The NCAA lacrosse committee and the final rankings agree: Maryland heads into the postseason as the top team in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20.

The Terrapins were tested over the final five weeks of the regular season. In that span, Maryland went 6-1 — beating Penn State (twice), Albany, Johns Hopkins, Ohio State and Rutgers while dropping only an overtime contest at Ohio State while playing without injured attackman Colin Heacock.

Maryland evened the season series against the Buckeyes on Saturday, earning a 10-9 victory in the Big Ten title game. The Terps will be the top seed in the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year, though perhaps not as obvious a favorite to win it all as they were a season ago.

Nonetheless, Maryland won three games in nine days in mid-April (Penn State, at Albany and at Rutgers) and then won three times in eight days to close out the regular season (Johns Hopkins, vs. Penn State and at Ohio State). It hasn’t lost by more than a goal in its last 32 games dating back to early last season. It might not stay at No. 1 this month, but it has earned the right to be there as the tournament begins.

There are also new No. 1 teams in the small college rankings, with Limestone and Salisbury ascending to the top spots in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II and III Top 20, respectively. These are the final rankings updates until after the conclusion of the NCAA tournaments.

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

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

Bracket Breakdowns

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

Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20

Also considered: Princeton, Marquette, Penn, Virginia, Boston University, Monmouth

HOT

Army (+5)

The Black Knights didn’t sneak into the NCAA tournament with their upset of Notre Dame on Saturday, but they made life difficult for the selection committee. Army at its best --- deep, tenacious and capable at both ends --- was able to knock off two of the top four seeds in this year’s tournament. Remember, it upended Syracuse back in February as well.

Ultimately, two things did in Army. One, its loss to Navy gave it a significant setback against a ranked in the bottom half of the RPI. But beyond that, it played in a league in which just three of the nine teams finished in the top 40 (out of 70) in the RPI. That strength of schedule issue, which was largely beyond its control, is a major part of why the Black Knights’ season ended with a riveting victory on the first Saturday in May.

Ohio State (+3)

Consider this a bit of a correction as the Buckeyes hopscotched Denver, Notre Dame and Penn State this week. There’s a case to be made for Ohio State as the most complete team in the country outside of Maryland, and its two games against the Terrapins suggest Nick Myers’ bunch is every bit the equal of this year’s No. 1 seed.

There’s no shame in any of Ohio State’s losses this season (Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers and Maryland), and only the stumble against the Terps came at home. The next few weeks will answer how capable Ohio State is of leaving campus and bagging a major victory — assuming Loyola doesn’t pull a surprise in Columbus on Sunday.

NOT

Denver (-5)

Maybe spending three of four weekends on the road caught up to the Pioneers in the Big East tournament. This isn’t exactly a road-tested team; Denver played eight of its first 10 at home before a finishing stretch took it to St. John’s, Marquette and Providence.

Connor Cannizzaro and the Pioneers will remain home for the first round, but there’s a lot for Denver to work on after its underwhelming showing in the Big East semifinals against Marquette. One thing’s for sure: With Air Force in the opener and either Notre Dame or Marquette awaiting in the quarterfinals, the Pioneers will be plenty familiar with their foes the next two weekends.

Hofstra (-4)

The Pride was the last undefeated team in Division I. But a collapse against Drexel, an encounter with Towson’s suffocating defense and a crushing CAA tournament loss to Massachusetts on a goal from near midfield as time expired combined to finish off Hofstra’s postseason hopes.

This is a tricky team to attempt to slot, right to the end. Hofstra did beat North Carolina and Princeton earlier in the season. It also wasn’t nearly as effective overall in the final month of the season.

Villanova (-4)

Thursday was a night for lackluster performances in the Big East tournament. The Wildcats played their way out of NCAA contention with a loss to Providence just five days after handling the Friars.

Villanova’s season ends with one distinction: It is the only team in the last two years to earn a victory at Maryland, bagging an overtime triumph back on March 19.

NEW

Air Force (No. 17)

The Falcons are headed to their third NCAA tournament in the last four years after upending Richmond in the Southern Conference final. It was Air Force’s second victory this season over Richmond, and it also owns an opening weekend defeat of Duke. Overall, it is a resume that warrants a ranking heading into the postseason.

OUT

Princeton (previously No. 17)

The Tigers fizzled in the fourth quarter in the Ivy semifinals against Brown, falling for the third time in their last five games. Princeton can — and will — build an imposing offense around Michael Sowers for the next three years. To take another step forward, it will need to tighten up on defense after yielding at least 15 goals in five of its six losses.

— Patrick Stevens

Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20

Now that the NCAA tournament field has been released, we get a good look at where the committee ranked the top eight teams in the country. 

For the most part, the top teams all made the tournament. The lone exception is No. 14 Wingate, which slipped in with the South’s No. 4 after winning the SAC tournament.

Limestone regains the top spot after Merrimack faltered in the Northeast-10 tournament.

ALSO CONSIDERED: MOLLOY, LAKE ERIE , ROLLINS, TUSCULUM,  FLORIDA SOUTHERN, LIU POST,, SAINT LEO, BENTLEY, INDIANAPOLIS, CHESTNUT HILL

HOT

Le Moyne (+3)

Le Moyne quietly put together a solid season, but peaked at the right moment. The Dolphins beat Merrimack and Adelphi to take the NE-10 tournament title.

