Not much has changed in the first update from the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women’s Preseason Top 20.
The majority of teams that were ranked in that Top 20 haven’t started because of delays in scheduling related to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, with cases dropping in many areas of the country, spring sports are starting to kick into gear.
Middlebury, the 2019 national champion, remains the top team while the NESCAC awaits word on whether its season will go on, but of the schools already playing games, Salisbury is off to the most notable start. The Sea Gulls jumped up three spots after opening with a trio of victories.
No teams in the top 20 have lost any games yet, and the NESCAC isn’t the only conference still up in the air. The SUNYAC is still in the planning process, and schedules for others — such as the Centennial Conference and Liberty League — have not yet been announced.
Nike/US Lacrosse
Division III Women’s Top 20
March 8, 2021 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury | 0-0 | 1 | TBD |
| 2 | Tufts | 0-0 | 2 | TBD |
| 3 | Franklin & Marshall | 0-0 | 3 | TBD |
| 4 | Gettysburg | 0-0 | 4 | TBD |
| 5 | Salisbury | 3-0 | 8 | 3/13 vs. St. Mary's (Md.) |
| 6 | Amherst | 0-0 | 5 | TBD |
| 7 | Washington and Lee | 0-0 | 6 | 3/9 at Ferrum College |
| 8 | York | 1-0 | 10 | 3/13 vs. King's (Pa.) |
| 9 | Bowdoin | 0-0 | 7 | TBD |
| 10 | Wesleyan | 0-0 | 9 | TBD |
| 11 | Catholic | 0-0 | 11 | 3/20 vs. TBA |
| 12 | TCNJ | 0-0 | 12 | 3/9 vs. Cabrini |
| 13 | Mary Washington | 0-0 | 13 | 3/13 vs. Lynchburg |
| 14 | Colby | 0-0 | 14 | TBD |
| 15 | St. John Fisher | 0-0 | 15 | 3/10 vs. Nazareth |
| 16 | Ithaca | 0-0 | 16 | TBD |
| 17 | Denison | 1-0 | 17 | 3/20 vs. College of Wooster |
| 18 | Brockport State | 0-0 | 18 | TBD |
| 19 | Mount Union | 4-0 | NR | 3/10 vs. John Carroll |
| 20 | Colorado College | 0-0 | 19 | 3/13 at Fort Lewis College |
Also considered: Claremont-Mudd Scripps (0-0), Geneseo (0-0), Merchant Marine (0-0), Messiah (1-0), Pomona Pitzer (0-0), SUNY Cortland (0-0), Trinity (0-0), William Smith (0-0)
HOT
Salisbury (+3)
The Sea Gulls are on a three-game win streak to begin the 2021 season, including a 13-6 win over Washington in their home opener Saturday. They started that game with a seven-goal explosion and cruised to victory behind the offensive prowess of Julie Talbert (four goals) and Alexis Strobel (one goal, seven assists).
York (+2)
The Spartans improved to 13-3 all-time in season openers with a 22-0 rout of Wilkes on Saturday. The shutout is their fourth in school history. Rachel Della led with four goals, and York got scoring from 12 other players. York joined the Middle Atlantic Conference this year in the Commonwealth division and is expected to be a top contender.
NOT
Shenandoah (previously “also considered”)
The Hornets opened with a pair of losses to Salisbury (18-15) and St. Mary’s (9-8 in double-overtime). Neither was a bad loss, but Shenandoah certainly was looking for a better start after the shortened 2020 season. The Hornets look to bounce back Saturday at Ferrum.
IN
Mount Union (No. 19)
After a 3-0 start last year when COVID-19 shut down the season, the Purple Raiders picked up where they left off and have now won 21 straight regular-season games, a streak that began after an 11-9 loss to Illinois Wesleyan on Feb. 16, 2019. The winners of six straight Ohio Athletic Conference titles are leading the way once again.
Mount Union’s fourth win to begin the 2021 campaign was a 17-9 decision at Ohio Northern. Julia Bates had four goals and an assist, while Mackenzie Lewis and Kaitlyn Murphy each tallied three goals and an assist.
OUT
William Smith ( was No. 20)
The Herons haven’t played a game yet, but Mount Union bumped them out for now with its hot start. William Smith will remain a team to watch when the Liberty League gets the season underway March 26.