Colby avoided a letdown, and Franklin & Marshall and Amherst have continued their rebounds to climb into the top six in this week’s Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women’s Top 20.
Gettysburg withstood a challenge from then-No. 8 Washington & Lee to remain at No. 1 with a 4-0 record. No. 2 Wesleyan Saturday sent then-No. 5 Bates back to reality, 16-6, to improve to 3-0.
The Mules, who along with the Bobcats stunned a top-five foe prior to last week’s rankings, won both of their outings this week to evade the post-upset defeat Bates suffered. The Diplomats defeated two highly ranked squads to extend their winning streak to four games following an opening setback to the Generals. The Mammoths, meanwhile, forgot about their 6-5 loss to Colby by sending two ranked foes to defeat among their three wins last week.
The results from a busy week helped to flesh out each team’s schedule as mid-March approaches, likewise resulting in some changes to the top 20. Expect more as the upcoming slate features intriguing league and non-league matchups at neutral sites.
March 11, 2019 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gettysburg | 4-0 | 1 | 3/14 vs. No. 15 Ithaca |
| 2 | Wesleyan | 3-0 | 2 | 3/12 vs. Catholic |
| 3 | Colby | 3-0 | 6 | 3/16 at No. 4 Tufts |
| 4 | Tufts | 2-0 | 4 | 3/11 at MIT |
| 5 | Franklin & Marshall | 4-1 | 10 | 3/13 vs. No. 16 Bowdoin |
| 6 | Amherst | 3-1 | 16 | 3/16 No. 11 TCNJ |
| 7 | Mary Washington | 5-1 | 3 | 3/12 Kean |
| 8 | York | 3-1 | 12 | 3/13 Lebanon Valley |
| 9 | Salisbury | 4-1 | 11 | 3/12 Meredith |
| 10 | Washington & Lee | 3-2 | 8 | 3/13 Dickinson |
| 11 | TCNJ | 3-1 | 13 | 3/12 Cabrini |
| 12 | Middlebury | 2-1 | 15 | 3/16 at No. 2 Wesleyan |
| 13 | Trinity | 2-0 | 19 | 3/13 Springfield |
| 14 | Cortland | 1-1 | 7 | 3/12 Unionn |
| 15 | Ithaca | 2-1 | 14 | 3/14 vs. No. 1 Gettysburg |
| 16 | Bowdoin | 1-1 | 9 | 3/13 vs. No. 5 F&M |
| 17 | St. John Fisher | 2-1 | 17 | 3/15 No. 19 William Smith |
| 18 | Haverford | 4-1 | NR | 3/12 vs. RIT |
| 19 | William Smith | 2-1 | 18 | 3/15 at No. 17 St. John Fisher |
| 20 | Colorado College | 3-0 | NR | 3/13 Worcester State |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Bates, Brockport, Catholic, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Dickinson, Geneseo, Meredith, Rowan
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Amherst (+10)
The Mammoths have won three straight, including two over ranked opponents on back-to-back days, to rally back from their surprising loss to unranked Colby to start the season. Amherst handled Springfield Tuesday, 13-3. At the University of New England Saturday, the Mammoths dispatched then-No. 9 Bowdoin, 16-12, in a neutral-site game, before returning home to face then-No. 18 William Smith Sunday. The Herons jumped on Amherst, 6-1, but the hosts found another gear with a 10-0 run over the game’s final 36:43. Sophomores represent Amherst’s top five point producers, led by attacker Claire Dunbar’s seven goals and seven assists.
NOT
Cortland (-7)
The Dragons fell behind quickly Saturday at then-No. 10 F&M and did not approach catching up. Cortland surrendered four goals in the first five minutes and 11 by halftime, closing only to within four goals with 3:14 left in the game. The Dragons have talent and ample time to recover.
IN
Colorado College
The Tigers opened with an 18-13 win over Division II Colorado-Colorado Springs and Sunday won at CMS, 12-10, to continue being a thorn in the side of the Athenas. At 3-0, No. 20 Colorado College has assisted on 29 of 47 goals (61.7 percent) to date, getting consistent production from returnees like juniors Allie Thuet and Eva King.
OUT
Bates
After a stunning 3-0 start on the road that included an overtime win at then-No. 3 Middlebury, the previously fifth-ranked Bobcats fell off the mountain in equally notable fashion. Bates managed just six goals each in double-digit losses at Babson and No. 2 Wesleyan. The Bobcats finally open their home slate today against Plymouth State and can reassert themselves Saturday as No. 13 Trinity visits.