Seton Hill (+1)

It was a good finish to the season for the Griffins, who beat Lake Erie and Merychurst to win the GMAC title. There was just too much of a hill to climb to make the NCAA tournament. 

NOT

Mercyhurst (-4)

Had it not been for the GMAC championship game loss to Seton Hill, the Lakers might have made the field. With no huge wins on its resume, Mercyhurst might have been the last out.

NEW

Florida Tech

It wasn’t a great season for Florida Tech, but it advanced to the Sunshine State tournament championship game after beating Lynn.

OUT

Chestnut Hill

It’s not hard to see why Chestnut Hill lost its spot in the rankings. The Griffins were hanging by a thread, and then they lost 15-3 to Mercy in the ECC semifinals.

— Matt Hamilton

Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men's Top 20

A wild weekend of conference tournament action shakes up the final in-season update to the Division III Men's Top 20, as Salisbury climbs to the top spot and RIT moves up to No. 2 — with the duo serving as the top seeds in their respective NCAA tournament regions, announced Sunday night.

Former No. 1 Bates drops to No. 4 after suffering its first loss of the season to Middlebury in the NESCAC semifinals, while league champion Wesleyan moves into the top five at No. 3.

Middlebury, which nearly made a madcap cinderella run to the NCAA tournament before falling to the Cardinals on Sunday, moves into the rankings at No. 20, while ODAC champion Hampden-Sydney joins the fray at No. 17. Nazareth, riding shocking wins over Ithaca and Cortland on its way to the SUNYAC title, jumps in at No. 13.

The Top 20 will be on hiatus throughout the NCAA tournament, with one final update to come after the dust settles with a new NCAA champion over Memorial Day weekend.

Also considered: Aurora, Bowdoin, Catholic, Elizabethtown, Keene State, Ohio Wesleyan, Roanoke, Springfield, Stevens

HOT

Wesleyan (+3)

The Cardinals extended their winning streak to 17 games with a run to the NESCAC crown over the weekend in Maine, which saw them take down Tufts for the second time this season in the semifinals and then rally past Middlebury for a 9-8 victory in the championship game. The victory gave Wesleyan its first NCAA tournament berth since 2009 and broke Tufts' stranglehold on the NESCAC tournament title. The Jumbos won it every year since 2010.

St. Lawrence (+3)

An overtime loss to RIT in the Liberty League championship game is likely all that stood between the Saints and the top seed in the North region, but the narrow contest was far closer than their only other loss on the year — a 19-12 setback, also to the Tigers.

Franklin & Marshall (+2)

Kevin Mollihan's OT winner delivered the Diplomats their first-ever Centennial Conference tournament crown, and kept alive a win streak that has lasted since the start of March and covered 15 contests. Franklin & Marshall last took home a conference tournament title in 1990, back when it was part of the Middle Atlantic Conference.

NOT

Cortland (-4)

A loss to unranked Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC championship game wasn't enough to knock the Red Dragons out of the NCAA tournament picture, but the unexpected loss — by four goals after Cortland had defeated the Cardinals by three in April — does knock them out of the top five.

Bates (-3)

Unbeaten and ranked No. 1 heading into the NESCAC semifinals, the Bobcats were done in by a dominant Panthers faceoff game and a hot goalie in a 14-13 loss. Bates would likely have taken the overall top seed in the North region had they won out in league action. It still will get to play in Lewiston until the semifinals if it can start another streak.

NEW

Nazareth

Whereas draws hurt Bates in its first loss of the year, they bolstered the Golden Flyers. Seth DeLisle dominated in a pair of overtime victories, as they upset their way to the Empire 8 championship and an NCAA tournament bid. DeLisle went 20-for-24 in the championship game against Stevens, after posting a 24-for-31 day against Ithaca in the semifinals. Anthony Basile scored the OT winner in the championship game after assisting on the tying goal near the end of regulation.

Hampden-Sydney

The Tigers exorcised some regular season demons in a dominating roll to the ODAC championship and a spot in the NCAA field, defeating Shenandoah 18-4 in the quarterfinals, then taking down top seed Washington and Lee by nine goals in the semifinals and third-seeded Lynchburg by five in the final — avenging two of their three league losses in the process. 

Middlebury

With a sub-.500 record, the only path to a tournament bid for the Panthers was an improbable run to a NESCAC championship, and they nearly did just that, knocking off Amherst in the quarterfinals and then handing Bates its first loss of the season in the semifinals, only to see Wesleyan get up off the canvas to come from behind in the final after Middlebury had opened up a 6-2 lead at halftime. 

OUT

Bowdoin

The Polar Bears were idle this week, having fallen to Tufts in the NESCAC quarterfinals after defeating the Jumbos in their regular season finale, but their 10-6 mark had to give way with so many key performers entering the rankings following runs to the NCAA tournament.

Roanoke

Lynchburg got the better of the Maroons in the semifinals of the ODAC tournament, the second time this season the Hornets took the victory in the matchup of the South region hopefuls. Unfortunately for Roanoke, that meant that Lynchburg got the nod on one of the few Pool C bids available in the South, and ended its season.

Stevens

An eight game-winning streak including wins over Ithaca and Stevenson had the Ducks riding high in late April, but Nazareth handed them two losses in their final three games, including the Empire 8 final, to end their season.

— Sean Burns