LeGrange has the honor of hosting the first NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse game of 2018 when it welcomes the NAIA’s St. Andrews (N.C.) to western Georgia at 6 p.m. on Friday.

A little more than three months from now and a little less than eight hours to the north, the two survivors of a season of change will draw in the national championship game.

Who gets there, how they do it, and what happens in between now and then may be anyone’s guess. But as of now, 2017 national runner-up, The College of New Jersey, headlines the Nike/US Lacrosse Preseason Top 20, appearing to have the makeup of a team that will navigate the next 90 days to emerge in Salem, Va.

Here’s more on each team that appears in the ranking, with last year’s overall record noted parenthetically.

1. The College of New Jersey (19-2)

The Lions spent much of the season ranked in our top five and were minutes away from winning the NCAA title in their 18th final appearance. Just three starters departed, and senior defender Elizabeth Morrison (61 GB, 61 DC, 59 CT), a three-time first-team All-American, ranks 11th on the NCAA’s career caused turnovers list. TCNJ yielded a nation’s-best 3.24 goals per game and committed the fewest turnovers per game (9.76) in the country. Fifteen Lions produced their 319 total points. Only two, who accounted for 55 points, graduated. Where are the weaknesses?

2. Middlebury (16-5)

The Panthers reached the national quarterfinals for a sixth time in seven years. With only four starters gone and all-everything midfielder Hollis Perticone (78 DC, 33G, 11A, 20 CT) leading the returnees, Middlebury is set up for a final four run. Defender Evie Keating and goalie Kate Furber earned NESCAC or IWLCA honors.

3. Gettysburg (21-3)

No single player can claim full responsibility for a team winning a national championship, but it’s clear Gettysburg gained a silver bullet last season when midfielder Steph Colson returned from injury after a 12-game absence. Colson earned NCAA Championship MVP honors and corralled 38 draw controls in 12 games. “She’ll be at the top of our scouting report,” a rival coach said. Senior All-American defender Cassie Smith helped the Bullets set program and Centennial Conference records with a 4.79 GAA, and classmate attacker Katie Landry (33G, 43A) has earned first-team all-region and all-league honors in successive seasons.

4. Franklin & Marshall (17-5)

The defending Centennial Conference champions graduated six starters, but they’ll be well-positioned behind junior first-team All-American Paige Moriarity (56G, 45A). Several coaches rank her as or among the best in the nation, with one rival calling her “as close to unstoppable as an attacker can be.” Sixth-year coach Mike Faith long has preferred an up-tempo pace. Combine that with a conditioning-focused offseason strength program, and he likes the Dips to do just fine with the shot clock and other new rules.

5. Washington & Lee (19-2)

The Generals enjoyed their best season ever in 2017, reaching the NCAA semifinals for the first time and setting a program record for wins while going from unranked to No. 2 in the weekly Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20. Though five starters are gone, first-team All-American midfielder Haley Tucker, who earned similar honors for the Generals’ Sweet 16 field hockey team in the fall, is just a junior. She nabbed 103 draw controls last season. W&L’s allowance of 4.14 goals per game ranked second only to TCNJ.

6. York (16-4)

The Spartans have shed their sleeper status, setting a program record for wins and reaching the NCAA quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons. First-team All-American defender and Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year Nicole Clauter (71 DC, 18 CT) returns with eight other starters. York gave up just 5.95 goals per game. League Rookie of the Year Meghan Fox (39G, 11A) led the team in scoring as a freshman.

7. Trinity (17-5)

The Bantams missed the NCAA final for the first time in six seasons; they only reached the semifinals. Nine seniors depart, but second-team All-Americans Zoe Ferguson (7.28 GAA, 51.7 sv%) and Clara Nowlan (30 GB, 24 CT) will anchor the defense. All-Berkshire Region attacker Kiley Coffee can get the ball (43 DC) and knows what to do with it (58G).

8. Hamilton (12-6)

The Continentals sandwiched 11 wins around a 13-11 loss to Middlebury in early April and their 12-3 thumping by Trinity in the NESCAC semifinals, the aftereffects of which may have lingered into a subsequent home loss to Salisbury in the NCAA tournament. Opening at Tufts and at William Smith and hosting only three home games in March could saddle Hamilton with another slow start, but a talented midfield will have the Continentals competing in the stretch. Senior Darby Philbrick (30G, 7A, 37 DC) and junior (23G, 13A, 28 DC) were All-Berkshire Region first-teamers.

9. Salisbury (16-6)

Interesting 2017 season for the CAC champion Sea Gulls, who had winning streaks of five, four and five games ended in decisive fashion each time, including a 10-2 loss at Gettysburg in the NCAA quarterfinals. Can they better sustain more success? Third-team All-American midfielder Allison Hynson (41 DC) returns, as does first-team All-Chesapeake Region attacker and leading scorer Dana King (35G, 29A, 23 DC).

