The final 2017 Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Top 20 has the rightful No. 1 holding strong at the top – the lone undefeated team of the season, Maryland. With tight battles to return to the championship game, the Terps finished 23-0 with NCAA tournament wins over High Point, Stony Brook, Penn State and Boston College.
Reigning NCAA champion North Carolina dropped out of the tournament with an unexpected loss to this year’s Cinderella, Navy, which joins the Top 20 for the first and final time this year. UMass also joined the mix after upsetting the MPSF rising power Colorado.
May 31, 2017 |
W/L |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | 23-0 | 1 | Season complete (NCAA champion) |
| 2 | Stony Brook | 20-2 | 4 | Season complete (NCAA quarterfinalist) |
| 3 | Boston College | 17-7 | 14 | Season complete (NCAA runner-up) |
| 4 | North Carolina | 17-3 | 2 | Season complete (NCAA quarterfinalist) |
| 5 | Penn State | 17-4 | 7 | Season complete (NCAA semifinalist) |
| 6 | USC | 18-4 | 6 | Season complete (NCAA quarterfinalist) |
| 7 | Princeton | 15-4 | 5 | Season complete (NCAA quarterfinalist) |
| 8 | Florida | 17-3 | 3 | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 9 | Navy | 18-5 | NR | Season complete (NCAA semifinalist) |
| 10 | Penn | 13-4 | 8 | Season complete (NCAA 1st round) |
| 11 | Syracuse | 15-7 | 10 | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 12 | UMass | 17-4 | NR | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 13 | Colorado | 16-4 | 9 | Season complete (NCAA 1st round) |
| 14 | Cornell | 13-6 | 11 | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 15 | Northwestern | 11-10 | 12 | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 16 | Virginia | 12-9 | 13 | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 17 | James Madison | 14-7 | 17 | Season complete (NCAA 2nd round) |
| 18 | Notre Dame | 11-8 | 15 | Season complete (NCAA 1st round) |
| 19 | Louisville | 11-8 | 16 | Season complete (NCAA 1st round) |
| 20 | Elon | 13-7 | 20 | Season complete (NCAA 1st round) |
Also considered: Albany, Towson
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Boston College (+11)
The Eagles had a historical season of their own, advancing to the NCAA final four and championship game for the first time in program history with home field advantage at Gillette Stadium in Foxbourough, Mass. They upset Syracuse and USC, and downed fellow final four newcomer Navy to face their former ACC rival Maryland. Their two-sport start Kenzie Kent was named the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the Eagles in their strong effort against the Terps.
Stony Brook (+2)
Stony Brook finishes the 2017 season in the top three after nearly upsetting eventual NCAA champion Maryland in the quarterfinals. The Seawolves, led by Tewaaraton finalist Kylie Ohlmiller, were the only other team to finish with at least 20 wins.
NOT
Florida (-5)
For the second straight year, the Gators were knocked out of the NCAA tournament in the second round after a first-round bye as a seeded team. This year, they fell to USC.
NEW
Navy
Navy’s historic run was honorable. The Mids became the first women’s team from a service academy to ever compete in the final four after upsetting the reigning national champion North Carolina. Kelly Larkin and Julia Collins were named to the 2017 NCAA all-tournament team.
UMass
The Minutewomen finished the 2017 season in the top 20 after a solid 17-4 season, capped by an upset over Colorado in the NCAA tournament in which they held the Buffs to just two goals in the second half.
OUT
Albany
While Albany joined the top 20 prior to the NCAA tournament after defeating Cornell and playing Stony Brook to a two-goal game, the Great Danes fell to Northwestern by eight goals in the first round.
Towson
The Tigers started the year strong, losing only to Stony Brook by one in its season opener and then defeating Notre Dame in March, but they didn’t succeed in the CAA tournament and were upset by High Point in the NCAA tournament.