There’s been relative stability atop the rankings over the first three weeks of the regular season.
Last week, the top 11 remained the same. This time around, the top six are unchanged. And outside of Duke’s opening loss to Air Force, there hasn’t been a remotely jarring loss for a top-10 team.
Some movement is likely coming this time next week. Yale’s trip to Penn State is both a rematch of an NCAA tournament semifinal and arguably the most riveting game of the season to date. Army’s visit to the Carrier Dome is a classic strength-vs.-strength showdown. And the Duke-Penn game in Charlotte, N.C., is likely to yield a valuable victory for one team and an unwanted title — the best two-loss team in the country — for the other.
Nike/US Lacrosse
Division I Men’s Top 20
Feb. 17, 2020 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penn State | 3-0 | 1 | 2/22 vs. No. 3 Yale |
| 2 | Virginia | 2-0 | 2 | 2/22 vs. Princeton |
| 3 | Yale | 1-0 | 3 | 2/22 at No. 1 Penn State |
| 4 | Maryland | 3-0 | 4 | 2/18 vs. Villanova |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 1-0 | 5 | 2/23 vs. Richmond |
| 6 | Syracuse | 2-0 | 6 | 2/23 vs. No. 7 Army |
| 7 | Army | 3-0 | 14 | 2/18 at Marist |
| 8 | Duke | 2-1 | 12 | 2/22 vs. No. 10 Penn (in Charlotte, N.C.) |
| 9 | North Carolina | 3-0 | 10 | 2/22 at No. 14 Johns Hopkins |
| 10 | Penn | 0-1 | 9 | 2/22 vs. No. 8 Duke (in Charlotte, N.C.) |
| 11 | Cornell | 1-0 | 11 | 2/21 at Towson |
| 12 | Denver | 1-1 | 8 | 2/22 vs. St. Bonaventure |
| 13 | Loyola | 1-1 | 17 | 2/22 vs. Rutgers |
| 14 | Johns Hopkins | 1-1 | 7 | 2/22 vs. No. 9 North Carolina |
| 15 | Air Force | 2-1 | 15 | 2/22 vs. Cleveland State (in Denver) |
| 16 | Georgetown | 2-0 | 19 | 2/22 vs. Fairfield |
| 17 | Hofstra | 2-0 | NR | 2/22 vs. Villanova |
| 18 | Lehigh | 1-1 | 18 | 2/20 vs. VMI |
| 19 | Massachusetts | 1-1 | NR | 2/22 vs. Harvard |
| 20 | Ohio State | 2-1 | 13 | 2/22 at Bucknell |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Bucknell (3-0), Delaware (2-0), Hobart (2-0), Princeton (1-0), Providence (3-0), Richmond (1-1), Rutgers (1-1)
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Army (up seven spots)
There might not be a unit playing better than the Black Knights’ defense. Army has given up nine goals in its first three games, including four apiece to credible offenses from Massachusetts and Rutgers, its fewest to open a season since yielding five goals in three games to begin its 1947 campaign. Goalie Wyatt Schupler is one of the season’s early breakout performers thanks to a miniscule goals-against average (2.71) and an absurd save percentage (.838).
But it’s not just the defense carrying Army. Primary faceoff man Stevie Grabher has won 67.4 percent of his draws, and Brendan Nichtern has seven goals and 11 assists in just three games. Now, the Black Knights head to the Carrier Dome, where a Syracuse offense tied for fourth nationally at 19 goals per game awaits.
Duke (up four spots)
The Blue Devils went to Denver, rattled off seven goals in a row in the first half and ultimately cruised to a 15-13 victory in the Mile High City. Duke was up six late in the third quarter and still was ahead by four goals entering the final minute. The score was a bit deceiving.
The Blue Devils spread their offense around, receiving three-goal games from Owen Caputo, Joey Manown and Dyson Williams. It’s now two strong showings in a row since a one-goal loss to Air Force on Feb. 1, and Duke returns to the top 10 as a result of its latest outcome.
Loyola (up four spots)
The Greyhounds bounced back from their opening loss at Virginia by handling Johns Hopkins 10-7. From an offensive finisher (Kevin Lindley’s four goals) to capable faceoff play (Bailey Savio’s 12 of 20 with eight ground balls) to a lockdown defender (Kyle LeBlanc holding the Blue Jays’ Cole Williams without a point) to strong play in the cage (Sam Shafer’s 15 saves), there was a lot for Loyola to like.
The thing about coach Charley Toomey’s scheduling philosophy is it places an onus on the Greyhounds to get better in a hurry. From Virginia to Johns Hopkins and then on to the likes of Rutgers, Towson and Duke by early March, there’s always a threat a slow start could snowball. Outings like Saturday’s suggest Loyola will be just fine.
NOT
Johns Hopkins (down seven spots)
One of the tricky things early in the season is figuring out the value of a victory. The Blue Jays are a great example. They opened with a thorough defeat of Towson --- a triumph that doesn’t quite look as good after the Tigers’ loss to Mount St. Mary’s in their home opener. And, of course, Hopkins fell at Charles Street rival Loyola.
Dave Pietramala’s team is in a bit of flux, though the season debut of sophomore attackman Joey Epstein bodes well even if he had a quiet day against the Greyhounds. Things don’t get easier for Hopkins with North Carolina coming to Homewood on Saturday.
Ohio State (down seven spots)
It would be tough to put the Buckeyes ahead of Massachusetts after dropping a 9-7 decision at home to the Minutemen. And it’s tough to place the Minutemen too high in the rankings considering they have a 17-4 loss to Army.
As a result, the Buckeyes take a bit of a hit after posting a solid enough defensive day (goalie Josh Kirson had 13 saves) but struggling at the other end. Ohio State’s starting attack shot 3 of 19 in the loss to UMass.
Denver (down four spots)
It’s not every day Denver loses at home; it’s happened only 11 times in as many seasons since Bill Tierney arrived out west. But the Pioneers take a justifiable dip after falling to Duke, though their road victory over a ranked Air Force bunch limits their tumble to some extent.
IN
Hofstra (No. 17)
The Pride is off to a 2-0 start after handling Michigan 12-9. Attackman Ryan Tierney had four goals and four assists against the Wolverines, while midfielder Ryan Sheridan notched three goals to help Hofstra jump into the rankings for the first time this season.
Massachusetts (No. 19)
Credit to the Minutemen for responding well to their lopsided loss at Army. Their 9-7 victory at Ohio State was classic UMass: Tough, strong defense and an excellent finish. Goalie Matt Knote made 14 saves, Gabriel Procyk had a hat trick and the Minutemen scored the final five goals (in a little more than a quarter) to secure the victory.
OUT
Rutgers (No. 16)
The Scarlet Knights had an unusually poor offensive day, dropping a 15-4 decision to Army. Clearly, the Black Knights’ defense is playing at a high level, but it’s still surprising to see a potent Rutgers attack get held in check. It was the lowest scoring output for the Scarlet Knights since a 13-4 setback against Princeton on April 10, 2012.
Rutgers faces another high-end Patriot League opponent Saturday when it visits Loyola.
Villanova (No. 20)
The Wildcats couldn’t have tried to schedule a more challenging two-game stretch to open the season. And sure enough, they followed up a 19-10 loss to Penn State with an 18-12 setback against Yale.
Villanova has some looming opportunities to turn things around against quality teams. Those also double as chances to dig a hole early in the season. The next four games for the Wildcats: at home against Maryland (Tuesday), followed by trips to Hofstra (Saturday), Delaware (Feb. 29) and Penn (March 6).