The 2020 lacrosse season ended abruptly, and it’s anyone’s guess exactly when the 2021 season will begin. But there’s been plenty of movement in the offseason.

While it’s probably a greater challenge to forecast the upcoming season than in most years, US Lacrosse Magazine will give it a try.

Up today: Nos. 15-11.

Early 2021 Rankings

Division I Men
No. 25 - No. 21
No. 20 - No. 16
No. 15 - No. 11
No. 10 - No. 6
No. 5 - No. 1

Division I Women
No. 25 - No. 21
No. 20 - No. 16
No. 15 - No. 11
No. 10 - No. 6
No. 5 - No. 1

15. DARTMOUTH

2020 record: 5-0

Last seen: Toppling New Hampshire 18-5 after an upset 13-9 win over Florida.

Initial forecast: Like others in the Ivy League, Dartmouth won’t have the luxury of bringing back graduate students for an extra year of eligibility. Katie Bourque, last year’s team leader in goals, transferred to North Carolina, and 15-goal  Sophia Turchetta and Ellie Carson both graduated. As did the team’s assist leader, Tori Chanenchuk. That leaves the offense in the hands of Claire Marshall, Veta Mayer and Mimi Lazore. There could very well be some regression here, but let’s not count Dartmouth out of anything just yet. Dartmouth had the Ivy League’s best record last year and finished in the top three in the league in 2018 and 2019.

14. JAMES MADISON

2020 record: 5-1

Last seen: Winning a fifth consecutive game and outscoring Penn State and Rutgers a combined 32-11.

Initial forecast: Maddie McDaniel has transferred to USC, so the Dukes lose both a force on offense and the draw circle. They also lose Logan Brennan, who was second on the team last year with 17 points (10 goals). But so much else is returning. Isabella Peterson led the team in points (18) and goals (15) as a freshman. Katie Checkosky is back as the team’s primary feeder. Kacey Knobloch, Daria Lucchesi and Taylor Marchetti could very well assume larger roles on offense. Defensively, Molly Dougherty is back after saving 50 percent of shots faced. Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe will have to replace starter Kristen Russell on defense, but starters Mairead Durkin, Emma Johnson and Rachel Matey are back. If the Dukes can figure out what’s lost on offense, they’ll be just fine.

13. USC

2020 record: 6-0

Last seen: Opening up Pac-12 play with wins over Stanford (13-12) and Cal (16-9).

Initial forecast: A phenomenal start in 2020 had the Women of Troy up to No. 8 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Magazine Division I Women’s Top 20 when the season abruptly ended. Notable players from that team are now off to new places. IWLCA All-American Kerrigan Miller transferred to North Carolina, and midfielder Kaeli Huff transferred to Stony Brook to play close to home. Maddie McDaniel comes in to help bolster Lindsey Munday’s midfield, which also features Kelsey Huff, Kaeli’s younger sister, and Erin Bakes. USC’s calling card has been its defense, which ranked 15th nationally in 2020 by allowing just 8.67 goals per game. Riley Hertford stood on her head as a junior, saving .561 percent of shots faced, and defenders Lizzy Wagner, Kaleigh Brennan and Madi O’Brien are set to return.

12. DENVER

2020 record: 7-1

Last seen: Ripping off three straight easy wins by a combined score of 54-23.

Initial forecast: Denver didn’t face many true tests last year. A win over Pac-12 rival Stanford to start the season was likely the Pios’ best win, perhaps overshadowed by a 14-13 loss to Vanderbilt three weeks later. Denver’s defense was lights out, ranking 13th nationally by allowing 8.63 goals per contest, and its followed suit by ranking 9th, pouring in 16.88 goals per game. The Pios return all but one goal (Laura Milleker) from 2020, with dominant performers Quintin Hoch-Bullen, Bea Behrins and Eliza Radochonski standing out as juniors last year. Defensively, Molly Little is back for a fifth year to anchor a unit that will need to replace Milleker, Eliza Hacke and, perhaps most notably, goalkeeper Carson Gregg. Replacing Gregg (whether that’s with Chloe Lewis, Amelia Cole or somebody else) will be worth monitoring, but Denver seems poised to threaten the top 10.

11. RICHMOND

2020 record: 7-0

Last seen: Climbing the national rankings on a weekly basis, ending with a 22-9 win over Old Dominion.

Initial forecast: There’s a lot to like in Richmond. The team’s top six point producers are back, headlined by the one-two punch of Sam Geiersbach and Arden Tierney. Julia Schmuckler needs to be replaced in the midfield, as does Meghan Quinn on the defensive end, but midfielder Madison Ostrick and goalkeeper Megan Gianforte are back as integral grad students. The Spiders began garnering national attention after topping state rival Virginia in overtime on Feb. 26, Richmond’s first win over a top-10 team and first win over Virginia since 2006. That was the exclamation point during the shortened 2020 season, but Richmond should have plenty more opportunities to climb the rankings in 2021. It looks like the Spiders could be here to stay.