Limestone Grabs No. 1 Spot in USA Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20

It took a little while, but the champs have been dethroned.

In an instant classic game, Limestone scored three goals in the final five minutes while holding Lenoir-Rhyne scoreless over the game’s last nine minutes, and the Saints stayed undefeated. It’s the first loss for LRU since last year’s SAC championship game, when it was also Limestone that beat the Bears. Lenoir-Rhyne outshot Limestone 44-29, but it didn’t translate into enough scores for a win.

Limestone takes over the top spot in the USA Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20 with the victory.

Elsewhere in D-II, there were top 10 matchups abound. Tampa and Wingate played their own instant classic at the Crown Lacrosse Classic in Charlotte. Regulation didn’t settle it, and one overtime wasn’t enough. In the second overtime, Canyon Birch found the back of the net to win it for Tampa. He was the hero all day. He scored with 1:14 left in regulation to send it to overtime, and he ultimately hit the winner, all part of a six-goal, one-assist outing.

Adelphi hosted Rollins in another battle of contenders. The Panthers held a two-goal lead in the fourth quarter but were unable to protect it. Rollins closed the game on a 4-0 run and won 14-12 as they push for the top spot in the country. The loss drops Adelphi to 2-2 heading into NE10 play. 

Other top games of the weekend saw Mercy come away with a 13-11 win over Seton Hill and Florida Southern beat Anderson 14-11. Newberry notched a victory over a ranked opponent with a 14-8 win over UIndy, moving Newberry to a perfect 6-0 record.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
MEN’S TOP 20

1. Limestone, 8-0 (Prev: 2)
2. Rollins, 5-0 (Prev: 3)
3. Lenoir-Rhyne, 6-1 (Prev: 1)
4. Tampa, 5-1 (Prev: 5)
5. Newberry, 6-0 (Prev: 7)
6. Mercy, 5-1 (Prev: 9)
7. Adelphi, 2-2 (Prev: 4)
8. Wingate, 4-2 (Prev: 6)
9. Bentley, 1-1 (Prev: 10)
10. Saint Anselm, 2-1 (Prev: 11)
11. Pace, 4-0 (Prev: 13)
12. Mercyhurst, 2-2 (Prev: 12)
13. UIndy, 6-2 (Prev: 8)
14. Lander, 6-1 (Prev: 15)
15. Saint Leo, 5-1 (Prev: 20)
16. Frostburg State, 3-1 (Prev: 17)
17. Maryville, 5-1 (Prev: NR)
18. Seton Hill, 3-2 (Prev: 14)
19. Florida Southern, 4-2 (Prev: 18)
20. Palm Beach Atlantic, 4-0 (Prev: 19)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Davenport, Saint Michael’s, Westminster

HOT

Newberry (+2)

The ranks of the undefeated get smaller every weekend. If you’re still sporting a zero in the L column, you’re having a heck of a year. This week, Newberry pushed its record to 6-0. The first five were by comfortable margins, and with the exception of Belmont Abbey, teams that were never ranked this year. This was the week for Newberry to make a statement — and make one it did.

Canadian Scott Reed and his silky mitts scored six goals, and Newberry beat UIndy 14-9. Reed is up to 42 points, and Newberry is now in the top five. A midweek matchup with Wingate will tell us if Newberry should stay there. 

NOT

Seton Hill (-4)

After a 3-0 start, Seton Hill has lost back-to-back games. Last week, Seton Hill fell to Mercy by two goals. The week before, it was a one-goal defeat against UIndy. The Griffins are playing teams tough, and the back-to-back losses come against ranked teams by a combined three goals. They still look like the team to beat in the G-MAC. They’ll be favorites the next few weeks, but a March 30 visit to Mercyhurst looms. If Seton Hill is for real this year, it’ll have to show well then. 

IN

Maryville (No. 17)

Maryville joins the Top 20 after defeating Colorado Mesa on Friday to go to 5-1. The one loss was to Wingate by one goal, and it happened back in February. It’s a bit of a mea culpa inserting the Saints into the D-II conversation, as, perhaps, they belonged among the other ranked teams in their conference. Or things could turn the other way when the GLVC comes calling at the end of the month. Until then, showdowns with Dominican, Montevallo and Davenport will either keep the Saints in the ranks or have them tumbling down the mountain.

OUT

Colorado Mesa (was No. 16)

Beating Lewis on Sunday was not enough to keep Mesa in the Top 20. Their quality of wins is low, with victories over Dominican and CUI before facing their first true test in Maryville on Friday. Mesa did not pass that test, as Maryville was able to stifle their high-flying offense and held them to just eight goals. The good news is that if the Mavericks can best Tampa next Saturday, they’re back in the rankings and might even reclaim their old spot.