We’ve arrived at the moment fans of college lacrosse have been waiting for all season. Last night, the NCAA Selection Committee unveiled the 12-team field for the Division II men’s tournament, and the battle for a title has begun.
Tampa, the overall No. 1 seed, led the South region, while No. 2 Mercy took the top spot in the North. However, last week’s results certainly shaped the bracket as we see it today.
Le Moyne, which held the top spot in the rankings for a portion of the year, fell to Adelphi in the NE-10 final and finished as the North’s No. 3 seed. Seton Hill, which was not ranked heading into last week (it certainly made the case), dominated Lake Erie and topped Mercyhurst to win the GMAC and punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament.
Overall, the committee chose the top teams in each region. If there are gripes, they fall mainly on the seed lines.
NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II MEN'S TOP 20
May 9, 2022 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Tampa |
18-0 |
1 |
5/15 vs. TBD |
|
2 |
Mercy |
14-1 |
2 |
5/15 vs. TBD |
|
3 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
14-3 |
3 |
5/11 vs. UIndy |
|
4 |
Adelphi |
15-1 |
4 |
5/15 vs. TBD |
|
5 |
Limestone |
16-2 |
6 |
5/15 vs. TBD |
|
6 |
Lindenwood |
15-2 |
7 |
5/11 vs. Wingate |
|
7 |
Le Moyne |
14-3 |
5 |
5/11 vs. Saint Anselm |
|
8 |
Wingate |
12-4 |
10 |
5/11 vs. Lindenwood |
|
9 |
UIndy |
14-3 |
9 |
5/11 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
10 |
Mercyhurst |
11-4 |
8 |
5/11 vs. Seton Hill |
|
11 |
Florida Southern |
12-6 |
11 |
Season complete |
|
12 |
Rollins |
12-3 |
12 |
Season complete |
|
13 |
Saint Anselm |
10-5 |
13 |
5/11 vs. Le Moyne |
|
14 |
Seton Hill |
12-6 |
NR |
5/11 vs. Mercyhurst |
|
15 |
Florida Tech |
11-4 |
14 |
Season complete |
|
16 |
Wilmington |
10-5 |
15 |
Season complete |
|
17 |
Belmont Abbey |
14-4 |
16 |
Season complete |
|
18 |
Colorado Mesa |
14-4 |
17 |
Season complete |
|
19 |
Queens (N.C.) |
12-5 |
18 |
Season complete |
|
20 |
Westminster |
10-4 |
19 |
Season complete |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson, Bentley, Lake Erie, Lewis, Maryville, Mount Olive, Newberry, Roberts Wesleyan
Nike/USA Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Mercy (no change)
Mercy ran through East Coast Conference play with ease in 2022, going unbeaten in the regular season and sweeping Roberts Wesleyan and Frostburg to win the conference title. The Mavericks have won 11 straight games after falling to Le Moyne by just one goal on March 5. A well-deserved top seed.
NOT
Le Moyne (-2)
Le Moyne is stumbling into the NCAA tournament, where it has won the Division II title last season. The Dolphins fell to Adelphi by six goals — their first loss by at least six goals since 2014 — to end the regular season and then managed just two goals in an NE-10 final loss to the Panthers. Le Moyne hadn’t lost three games in a season since 2019, and the third loss came in the title game.
Wingate (-2)
Another team not playing its best lacrosse, Wingate fell to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC semifinals on April 29. The Bulldogs get a Lindenwood team fresh off a GLVC championship in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
IN
Seton Hill (No. 14)
Maybe it was an oversight, but Seton Hill finally cracks the rankings for the first time in weeks. After playing Mercy, Mercyhurst and Tampa close, the Griffins finally got their big part, downing Mercyhurst in the GMAC championship game.
OUT
Bentley
Teetering in and out of the rankings this season, Bentley’s loss to Adelphi in the NE-10 semifinals knocks the Falcons out for the year. At 8-6, it truly was an up-and-down season for Bentley.