10. William Smith (20-2)

The Herons appeared poised for their first final four since 2003, allowing just 4.82 goals per game (third in the nation) and winning 17 straight until a 7-6 overtime loss at upstart W&L in the NCAA quarterfinals. William Smith will need to replace IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year Sarah Honan and a good chunk of scoring, but senior Melissa Moore (47G, 16A) was a first-team All-Empire Region midfielder.

11. Catholic (14-5)

The Cardinals have dominated the Landmark Conference under coach Meghan McDonogh and figure to do so again, despite losing five starters among a large graduating class. Catholic ranked in the top 26 nationally in draw controls, goals and points per game. It should repeat that feat thanks to all-league senior attacker Nicolette Crisalli, who’s led the Cardinals in goals each season of her career, and the rule changes.

12. Brockport (16-3)

The Golden Eagles return eight starters from last year’s team that set a program record for wins but got bounced in the NCAA round of 16 by Middlebury, 14-7. Heather Conklin transferred from Division I New Hampshire before last season and earned first-team All-SUNYAC honors with 43 goals, 25 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. She’s back, alongside senior attacker Jessica Boddery (43G, 8A) in a formidable front line.

13. Tufts (10-6)

The Jumbos finished .500 in NESCAC play, but lose only four seniors and just 28 of 257 accumulated points. Among the returnees is third-team All-American attacker Emily Games (49G, 15A, 19 DC), the only freshman so honored by the IWLCA. Classmate Lily Baldwin’s 38 draw controls finished second to then-sophomore Dakota Adomec’s 49.

14. Mary Washington (15-6)

Assuming the Eagles can fill the void created by the graduation of three of their top five scorers, they appear positioned to reassert themselves in the Capital Athletic Conference race. They’ll be sound defensively behind first-team All-American defender Kirsten Littlefield (47 GBs, 43 DC, 23 CT) and third-team goalie Hanna Ashby (56.1 sv%). All-Chesapeake Region attacker Mackenzie Maguire (43G, 21A) led Mary Washington in scoring.

15. Colby (15-4)

The Mules won the NESCAC and beat Middlebury twice, but due to lack of hotel space had to play at the Panthers in the NCAA second round and lost. There may or may not be a hangover from that and/or from the graduation of All-Americans Emilie Klein and Lexie Perticone. Goalie Izzy Scribano had a promising sophomore season (7.48 GAA), and seniors Kendall Smith (48G, 7A) and Sasha Smith (43G, 9A) return.

16. St. John Fisher (15-5)

The Cardinals’ nine-game late-season win streak included their sixth straight Empire 8 Conference championship, but a late yellow card doomed them in a 5-4 loss at York in the NCAA second round. League honoree Cori Holbrook returns after ranking second on the team in points (52), goals (37), assists (15), ground balls (31), draw controls (47) and caused turnovers (18).

17. Ithaca (14-5)

The Bombers achieved a milestone last season, advancing to the NCAA round of 16 thanks to a gutty, 11-10 overtime win at Wesleyan from the NESCAC. They might be pressed to replace the offense generated by since-departed Ally Runyon and Morgan Racicot (two of their top three point-producers), but second-team all-region attacker Allie Panara (34g, 32a, 41 DC) will fill at least some of that void. Senior third-team All-American defender Molly Long and classmate second-team all-region goalie Kim Presuto return.

18. Messiah (16-3)

The upstart Falcons just kept winning a year ago, tying a school record by reeling off 14 in a row. Local rival York proved their biggest thorn, defeating Messiah to begin and end that streak — the latter in an 8-7 overtime classic in the NCAA round of 16. The defending MAC Commonwealth champions might be hard pressed to repeat, however, as eight starters are gone. Senior defender Kendra Herbenar (35 CT, 34 GB) earned first-team all-league and second-team all-region honors. Junior attacker Courtney Wagner (30G, 29A) is their leading returning scorer.

19. Cortland Red Dragons (14-5)

Death, taxes, and the Red Dragons winning the SUNYAC. Will they make it 20 years in a row? Despite losing seven seniors that included national and regional honorees, they’ll be right there behind sophomore All-Empire Region first-team midfielder Lexie Meager (35G, 12A). A non-league schedule that includes Catholic, Franklin & Marshall, Ithaca and St. John Fisher should help prep Cortland for the NCAA tournament.

20. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (16-2)

The Athenas challenged themselves with a three-game tour of NESCAC schools, winning two, but a quick NCAA tournament exit at home to Colorado College soured the season. There’s no NESCAC or comparable foes on the slate, so near perfection will be required to repeat last year’s postseason berth. But only four seniors left, and CMS’ top five point producers return.