HOT
Syracuse (+4)
Things went a teensy bit better for the Orange in their second game of the season. A week after getting trounced 18-11 at home by Army, Syracuse clobbered Virginia 20-10 in the most lopsided game in series history.
Midfielder Brendan Curry had three goals and four assists, and freshman Owen Hiltz delivered three goals and two assists in his first career start as the Orange peppered Virginia with 39 shots on goal in the first of the season’s 15 ACC league games.
A quick explanation on the ordering of Virginia, Army and Syracuse, who are 1-1 against each other. Syracuse was the only one of the three to lose at home, and Virginia also has a victory at Loyola to its credit. Whichever way you wish to order those teams, they’re the best of the one-loss programs at this stage.
Rutgers (+3)
It’s premature to name the Scarlet Knights — or anyone — the best team in the country. But the most unrelenting? They have to be in the conversation with North Carolina and perhaps a few others.
Rutgers got five goals from Adam Charalambides, four each from Shane Knobloch and Connor Kirst, and a two-goal, four-assist day from Kieran Mullins. It put together a 6-5-7-4 box score line on its way to a 22-12 drubbing of Ohio State in Columbus, and it forced 11 of the Buckeyes’ 19 turnovers. It was a formidable showing and a fine way to demonstrate its opening defeat of Penn State was not a fluke.
NOT
Ohio State (-6)
The Buckeyes bounced up after opening the season with a triumph at Johns Hopkins, then slid back into double digits with a 22-12 loss at home to Rutgers. A number that stands out: Ohio State took just 31 shots despite a relatively even faceoff split (20-18 in favor of Rutgers). The 19 turnovers didn’t help, but the Buckeyes need to get more shots off against an explosive offense in that sort of game.
Penn State (-4)
The natural reaction to Penn State’s first 0-2 start since 2010 is, “Grant Ament sure was a difference-maker.” And, indeed, the former Nittany Lion was a dynamic presence during his college career. But it’s not a full explanation.
Penn State was without midfielder Jack Traynor and defenseman Brayden Peck in Friday’s 13-7 loss to Maryland, and midfielder Cole Willard left with an injury in the first half. These Nittany Lions aren’t going to be as prodigious as their 2019 edition, but they can become a dangerous bunch at full strength. They weren’t at that point against the Terrapins.
Virginia (-3)
The Cavaliers had the misfortune of catching Syracuse at the wrong time, when the Orange was ultra-cranky coming off a lopsided home loss to Army. Two other things didn’t help matters: A possession disadvantage and an off day from star attackman Matt Moore (no goals and one assist on 10 shots).
The 20-10 loss at the Dome had more to do with Syracuse than Virginia, though, and Virginia will need to get its offense back in sync in time to welcome High Point to Charlottesville on Wednesday.
IN
Albany (No. 18)
The Dane Train got rolling for the first time this season on Saturday as Jakob Patterson collected four goals and four assists in a 15-9 victory over Colgate. Albany dominated ground balls (37-23) and offered a hint that it could be well-positioned to bounce back after going a combined 7-12 over the last two seasons.
Hofstra (No. 20)
The Pride claimed Long Island bragging rights with a 20-17 defeat of Stony Brook, and it holds the final spot in the top 20 by a nose over the Seawolves. Ryan Tierney has a pair of eight-goal, three-assist efforts for Hofstra, which snapped a two-game skid in its series with Stony Brook.
OUT
Stony Brook (was No. 16)
Give the Seawolves their due: They’re not boring. Stony Brook is averaging 17 goals a game, tied for fifth in Division I, and it hit that number against Hofstra. Maryland transfer Dylan Pallonetti had five goals and three assists in the 20-17 setback, and there’s every reason to think the Seawolves will be a handful for even the best America East defenses. Stony Brook (2-1) has only one game against a non-league opponent remaining — March 12 at Syracuse.
High Point (was No. 19)
The Panthers went 0-for-2 in February at North Carolina. The first regular-season trip to Chapel Hill was a rollicking 17-15 midweek encounter. Things didn’t go quite so well Saturday, as the Tar Heels had no interest in a nerve-wracking fourth quarter and blistered their in-state foe 27-12. That’s enough to nudge the Panthers back outside the top 20, but they have opportunities to move back in with trips to Virginia (Wednesday) and Duke (March 10) looming.