting together a Division I Women's Top 25 for 2025.

Up next: Nos. 20-16.

Previous: Nos. 25-21.

20. USC

2024 record: 12-5 (6-1 Pac-12)

Last seen: Losing its final Pac-12 bout 12-9 to Colorado in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals.

Notable departures: Ella Heaney, A, Shelby Tinton, A, Maggie Brown, A, Claudia Shevitz, A, Danielle Carson, D

Notable additions: Charlotte Morton, G; Alexis May, M

Initial forecast: The Women of Troy embark on the Big Ten, a more difficult conference top to bottom than the late Pac-12, with significant offensive holes to plug. Three starters attackers — Ella Heaney (43 G, 30 A), Shelby Tinton (42 G, 5 A), Maggie Brown (36 G, 7 A) — and an offensive-minded midfielder — Claudia Shevitz (29 G, 4 A) — are gone to graduation. Isabelle Vitale (23 G, 41 A) returns, as a dual-threat scorer and feeder, but she’ll need weapons to dish to near the crease.

The forecast for USC is cloudy, much like it is for its other Pac-12 counterparts departing for new homes. How will the Women of Troy fare in a conference with perennial top-10 programs like Northwestern and Maryland, and two more programs (Michigan and Johns Hopkins) trying to cement themselves as consistent top-10 teams themselves?

There’s a challenge at hand, for sure. Though much like the other Big Ten teams, USC can play some defense, and that will help. Lindsey Munday’s team loses Danielle Carson (21 ground balls, 18 caused turnovers) but allowed single-digit (9.53) goals per game in 2024.

19. PENN STATE

2024 record: 11-8 (4-2 Big Ten)

Last seen: Allowing 14 goals in back-to-back losses, one to Northwestern in the Big 10 tournament and one to James Madison in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Notable departures: Gretchen Gilmore, M; Kristin O’Neill, M; Kayla Abernathy, M; Meghan Murray, M; Kara Nealon, M; Sammy Dupcak, D; Haley Urgo, D; Rachel Spilker, D

Notable additions: Summer Harrell, A; Dakota Cristo, M; Alexa Kairis, A; Ellie Wisch, A;

Initial forecast: There might not be a team in the Big Ten — maybe even in the country — that has to replace the volume of contributors that Penn State does. The top four scorers who accounted for 141 goals have graduated, and they were all midfield stalwarts. A key glue player in Kara Nealon is also moving on, as are defenders Sammy Dupcak, Rachel Spilker and Haley Urgo.

That’s eight starters to replace, including an entirely new first midfield line. There are players waiting in the wings to step up, like Lauren Saltz (20 G, 21 GB, 45 DC), Brooke Hoss (18 G), Emma Kelly (14 G), Kelly MacKinney (14 G, 25 A) and Payton Wainman (12 G, 8 A), but it will be next to impossible to truly replace the contributions of 1-2 punch Gretchen Gilmore and Kristin O’Neill.

That put some pressure on a defense led by reigning Big Ten freshman of the year Sydney Manning (.413 SV%, 13 starts), who had a strong freshman season between the pipes. And All-American Ellie Hollin is still roaming around causing problems, so that will help.

Penn State was a team that had the high-end talent to cause headaches in 2024, but there are questions moving into 2025.

18. NAVY

2024 record: 15-4 (8-1 Patriot League)

Last seen: Taking Loyola to overtime in the Patriot League championship game, then waiting in disappointment as it was snubbed from the NCAA tournament field.

Notable departures: Lindsay Beardmore, A; Isabelle Thornburg, D; Caroline Stefans, D; Katie Golbranson, D; Leelee Denton, A

Notable additions: Alyssa Chung, M; Chloe Brown, A

Initial forecast: Navy was bashed by season-defining injuries to Ava Yovino, Katie Golbranson and Leelee Denton, not to mention other injuries that provided adversity along the way. Yet the Mids still went 15-4, nearly knocked off Loyola in the conference title game and probably should have been an NCAA tournament team.

