North Carolina, boasting a loaded offense, athletic defense and top-tier coach in Jenny Levy, is the top-ranked team in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division I Women’s Preseason Top 20. The rankings are published in the January edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, which drops Jan. 2.

After a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Boston College in an NCAA semifinal last season, North Carolina returns arguably the most talented team in the nation. Jamie Ortega, a junior, returns after 81-goal campaign, and senior Katie Hoeg is coming off a 73-assist season, ranking second in the country. Both anchored a UNC offense that scored 15.19 goals per game last season. With athletic goalkeeper Taylor Moreno minding the cage, the Tar Heels appear to be the deepest team around.

Syracuse, which lost to Northwestern in an NCAA quarterfinal, begins 2020 ranked No. 2 overall. Maryland, the defending national champion, is No. 3. Northwestern checks in at No. 4 with much of its outstanding offense returning, and Boston College comes in at No. 5 with Duke transfer Charlotte North looking to help usher in a new era of BC lacrosse without the Big Three.

Rankings are compiled by US Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors, with input from college coaches. The full list of teams appears below.

Check back to uslaxmagazine.com as we roll out our preseason rankings and players of the year for Division I, II and III men’s and women’s lacrosse and look for an extensive NCAA preview in the February edition of US Lacrosse Magazine — an exclusive benefit for US Lacrosse members. Join today to start your subscription.

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women

Also considered (alphabetical order): Dartmouth, Duke, Jacksonville, Johns Hopkins, Virginia Tech