May Madness got started a couple weeks early in the conference tournaments of Division II men’s lacrosse. The battle for NCAA tournament spots — there are only 10 spots in the field this year, down two from 2019 — is heating up as the calendar heads toward Championship Month.
In the South Atlantic Conference, Lenoir-Rhyne avenged an earlier loss to Wingate, downing the Bulldogs 19-14 to grab the conference title. Belmont Abbey, too, evened the season series with Mount Olive by topping the No. 1 seed 12-7 in the Conference Carolinas final.
In the GLVC, Indianapolis got past Lindenwood 11-9 to take the lead in the conference race. Out of conference, Seton Hill took down previously unbeaten Mercy to move to No. 3 in this week’s rankings.
This week’s Top 20 features plenty of movement, and outside of the top two teams in the country, plenty of chaos.
Nike / US Lacrosse
Division II Men’s Top 20
April 26, 2021 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa | 6-0 | 1 | 5/1 vs. Florida Southern |
| 2 | Le Moyne | 9-0 | 2 | 5/1 at NE10 Tournament |
| 3 | Seton Hill | 8-1 | 5 | 4/27 at Alderson Broaddus |
| 4 | Mercy | 7-1 | 3 | 4/29 vs. Molloy |
| 5 | Mercyhurst | 9-1 | 4 | 5/1 vs. No. 19 Frostburg |
| 6 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 13-1 | 7 | SAC Tournament Champion |
| 7 | Adelphi | 6-2 | 8 | TBD |
| 8 | Wingate | 11-2 | 6 | TBD |
| 9 | Saint Anselm | 10-0 | 11 | 4/27 vs. Dartmouth |
| 10 | Mount Olive | 11-2 | 10 | TBD |
| 11 | Rockhurst | 8-3 | 15 | 5/1 at No. 15 Lindenwood |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 8-2 | 16 | 4/28 at Davenport |
| 13 | Lindenwood | 7-3 | 9 | 5/1 vs. No. 11 Rockhurst |
| 14 | Belmont Abbey | 10-4 | 19 | CC Tournament Champion |
| 15 | Colorado Mesa | 7-1 | 13 | 4/30 vs. Westminster |
| 16 | Lynn | 5-1 | 17 | 5/2 vs. Florida Tech |
| 17 | Limestone | 10-4 | 12 | TBD |
| 18 | Bentley | 6-3 | N/A | 5/1 vs. Pace |
| 19 | Frostburg | 6-2 | 14 | 4/28 at No. 4 Mercy |
| 20 | Queens (N.C.) | 7-4 | 20 | TBD |
Also considered: Bentley, Florida Tech, Maryville, Newberry, Pace, Rollins, Saint Leo
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Seton Hill (+2)
Seton Hill has won five straight games since falling to Mercyhurst on March 20. That stretch has included the 12-5 win over Mercy, holding the Mavericks to a season-low in goals, and two victories over Frostburg. The Griffins move to No. 3 this week given their three ranked wins, since Mercyhurst had previously lost to the same Mercy team they took down last week.
Belmont Abbey (+5)
In what has become a roller coaster of a season for Belmont Abbey, the Crusaders got past North Greenville and then downed Mount Olive in the Conference Carolinas tournament. Noah Hass had four goals in the championship game victory. Will it be enough to make it as one of five teams from the South?
NOT
Lindenwood (-4)
Lindenwood had a chance to clinch the top seed in the GLVC against Indianapolis, but it fell 11-9. The Lions scored the final four goals but could not overcome an early 5-0 deficit. Lindenwood has a chance to sweep Rockhurst this week and prepare for what is poised to be an exciting GLVC Tournament starting May 7.
IN
Bentley (No. 18)
The Falcons ended their regular season with wins over Franklin Pierce and Saint Rose, clinching the fourth seed in the NE10 tournament. Bentley suffered early losses to No. 2 seed Saint Anselm and Pace but has taken care of the rest of the conference, save for an overtime loss to Le Moyne. This team does not have a signature win, but it has been competitive all season long.
OUT
Maryville (was No. 18)
A loss to Rockhurst last weekend is the fourth in the past six games for Maryville, which now sits fourth in the conference standings. In the four losses, Maryville is averaging fewer than nine goals per game.