All that’s to say that Navy is in a great place entering 2025. Some might call it an enviable position. The top six scorers return, highlighted by Emily Messinese (68 G, 18 A), Tori DiCarlo (58 G, 14 A), Kat McAteer (25 G, 25 A) and Lola Leone (40 G). Not to mention the return of Yovino, who impressed as a freshman in 2023 with 33 goals and 48 assists.

Navy will certainly miss the defensive leadership of Golbranson, Caroline Stefans and Isabelle Thornburg, but Cindy Timchal has plenty of options when it comes to replacing them. Timchal also has the benefit of another year of experience for goalie Felicia Giglio, who didn’t look unprepared for the moment as a freshman. In 19 starts, she saved 43 percent of shots.

Loyola, until proven otherwise, is the class of the Patriot League. But Navy is coming — and coming fast.

17. JAMES MADISON

2024 record: 14-6 (5-1 AAC)

Last seen: Sneaking past Penn State in the first game of the NCAA tournament before falling apart and losing 17-7 to Maryland in the next round.

Notable departures: Isabella Peterson, A; Katelyn Morgan, A; Kacey Knobloch, A; Taylor Marchetti, M; Carolyn Thistlewaite, D; Nicholle Marshall, D; Lizzy Pirisino, D; Alex Pirisino, D

Notable additions: Chloe Bleckley, M; Harlowe Healey, M; Olivia Matthews, M; Ava Main, M; Reese Cuviello, D

Initial forecast: It isn’t a full transition year for Shelley Klaes’ Dukes, but the graduation of program all-time draws, goals, points and shots leader Isabella Peterson means it is time for a new face to take charge.

Presumably that title will be passed to Maddie Epke, who was a profoundly capable running mate for Peterson in 2024. The midfielder produced 57 goals, 23 assists, 18 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers and 178 draw controls as a sophomore in 2024, and there’s plenty of reasons to believe she’ll have the opportunity to do even more. Also look for Olivia Mattis, Maggie Clark, Savannah Derey, Lauren Savage, Brianna Mennella and Josie Pell to battle for bigger roles, too.

The defense could also use some work in front of goalie Caitlin Boden (.430 SV%, 11.65 GAA) with the graduations of Nicholle Marshall and the Pirisino sisters, Lizzy and Alex. Look for Ava Bleckley, a freshman in 2024, to possibly be the next star of JMU’s zone.

With Florida off to the Big 12, the AAC is likely James Madison’s to lose. Nationally, though, the Dukes need to prove they’re capable of playing like their teams of the past five seasons.

16. PRINCETON

2024 record: 11-7 (6-1 Ivy League)

Last seen: Losing a 21-16 slugfest to Boston College in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Notable departures: Grace Tauckus, A; Kari Buonanno, M; Samantha DeVito, M; Caroline Burnett, D; Sammy Filippi, D; Abbie Wilhelm, D

Notable additions: Zoe Bye, D; Elizabeth Gonnella, G

Initial forecast: Everything came together quite nicely for Princeton in 2024, though with growth comes growing pains, evidenced by the team’s struggles to build prolonged winning streaks. The emergences of McKenzie Blake (67 G, 5 A), Haven Dora (29 G, 40 A) and Jami MacDonald (34 G, 21 A) helped Princeton win some high-scoring games, especially because the defense lagged behind the offense.

Princeton was tied with Detroit Mercy at No. 82 nationally in terms of scoring defense (13.17 goals allowed per game), and with three starters graduating, there’s further work to do on that end of the field. At least there’s the return of Amelia Hughes, who took a slight step back in 2024 (.413 SV%) but has the potential for more — evidenced by the .474 save percentage she produced in 2023.

With the overall growth and depth of the Ivy League, it will be tough for Princeton to climb to the top without a supportive defense. Yale and Penn have more complete lineups and rosters as things stand, meaning Princeton can’t rank higher than them. At least not yet.