The mighty keep on falling in Division III lacrosse, with Cabrini, Salisbury, Ithaca, Roanoke and Cortland all dropping results despite calling the top 15 home just a week ago. It’s reinforced how unpredictable the landscape is, especially with so many top programs scheduling non-conference games against each other.

Amidst all that, though, a collection of NESCAC programs have emerged above the noise to cement themselves as some of the country’s best. Tufts has the look of an offensive juggernaut; averaging 19.17 goals per game will do that. Wesleyan, meanwhile has rebounded from an early-season loss to Coast Guard, largely thanks to an attack trio of Carter Hawthorne, Harry Stanton and Ronan Jacoby. Then there’s Amherst, whose only black mark is a loss to RIT, which is nothing to scoff at.

Keep an eye on the Centennial Conference, too, as it lands four teams in this week’s top 20, setting up a tantalizing Wednesday game. That’s when No. 4 Gettysburg and No. 7 Franklin & Marshall will duke it out for bragging rights and pole position.

Nike/US Lacrosse
Division III Men’s Top 20

Also considered: Coast Guard, Colorado College, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Springfield, Stevenson, Union, Williams

Hot

Stevens (+4)

The Ducks are odds-on favorites to win the Empire 8, and are now 1-0 in conference play after opening up with a 20-8 win over Nazareth on Saturday. That game might be better known as the Ryan Gebhardt show, as the freshman attackman scored six goals against Nazareth. Of note, junior attackman Max Bailey collected his 100th career assist after after a three-goal, two-assist performance.

Looking down the road, Stevens must have a April 3 trip to Stevenson circled, despite the Mustangs being 1-5. They’re fresh off a 14-10 upset of then-No. 4 Cabrini.

Dickinson (+5)

The Red Devils kept the good times rolling on Saturday with a 14-8 win over Washington College to open up Centennial Conference play, fresh off an upset win over then-No. 2 Denison. To get there, senior attack Tyler Strods bagged five goals and junior midfield Brodie Phillips snagged himself two goals and four assists.

What’s most impressive, though, is how Dickinson has rebounded from two early-season losses to ranked opponents Cabrini and Roanoke. They’re playing like an entirely different team and are contenders for the Centennial Conference crown.

Washington and Lee (+2)

The Generals haven’t climbed up the rankings too much, but there’s arguably no hotter team in Division III lacrosse. After Saturday’s 11-10 upset of Roanoke, they’ve won seven straight contests, scoring 14 goals per game along the way. That all comes after opening the 2018 season with three consecutive losses, all against ranked teams in Denison, York and Christopher Newport. Their go-to player has been junior attackman A.J. Witherell, who has 47 points (28 goals, 19 assists), putting him on pace for 80 points through the regular season.

Not

Salisbury (-8)

For the first time since the 2015 season, the Sea Gulls have been dealt three losses. That’s where matters stand for the two-time defending NCAA champions, who fell 15-6 to No. 2 York on Saturday, allowing their most goals since April 16, 2011. The loss also marked Salisbury’s first regular-season Capital Athletic Conference loss since April 2, 2014 (Christopher Newport). This latest demerit comes after consecutive overtime losses to Gettysburg and Ohio Wesleyan earlier in the year.

Cortland (-4)

After falling 16-15 in double overtime to Tufts on Sunday, the Red Dragons are now 2-3 in their last five games. It’s a worrisome trend, too, with SUNYAC play set to get underway next weekend and two non-conference tilts remaining against No. 1 RIT and No. 9 Ithaca. Results aren’t going to come easily from here on out.

On an optimistic note, Cortland can take solace in the fact it suits up four of the SUNYAC’s top five scorers. Thomas McNaney, Terrence Haggerty, Joey Panariello and Devin Phelps have combined for 96 points so far, explaining why the Red Dragons pace the SUNYAC with 13.63 goals per game.

In

Connecticut College

Following Saturday’s 11-10 win over NESCAC foe Colby, the Camels have themselves sitting pretty ahead of a grueling second half of the season. Notable NESCAC games against Amherst, Bates, Tufts and Wesleyan await, and so does a tilt against Coast Guard, arguably the NEWMAC’s best team.

At 6-1, Conn. College has relied on balanced scoring, with nine players registering at least five goals. Their cream of the crop has been junior attackman PJ Kelleher, who has 10 goals and 14 assists on the tail end of a 53-point campaign a season ago.

Out

Roanoke (previously No. 11)

For the second time in nearly exactly one year, the Maroons have lost back-to-back games. That’s where the Maroons stand after falling 18-5 to Wesleyan on Wednesday, then dropping an 11-10 affair to Washington and Lee on Saturday to open up Old Dominion Athletic Conference play.

Against Wesleyan, the Maroons were right in it at halftime, trailing just 6-4. Wesleyan senior attackman Harry Stanton (five goals, two assists) ultimately proved too much to overcome in the second half. Meanwhile, Roanoke led 9-3 and 10-7 at various points against the Generals, but collapsed late by allowing eight of the game’s final nine goals. It’s back to the drawing board now.