Monumental NE-10 Results Shakes Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20

A monumental result in the NE-10 is where this week’s ranks must start. So, you want to travel to Garden City and beat an undefeated Adelphi team that’s been pushing for the top spot? On Senior Day? When they’re also giving out t-shirts? Surely this is a task that’s a Throgs Neck Bridge too far.

But Bentley did exactly that, defeating the Panthers 13-11, further building the ladder of chaos that is this season. The Falcons’ defense held Adelphi’s star attackman Joe Duchnowski to just a single goal on 11 shots (with five turnovers). Adelphi had more shots, more ground balls, more faceoff wins and a better day clearing, but Bentley was able to manufacture a win. The Falcons continue to climb the Division II ranks as their excellent season continues. 

Elsewhere at the top of the rankings, Mercyhurst caught fire at the end of the first quarter against Frostburg State with four straight goals, pushing the lead to 4-1 and never looking back. The score got to 20-6 by the middle of the fourth, when Mercyhurst took its foot off the gas a bit. Myles Hamm and Ethan Landymore combined for 11 goals and 14 points on the afternoon. Frostburg was a darling after it beat Tampa, but it has dropped three of their last four. Frostburg now finds itself looking up at Mercy, Roberts Wesleyan and Molloy in the ECC standings. The Bobcats have a game remaining against Roberts Wesleyan to change those standings.

Rollins downed another Florida rival. Florida Tech started the season ranked but has had a rough stretch. A win over Rollins would thrust Tech right back into the rankings and into the national conversation, and it looked ready to pull it off. Florida Tech scored five unanswered and held an 8-5 lead in the third quarter. The upset certainly looked possible, but Rollins was able to find another gear on offense and ran off a 9-0 run that stretched from the middle of the third into the fourth quarter. Collin Stewart was excellent for Florida Tech, netting five goals on the day, four of which came in the second half. For Rollins, Jack Johnstone was electric, putting home seven goals on the afternoon.

With regular season play concluding this week, we should have a clearer picture of which teams can separate themselves from the rest of the pack in the top half of the rankings and make a run at the Division II title. 

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II MEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Chestnut Hill (8-4), Frostburg State (10-4)

UPCOMING GAMES

No. 1 Le Moyne 4/25 at No. 4 Adelphi
No. 2 Wingate 4/25 vs. TBD (SAC quarters)
No. 3 Rollins — next game TBD
No. 4 Adelphi 4/25 vs. No. 1 Le Moyne
No. 5 Mercyhurst 4/25 at Malone

No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne 4/28 vs. Newberry/Lincoln Memorial winner (SAC semis)
No. 7 Tampa 4/22 vs. No. 16 Florida Southern (SSC semis)
No. 8 UIndy 4/29 at Quincy
No. 9 Mercy 4/27 vs. Molloy
No. 10 Bentley 4/25 vs. Southern New Hampshire

No. 11 Colorado Mesa 4/28 vs. CSU Pueblo
No. 12 Limestone 4/25 at No. 19 Anderson (SAC quarters)
No. 13 Saint Anselm 4/25 vs. Assumption
No. 14 Pace 4/22 — next game TBD
No. 15 Seton Hill 4/26 at Walsh

No. 16 Florida Southern 4/27 vs. No. 7 Tampa (SSC semis)
No. 17 Newberry 4/25 vs. Lincoln Memorial (SAC quarters)
No. 18 Belmont Abbey 4/27 vs. Chowan/Barton winner (CC semis)
No. 19 Anderson 4/25 vs. No. 12 Limestone (SAC quarters)
No. 20 Georgian Court 4/28 at Dominican

Nike/USA Lacrosse Rankings

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

HOT

Wingate (+2)

Wingate closed its regular season in style with an emphatic win over UIndy, 14-9. Wingate outscored Indy 7-1 in the third quarter, part of a 9-1 run that turned a 6-4 deficit into a 13-7 lead. The run was all about Danny Riley and Willie Grieco, as the pair netted seven goals in the run. They combined for 13 points on the day and are solidly one of the best offensive duos in the nation. Wingate hasn’t lost since Feb. 11 and enters postseason conference play in the SAC with an 11-game winning streak. Wingate might also have the best player in Division II in attackman Willie Grieco. 

Bentley (+5)

The Falcons are riding into the NE-10 postseason tournament with their confidence at an all-time high. In short order, Bentley has dispatched Pace (11-10), Saint Michael’s (20-5) and now Adelphi (13-11). Only Saint Anselm and Le Moyne have defeated Coach Murphy’s squad so far in conference play. A home date with Southern New Hampshire awaits Tuesday to determine Bentley’s final position in the NE-10 going into the conference playoffs. 

IN

Georgian Court (No. 20)

It’s never too late to break into the Top 20 — especially when you’re undefeated in conference play and on a seven-game winning streak. The Lions played a challenging early schedule but were ultimately outclassed by teams in the Top 20 like Adelphi, Mercy and Pace. A midweek win against Chestnut Hill is really what put Georgian Court on the radar. However, given its current habit of winning games in the CACC, the Lions are making a late-season debut in the ranks. 

OUT

Chestnut Hill (was No. 20)

This is a tough beat for the Griffins, who looked to be a team on the rise last week. However, a loss to Georgian Court midweek and then a loss to Post — a squad that has only beaten teams near the bottom of the Division II hierarchy — drops Chestnut Hill out. Call it unfair, call the love affair fleeting, but the last few weeks of results are going to give anyone pause. 

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

• Week 6: March 20, 2023

• Week 7: March 27, 2023

• Week 8: April 3, 2023

• Week 9: April 10, 2023

• Week 10: April 17, 2023