The summer of lacrosse will soon make way for fall ball, and thus the dawn of the next NCAA women’s lacrosse season is here.
As we here at USA Lacrosse Magazine do every year, we’re taking a crack at ranking the Top 25 programs in the country before the fall exhibition season begins. Check back each day this week as we break down another five-team segment, ending with Nos. 5-1 on Friday.
Also considered (alphabetical): Arizona State, Army, Drexel, Navy, Temple
Early 2023 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
20. RICHMOND
2022 record: 14-4 (8-1 A10)
Last seen: The Spiders fell to one of last spring’s biggest Cinderella stories, Saint Joseph’s, 10-9 in the A10 semis.
Initial forecast: Last May, the Spiders watched their former teammate Sam Geiersbach play the role of unlikely hero for UNC during its championship run. This year, they’ll hope to get a boost from a pair of transfers in midfielder Katie Riehl, who played two games during her sophomore year for Boston College, and defender/draw specialist Clare McCooe, who corralled 113 draws as a freshman at Manhattan. Richmond also adds incoming freshman Alexis Morton. Morton tallied 102 points as a senior at Manhasset (N.Y.) and was named High School Player of the Year by Newsday. But there will be plenty of competition for starting spots on the attack and in the midfield. Lindsey Frank (50 goals, 22 assists, 23 draw controls), Arden Tierney (39 goals, 33 assists, 98 draw controls), Colleen Quinn (33 goals, 24 assists) and Sophia DiCenso (32 goals, seven assists, 14 caused turnovers) are slated to return. Starting goalie Delaney Galvin, who ranked fourth in Division I with a .501 save percentage, has graduated. The Spiders carried three other goalies who combined for fewer than 60 minutes of playing time in Daniela Stelcer, Emilie Bloyer and Nicole Burney.
19. JACKSONVILLE
2022 record: 14-5 (5-0 ASUN)
Last seen: After running past Stanford in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Jacksonville bowed out in a 15-10 loss to in-state foe Florida.
Initial forecast: For the first time, Jacksonville has a coach not named Mindy McCord. The architect of the Dolphins’ program left to start up the women’s team at USF. Enter former Johns Hopkins associate head coach Tara Singleton, who will look to build off a winning foundation that includes 10 conference tournament titles. With Sarah Elms (68 goals, 25 assists) and Jenny Kinsey (50 goals, 26 assists) gone, expect Grace Hobson (25 goals, 24 assists) to play a larger role. Rising sophomore Miya Scanlan (15 goals, four assists) also returns after leading the Haudenosaunee with 23 goals at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship this summer. Paige Pagano (7.15 GAA, .580 save percentage) and Addy Tysdal (10.18 GAA, .441 save percentage) return after splitting time in the cage last year.
18. MICHIGAN
2022 record: 11-7 (2-4 Big Ten)
Last seen: After missing the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines received an at-large bid to the NCAAs and pushed Northwestern in a 15-12 loss.
Initial forecast: Michigan loses some critical pieces in goalie Arielle Weissman, who finished sixth in Division I with a .505 save percentage, and leading scorer Caitlin Muir (18 goals, 23 assists). Kaitlyn Mead (28 goals, nine assists), Kaley Thompson (32 goals) and Erin Garvey (22 goals) are eligible for a fifth year, while Kaylee Dyer (15 goals, 12 assists) is back after a promising freshman year. Rising sophomore Erin O’Grady (9.88 GAA, .381 save percentage) saw action in four games for a total of 78 minutes. Defensively, Morgan Whitaker (19 caused turnovers) is eligible for a fifth year, and rising junior Maddie Burns (18 caused turnovers) is slated to return to a unit that finished ninth nationally in scoring defense (9.28).
17. VIRGINIA
2022 record: 10-10 (3-5 ACC)
Last seen: The Cavs beat USC 13-11 in the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing to eventual champion North Carolina 24-2.
Initial forecast: Virginia’s relatively young offense, led by freshman Rachel Clark (64 goals, 11 assists), showed promise last season. Mackenzie Hoeg (14 goals, 28 assists, 23 ground balls, 34 draw controls) and Kate Miller (27 goals) also pieced together solid freshman campaigns, while rising redshirt senior Ashlyn McGovern (65 goals, eight assists) will likely continue to provide stability and leadership to the emerging unit. Another freshman, Maggie Bostain (15 caused turnovers, 20 ground balls), was a key cog in the defense. Ashley Vernon (13.96 GAA, .355 save percentage) will likely be back in the net.
16. PRINCETON
2022 Record: 15-4 (7-0 Ivy League)
Last seen: The Tigers gave Syracuse a run for it in the NCAA quarterfinals but lost 13-9.
Initial forecast: Perhaps the biggest change for Princeton is off the field. For the first time since 1987, the Tigers will have a coach other than Chris Sailer. Jenn Cook takes over for Sailer, whose 433 wins at Princeton made her the all-time leader in wins with one school. But Cook is no stranger to the Tigers’ sideline — she’s spent 10 years as an assistant or associate head coach under Sailer. Cook takes the reins of a program coming off its fourth straight Ivy League tournament title. But the Tigers have cleats to fill. Kyla Sears (70 goals, 30 assists) and Sam Fish (11.52 GAA, .471 save percentage) graduated, and Marge Donovan (112 draw controls, 32 caused turnovers) is on her way to Maryland. But several players are waiting in the wings. Rising junior Grace Tauckus (47 goals, 11 assists), rising sophomore McKenzie Blake (36 goals, 10 assists), rising senior McKenzie Blake (36 goals, 10 assists) and rising junior Kate Mulham (35 goals, 13 assists) are among the top offensive returners. Goalie Tia Reaman saw limited action — 15 minutes in two games — as a freshman but is the only returning netminder. Defender Sammy Filippi (14 caused turnovers) and midfielder Sophie Whiteway (13 caused turnovers, 57 draw controls) will also likely play larger roles in 2023.