We have a new No. 1 team, and there’s some shuffling atop this week’s Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20.
With Salisbury’s midweek tumble against York, RIT has taken over the pole position and controls its own destiny in the Liberty League. However, a collision course with Union, home to one of the country’s top goalies, promises to make the last week of the regular season interesting.
Elsewhere, Cabrini seems to have locked up the Pool B bid to the NCAA tournament, Stevens created separation in the Empire 8, the NESCAC race remains tight and the Centennial Conference crown should come down to the final game day.
With pressure ramping up and the spring semester winding down, let’s take a look at those trending up and down when it matters most.
Nike/US Lacrosse
Division III Men’s Top 20
April 22, 2019 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RIT | 15-1 | 2 | 4/24 at No. 12 Union |
| 2 | York | 15-1 | 4 | 4/23 at Elizabethtown |
| 3 | Salisbury | 15-1 | 1 | 4/24 at St. Mary's |
| 4 | Tufts | 13-1 | 3 | 4/24 at Bowdoin |
| 5 | Wesleyan | 11-2 | 5 | 4/24 at Connecticut College |
| 6 | Amherst | 12-2 | 8 | 4/24 at Trinity |
| 7 | Cabrini | 14-2 | 6 | 4/24 at Immaculata |
| 8 | Gettysburg | 11-3 | 7 | 4/24 at McDaniel |
| 9 | Williams | 12-2 | 9 | 4/24 vs. Middlebury |
| 10 | Stevens | 14-2 | 10 | 4/27 at Hartwick |
| 11 | Denison | 12-2 | 11 | 4/23 at Hiram |
| 12 | Union | 12-1 | 17 | 4/24 vs. No. 1 RIT |
| 13 | Ursinus | 10-2 | 10 | 4/24 at Muhlenberg |
| 14 | Washington and Lee | 11-4 | 14 | 4/24 vs. Randolph |
| 15 | Dickinson | 10-4 | 15 | 4/24 vs. No. 16 Franklin & Marshall |
| 16 | Franklin & Marshall | 10-4 | 18 | 4/24 at No. 15 Dickinson |
| 17 | Bates | 9-4 | 13 | 4/24 vs. Colby |
| 18 | RPI | 11-3 | 19 | 4/24 at St. Lawrence |
| 19 | Cortland | 11-4 | NR | 4/24 vs. Oswego |
| 20 | Lynchburg | 10-5 | 16 | 4/24 at Guilford |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Christopher Newport, Coast Guard, DeSales, St. John Fisher, Stevenson
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
Hot
York (+2)
Upon knocking Salisbury from the ranks of the undefeated with an 11-9 win last Wednesday, the Spartans now are nine games unbeaten themselves. In the process, York clinched the top seed in the Capital Athletic Conference for the second straight year. York hasn’t won the CAC tournament since 2016, so will now have one more tune-up game vs. Elizabethtown to go about changing that.
Union (+5)
Every team wants to peak come late April, and that objective is trending positively for the Dutchmen, now unbeaten since a one-goal loss to Williams on March 15. Senior goalie Jack Santilli continues to be a brick wall, and now his biggest performance of the year will be needed against our newest No. 1 team, RIT, on Wednesday. First place will be on the line, with the winner taking home the Liberty League regular-season title.
Amherst (+2)
Some might look at the Mammoths’ two losses and think they’re a step off the NESCAC pace, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Amherst still boasts one of the country’s most explosive offenses, as sparked by Evan Wolf, the sole Division III player named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List. That all came to fruition in a 25-12 win over Bates last Saturday, keeping the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament within reach.
Not
Bates (-4)
The Bobcats aren’t a bad team by any means, but two losses in as many games has them needing some luck to secure a top-four seed in the NESCAC tournament. That will be the deciding factor between home-field advantage or not, with conference defeats now to Amherst, Tufts and Williams. Junior attackman Matt Chlastawa now has 82 points on the year, but it’s fair to ask if there’s enough secondary scoring behind him.
Lynchburg (-4)
The Hornets hold onto the last spot in our Top 20, though a 10-9 loss to a fellow ranked side in Washington and Lee is hardly anything to fret about. Lynchburg, previously winners of six straight, has played the likes of Salisbury, York, Wesleyan and Cabrini tight all spring as well. To secure the No. 1 seed in the ODAC tournament, the defending conference champions will now seed some results to fall their way and to take care of business themselves with two regular season games remaining.
Ursinus (-3)
The Bears take a small slide after being upset by Haverford, 12-9, at home. One of 2019’s upstart teams now faces an uphill climb in the Centennial Conference, with Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall looking increasingly like the top seeds there. Perhaps year-end games against Muhlenberg and Dickinson can change the narrative for Ursinus.
In
Cortland
The SUNYAC’s powerhouse program returns to the rankings after a two-win week, knocking off both Ithaca (12-5) and Brockport (15-7). Despite some struggles in non-conference play, Cortland is expected to make the NCAA tournament, having done so every season since 2000. Perhaps most impressive of the Red Dragons’ return to form is they’re allowing just 6.6 goals during this current five-game winning streak.
Out
Stevenson
It might be harsh to bounce the Mustangs from the Top 20, but a 17-11 loss to Cabrini was their seventh of the season against a ranked opponent. Nonetheless, Stevenson is still heavily favored to win the MAC Commonwealth, as they’ve done every year since 2013.