Another week, another new No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women's Top 20. Last week's leader, Gettysburg, suffered an 8-4 home loss to then-No. 17 Franklin & Marshall, and Salisbury improved to 12-0 to become this week's top-ranked squad.
Then-No. 3 Middlebury also dropped a home league game, falling to then-No. 19 Colby, while TCNJ and Amherst held serve in conference action to move up to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.
Significant league games highlight this week's slate. The No. 3 Mammoths host No. 4 Tufts in one of several big NESCAC games. No. 8 Geneseo remains unbeaten to date but hosts SUNYAC nemesis and No. 15 Cortland. No. 10 Mary Washington will attempt to make the Sea Gulls' stay on top brief.
April 9, 2018 |
W/L |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salisbury | 12-0 | 2 | 4/14 No. 10 Mary Washington |
| 2 | TCNJ | 8-2 | 4 | 4/10 Rutgers-Camden |
| 3 | Amherst | 9-1 | 5 | 4/10 Conn. Col. |
| 4 | Tufts | 10-1 | 6 | 4/14 at No. 3 Amherst |
| 5 | Trinity | 5-2 | 7 | 4/10 at No. 17 Wesleyan |
| 6 | Gettysburg | 9-1 | 1 | 4/14 No. 20 Haverford |
| 7 | Middlebury | 9-2 | 3 | 4/14 No. 5 Trinity |
| 8 | Geneseo | 10-0 | 8 | 4/11 at Buffalo State |
| 9 | York | 7-3 | 10 | 4/11 at St. Mary's (Md.) |
| 10 | Mary Washington | 11-2 | 9 | 4/11 Chris. Newport |
| 11 | Washington & Lee | 8-4 | 12 | 4/14 Guilford |
| 12 | Franklin & Marshall | 9-3 | 17 | 4/10 Catholic |
| 13 | Stevens | 8-2 | 13 | 4/12 No. 19 Rowan |
| 14 | St. John Fisher | 7-2 | 14 | 4/Nazareth |
| 15 | Cortland | 7-4 | 15 | 4/10 Potsdam |
| 16 | Ithaca | 8-3 | 16 | 4/11 William Smith |
| 17 | Wesleyan | 7-4 | 11 | 4/10 No. 5 Trinity |
| 18 | Colby | 6-4 | 19 | 4/11 Bowdoin |
| 19 | Rowan | 7-1 | NR | 4/10 at Stockton |
| 20 | Haverford | 9-2 | 20 | 4/14 at No. 6 Gettysburg |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Bowdoin, Capital, Catholic, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Colorado College, Washington College, William Smith
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Tufts (+2)
The Jumbos just keep winning. Unbeaten in the NESCAC, Tufts has won six straight since a March 21 loss at unranked Washington & Lee, which has returned to the Top 20 following early stumbles. Freshman Catherine Lawliss is making a run at league rookie of the year honors, having tallied 33 points (20G, 13A) in 11 mostly relief appearances. Junior Dakota Adamec leads the Jumbos with 43 points and 35 goals. They'll face their biggest test to date at No. 3 Amherst Saturday in the Tusk Bowl.
NOT
Wesleyan (-6)
The Cardinals are in the midst of a tough stretch, albeit against strong competition. They've lost three of their last four games, all of which against teams now in this ranking. It gets no easier with a visit from No. 5 Trinity Tuesday, but two of the recent three defeats came by two goals or fewer, so Wesleyan remains capable of anything.
IN
Rowan
The Profs have won six straight to debut at No. 19 this week. Rowan's only defeat came via a 13-10 battle at current No. 1 Salisbury back on March 6. Only one team has played the Sea Gulls tougher from a final-score perspective. Junior attacker Maddie Bray has emerged as one of the nation's top scorers with 35 goals in eight games — only once has she not achieved a hat trick to date. The Profs finish with five of their last six at home, including Thursday's visit by No. 13 Stevens.
OUT
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
The Athenas make a tough exit thanks mainly to non-league opponents struggling on the season. CMS has rolled through SCIAC opponents thus far and, barring a stumble in the league tournament, should return to the NCAA tournament.