Dialed In: Your Lacrosse Fix for Tuesday, April 25

1. A new No. 1 in Division I women’s lacrosse
   Northwestern has risen to the top spot in the Nike/USA Division I women’s lacrosse rankings. The Wildcats’ lone loss of the season came on opening day against Syracuse. But it’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately landscape. The Wildcats have an identical 15-1 record as a Syracuse team that suffered its first loss of the season in the waning moments against Boston College but are the outright regular-season champs in the Big Ten. Syracuse fell to No. 2 — in our rankings, but more consequently, the ACC, sharing the regular-season title with the Eagles, who rose to No. 4. The lone unbeaten in the land is No. 3 Denver. Full rankings.

2. Notre Dame retains the top spot in the men’s rankings
   The revolving door for the No. 1 slot in the Nike/USAL Division I men’s rankings took another week off. The Irish are still No. 1, with Duke following at No. 2 again. But Johns Hopkins’ historic win over Maryland caused some minor reshuffling, with the Blue Jays, Virginia and Penn State on the rise. See where they landed.  

3. The PLL taps Louisville for All-Star weekend
   Professional lacrosse is coming to Louisville this July. The PLL announced it would host its All-Star Weekend at Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium at the University of Louisville on July 22, 2023. It’s the first time the league has visited Kentucky. All-Star weekend will include skills challenges and the game between some of the world’s best players. The season begins June 3. Full release.

4. John Ranagan announces retirement from professional lacrosse
   John Ranagan, a Chrome midfielder (PLL) and Georgia Swarm defenseman, is retiring from professional lacrosse after 10 seasons, the Chrome announced on Instagram. Ranagan, a Chrome captain, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2013, where he was an All-American midfielder.

5. Latest Division II and Division III men’s and women’s rankings unveiled
   Massive upsets mean massive shake-ups in the Division II men’s rankings, but Le Moyne still sits at No. 1. There are no changes to the top five in the Division III men’s rankings, but Dickinson is up five spots to No. 6.
   
   The women’s Division II top five experienced a reshuffling, with Pace, UIndy and Tampa on the upswing. There was little movement in the Division III women’s rankings, with no changes to the top 12.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• It's behind a paywall, but this piece on Sam Assaf in The Athletic, a walk-on for the Notre Dame football and lacrosse teams, is worth the price of admission.

• Bryant and Brown square off for the Ocean Cup battle tonight at 7 p.m. Lafayette and newly-minted No. 3 Virginia play at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

• World Lacrosse announced a presenting sponsor for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship: Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. The championship will take place from June 21 to July 1 in San Diego.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

TLN looks back at John Ranagan s college days.

John Ranagan was a one-man wrecking crew for @jhumenslacrosse back in the day

Enjoy retirement, @JohnRanagan31 pic.twitter.com/jVXgIJI5xH

— TLN (@LacrosseNetwork) April 24, 2023

WHAT’S ON TAP

Meet the college players of the week, plus high school lacrosse takes center stage.

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