2019 has a tough act to follow.
The 2018 college lacrosse season sent us on a wild ride, a journey that on Memorial Day ended with first-time champions in five of six divisions, men and women. It’s entirely too early to predict what’s in store for next spring. We’ll try, anyway.
Way-Early 2019 Rankings
Division I Men
No. 25- No. 21
No. 20- No. 16
No. 15- No. 11
No. 10- No. 6
No. 5-No. 1
Division I Women
No. 25-No. 21
No. 20-No. 16
No. 15-No. 11
No. 10-No. 6
No. 5-No. 1
Division III Men
Top 10
Division III Women
Top 10
Division II Men’s Top 10
Thursday, June 14
Division II Women’s Top 10
Thursday, June 14
20. DARTMOUTH
2018 record: 11-5 (5-2 Ivy League)
Last seen: Losing by a pair of goals to Penn in the Ivy semifinals in Princeton, New Jersey, dashing NCAA tournament hopes.
Senior starts lost: 54 of 192 (28.1 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 132 of 338 (39.1 percent)
Initial forecast: Dartmouth was one of the surprise teams of 2018 and nearly made its way into the NCAA tournament, but two loses to end the season kept the Big Green home. Nevertheless, Dartmouth’s resurgence should continue in 2019 with Ellie Carson (63 points in 2018) leading the offense. Carson, along with Kierra Sweeney (46 points), Katie Borque (40) and Tori Chanenchuk (40), represent the top four scorers expected to return next season. The biggest hole the Big Green face is who will compensate for Kathryn Giroux’s 133 draws, which accounted for half of the team’s total for the season. A strong defense should keep the Big Green competitive in the Ivy and give them a chance to make that return to the NCAA tournament.
19. GEORGETOWN
2018 record: 12-7 (8-1 Big East)
Last seen: Falling to Virginia Tech in the NCAA first round in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Senior starts lost: 28 of 228 (12.3 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 57 of 339 (16.8 percent)
Initial forecast: Major strides were taken by the Georgetown program in 2018 as it returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014. The 2019 Hoyas return a balanced offense that features the top five scorers from last year headlined by 53-goal scorer Taylor Gebhardt and 42-goal scorer Michaela Bruno. The entire Georgetown defense remains intact, backstopped by Haelle Chomo in net. In a renovated Big East, the Hoyas should be the favorites, challenged by Denver.
18. PENN STATE
2018 record: 10-10 (3-3 Big Ten)
Last seen: Losing in overtime to in-state foe Penn in the NCAA first round.
Senior starts lost: 63 of 240 (26.3 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 101 of 406 (24.9 percent)
Initial forecast: The Nittany Lions lose prolific scorer Katie O’Donnell’s 203 goals, which would seem difficult to replace until you remember that Madison Carter (180 career goals) and Maria Auth (71 points in 2018) will shepherd the scoring in 2019. Penn State’s key to success next season isn’t on the offensive end. The Lions are plenty good at that (15.15 goals per game in 2018 and 44.5 percent shooting). It’s defensively where Penn State struggled last year, giving up 13.4 goals per game with a young defense and goalie tandem. Lucy Lowe became the full-time starter and shined in moments, namely a must-win game against Northwestern in the Big Ten semifinals. If Penn State can shore up its defensive unit, it can contend in the Big Ten once again.
17. DUKE
2018 record: 8-9 (2-5 ACC)
Last seen: Polishing off East Carolina by 13 on senior day in a game that could have gotten the Blue Devils NCAA tournament eligible had they beaten Virginia Tech in the ACC quarterfinals a week earlier.
Senior starts lost: 62 of 204 (30.4 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 127 of 339 (37.5 percent)
Initial forecast: Duke will look to avoid repeating the past two seasons’ disappointment of missing the NCAA tournament because of a sub-.500 record. Led by the talented Charlotte North, the Blue Devils return nearly two-thirds of their offense from last year as well as the entire defense. While we don’t know Duke’s schedule yet, we do know that winning just two games in ACC play won’t cut it if the team is searching for a return trip to the national tournament.
16. NOTRE DAME
2018 record: 10-9 (3-4 ACC)
Last seen: Losing to Boston College in the ACC semifinals.
Senior starts lost: 49 of 228 (21.5 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 44 of 313 (14.1 percent)
Initial forecast: A young Fighting Irish team had some bright moments (beating Syracuse) and a major letdown (losing at Albany) that kept the squad out of the NCAA tournament. Notre Dame returns seven of its eight leading scorers from last year’s team led by Maddie Howe (55 points) and Andie Aldave (45), who led the team in draw controls (98). The core of the Irish defense will be together again next year, which should be a more improved unit in 2019 after giving up 10 goals or more in 11 games in 2018.