Christopher Newport Downs RIT, Claims No. 1 Spot in Nike/USAL D-III Men's Top 20

Thanks for coming to see the carnage that is this week’s Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20.

This was a weekend that had so much action that it was frankly overwhelming. As a result, there will be a lot of movement on the board, so you should prepare yourself for that before you scroll. 

You can blame (or thank, you agent of chaos, you) the Mustang Classic for such tumult. There was basketball played this weekend, but plenty of March Madness took place at Stevenson. 

The upset of the weekend in Division III was Christopher Newport taking down RIT, the No. 1 team in the nation, 15-11. Andrew Cook produced six goals for the Captains, but the story of this game was the specialists. Warner Cabaniss won 78 percent of the faceoffs for CNU, giving the Captains a hefty possession advantage. RIT’s Kyle Burbank was only able to make three stops on the 18 shots he faced. The tilted possession, a tough day from RIT’s netminder and the offensive explosion powered by Cook and Coby Auslander added up to CNU pulling off the righteous win. 

Another upset from the Mustang Classic — which is quickly establishing itself as the premiere event in Division III men’s lacrosse — came from host Stevenson downing Dickinson in overtime. Now, there are regular overtime wins and then there are dramatic flair-filled displays of victory. This was the latter. 

One of the faster-paced games of the weekend saw the Amherst Mammoths go blow-for-blow with the York Spartans in a fashion that hasn’t been seen since Thermopylae. Too much firepower was the downfall of both Spartans, though this contest didn’t end with anyone being kicked into a pit of spikes. It was just a 19-16 win for Amherst.

York now clings to a spot in the Top 20, but if you just judge the Spartans by their record you’d wonder how. At 2-4, it’s certainly odd to argue for them to be in the Top 20, but if you have seen this team play — and have looked at whom they have fallen to — you know why they’re still in contention. 

This is the time for most teams in Division III to build their resumes and make a run. You can almost smell the popcorn that they serve at the conference championship concession stands ...

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION III MEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Babson (4-1), Coast Guard (3-1), Franklin & Marshall (4-3), Stevenson (2-5), SUNY Cortland (4-1)

* = in Austin, Texas

Nike/USA Lacrosse Rankings

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

HOT

Amherst (+1)

After a shootout with Tufts that ended with a loss for Amherst, the boys in purple bounced back at the Mustang Classic. A Friday win over Bates was expected, and the Saturday win over York was of the upset variety. Amherst is without Brock Gonzalez, a preseason All-American who was expected to be their top offensive weapon. The rest of the roster has stepped up, with five players with double-digit points through four games. 

Christopher Newport (+2)

Having an undefeated record makes you hot. Beating the top-ranked team in the nation makes you surface-of-the-sun hot. The Captains beat RIT 15-11 on Friday at the Mustang Classic, led by a massive six-goal outing from Andrew Cook. Cook is now third in the nation in goals with 35. His linemate, Coby Auslander, is up to 24 assists, also good for third in the nation. CNU followed up that win against RIT with a win over Dickinson. A mid-week test against Washington and Lee is next. 

NOT

Lynchburg (-7)

Lynchburg was able to close out the weekend with a win over Franklin & Marshall, but it’s been a tough week for the Hornets. Early in the week, they suffered a lopsided defeat against Tufts and then got the weekend started with a 14-5 loss to St. Lawrence. Lynchburg now sits at 5-3 and has games coming up against Washington and Lee and Christopher Newport. 

York (-5)

York has lost three of its last four and now has a 2-4 record, barely staying in the Top 20. Those losses have been close, with one-goal losses against W&L and RIT. But at the end of the day, a loss is a loss, and almost beating someone doesn’t count. Will Harnick has been a bright spot and had a massive scoring weekend with 12 goals in two games, but York needs to string some wins together. 

IN

Williams (No. 20)

The Ephs have entered the Top 20 after winning three of their first four games. What’s so challenging about that? Well, all three were against NESCAC conference opponents. Their lone loss is to undefeated Union, which isn’t much of a blemish. The No. 20 spot in the ranks has carried a bit of a curse with it, so Ephs fans should look out for a mid-week showdown with a desperate RPI squad, but with standout players like goalie Matt Freitas, defenseman Patrick Gaul and attackman Calvin Caputo — Williams is poised to surprise people. 

OUT

Coast Guard (was No. 20)

Unfortunately, as quickly as the Bears came in, they have to exit. Back-to-back losses to SUNY Maritime — a school rival because of the boats and the saving — and NEWMAC foe Babson — no nautical pun available — have pushed Coast Guard out to sea. A rematch with a bloodthirsty Wesleyan squad awaits them on Wednesday. 

PREVIOUS RANKINGS

• Preseason

• Week 1: Feb. 13, 2023

• Week 2: Feb. 20, 2023

• Week 3: Feb. 27, 2023

• Week 4: March 6, 2023

• Week 5: March 13, 2023