Johns Hopkins Storms into Nike/USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20

Nothing illustrates a changing college lacrosse landscape better than the absence of both Johns Hopkins and Syracuse in preseason rankings across the board.

Both traditional powers warranted some skepticism coming into 2023. Johns Hopkins has endured three consecutive losing seasons. Syracuse suffered a school-record 10 losses last spring.

Both started prove-it seasons with triumphs Saturday — and Hopkins even moved into the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division I Men’s Top 20 as a result of its 12-7 victory at Jacksonville.

More on the Blue Jays below, but a look at Syracuse is warranted as well. The Orange dispatched defending America East champion Vermont 7-5 as LIU transfer Will Mark made 13 saves and long pole Saam Olexo caused four turnovers.

A little bit of tempered enthusiasm is understandable; Syracuse shot 7 of 44 in its opener, and it’s easy to remember how last year’s 28-5 rout of Holy Cross in Gary Gait’s debut as head coach did not lead to greater things in his first season.

Still, a sound defensive showing against a team with a recent history of creating headaches with its offense should be considered encouraging for the Orange, which gets home games against Albany and Holy Cross this week.

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION I MEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Army (0-0), Bryant (0-0), Jacksonville (0-1), Lehigh (0-0), Loyola (0-0), Stony Brook (0-0), Syracuse (1-0), Villanova (0-0)

Nike/USA Lacrosse Rankings

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

HOT

Denver (+1)

With less than half of the preseason Top 20 in action and no one in the top 15 losing, it is hard to justify a significant leap over teams that have yet to play. Nonetheless, the Pioneers warrant a nod for their work in a 12-4 rout of Utah.

The Pioneers impressed in their last season opener under retiring coach Bill Tierney, scoring the first three goals and later holding the Atlantic Sun preseason favorites scoreless for the final 25:08. JJ Sillstrop had two goals and an assist for Denver, while the Pioneers’ defense limited the Utes to just 14 shots on goal.

Denver survived one-goal encounters with Utah the last two years. A lopsided opener offers reason to think the Pioneers will be a bit better in 2023 than last spring.

Maryland (no change)

The Terrapins don’t get to leap over Virginia just yet for the top spot, but the reigning national champions made quite the impression in a 15-4 drubbing of Richmond.

Maryland didn’t play like a team with five new starters on offense and a revamped defensive midfield, smothering the Spiders for a span of 43:31 stretching over at least parts of all four quarters. Brett Makar, now donning the program’s honored No. 1 jersey, caused four turnovers as the Terps looked very much like a team capable of leaning on its defense to win games.

IN

Johns Hopkins (No. 16)

The Blue Jays face Georgetown, North Carolina and Loyola during an eight-day stretch in the middle of the month, so they could be forgiven for seeking a less ambitious opener. Instead, they went to Jacksonville and used a dominant third quarter to pull away for a 12-7 victory. Jacob Angelus had two goals and two assists, and Dylan Bauer and Brendan Grimes both scored twice.

Perhaps more noteworthy was the stout work at the other end. Hopkins ranked 50th nationally in scoring defense last season and held only three foes to fewer than 10 goals while going 7-9.

Georgetown transfer Alex Mazzone started at close defense, caused two turnovers and delivered a pole goal in the first quarter to make it 2-0. Tim Marcille, making his first start since 2021, snared a career-high 15 saves. The Blue Jays will be tested plenty in the weeks and months to come, but no one helped their stock more during the season’s first weekend than they did.

OUT

Jacksonville (was No. 18)

The Dolphins played without injured attackman Max Waldbaum against Hopkins, leaving them without their points leader from last season. And while UMBC transfer Brandon Galloway scored three times and Georgetown transfer Dylan Watson got his first goal with the program, Jacksonville was held to fewer goals than it scored in any game last season.

At full strength, John Galloway’s team should be among the best in the A-Sun. The Dolphins’ three-game homestand continues Saturday against Duke.

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• Preseason