The 2020 lacrosse season ended abruptly, and it’s anyone’s guess exactly when the 2021 season will begin. But there’s been plenty of movement in the offseason.
While it’s probably a greater challenge to forecast the upcoming season than in most years, US Lacrosse Magazine will give it a try.
Up today: Nos. 25-21.
Early 2021 Rankings
Division I Men
No. 25 - No. 21
No. 20 - No. 16
No. 15 - No. 11
No. 10 - No. 6
No. 5 - No. 1
Division I Women
No. 25 - No. 21
No. 20 - No. 16
No. 15 - No. 11
No. 10 - No. 6
No. 5 - No. 1
25. ALBANY
2020 record: 2-3
Last seen: Scaring the daylights out of Maryland, scoring five of the last six goals in a 14-13 loss to the Terrapins in College Park.
Initial forecast: Let’s start with a bit of a curveball, OK? One of the more entertaining under-the-radar questions left unanswered in the 2020 season was whether the Great Danes would eventually win just enough faceoffs or stop just enough shots to get by and climb back to the top of the America East after a one-year hiatus. Albany had some of its classic mojo working (tied for fourth nationally in assists per game, 14th in shooting percentage), but it was also 65th in scoring defense and 68th in faceoff percentage. The big names on offense (Tehoka Nanticoke, Jakob Patterson, Corey Yunker, Graydon Hogg and Ron John) all appear set to return. College lacrosse is a little more fun when the Dane Train is rolling, and it may very well be in an America East that has some other interesting teams to take note of (Stony Brook and UMBC among them).
24. Providence
2020 record: 5-1
Last seen: Handling Sacred Heart 14-8, the fourth opponent the Friars kept to single-digits last season.
Initial forecast: There was a lot to like about Providence early last season, even if there wasn’t necessarily a victory that would vault them into the NCAA tournament (though edging Brown by a goal was a fine showing). Leading scorer Matt Grillo (21 goals) was a sophomore, but the thing that stood out was how many seniors played prominent roles up and down the roster. At least eight of the team’s 11 seniors announced they would take advantage of the chance to come back, a group that includes Providence’s entire starting midfield from last season (Dan Axelson, Tim Hinrichs and Ryan Nawrocki). Throw in an intriguing transfer addition (Peter Pittroff, Denison’s career assists leader with 175), and the Friars should have one of the better offenses in the Big East.
23. Hofstra
2020 record: 4-3
Last seen: Blistering St. John’s 19-9 in a mid-week game two days before the college sports world screeched to a halt.
Initial forecast: How much better did the Pride’s offense function in 2020 compared to an injury-ravaged 2019? In half as many games, Hofstra had just one fewer assist (55 vs. 56). Ryan Tierney’s return after averaging five points a game last spring (21 goals, 14 assists) was a welcome (and fairly early) offseason development, and the likes of Justin Sykes (nine goals, five assists) and James Philbin (seven goals, four assists) had solid first halves. Add in Johns Hopkins transfer Alex Concannon to the midfield mix, and the Pride should be even better at that end of the field. Brian Herber (.626 faceoff percentage) is reliable at the X, so the big question here is whether Hofstra can maintain a top-20 defense. At the very least, the Pride should be counted upon to finish in the top half of the ever-competitive Colonial.
22. Rutgers
2020 record: 2-4
Last seen: Dropping a fourth game in a row, though in the process holding Princeton’s Michael Sowers to five points. In 2020, that was an accomplishment for anyone.
Initial forecast: While possession is nine-tenths of the law, possession was close to nine-tenths of the Scarlet Knights’ problems in 2020. Rutgers ranked 71st in Division I in faceoff percentage (.331), ahead of just Towson, Furman and St. Bonaventure. Everything else in the statistical profile suggests a decent team — a slightly better shooting percentage than opponents, a top-20 extra-man unit and a man-down defense that tied for fifth nationally. The scoring came, and it will this year, too, regardless of what combination of returnees (Adam Charalambides, Kieran Mullins, Ryan Gallagher and David Sprock) are mixed with Villanova transfer Connor Kirst (17 goals, seven assists in seven games). There’s still talent in Brian Brecht’s program, and Rutgers should be entertaining to watch. But the overarching question is the same as ever: Is there enough in place to survive the rigors of Big Ten play and finally lock in the program’s first NCAA berth since 2004?
21. Penn
2020 record: 2-3
Last seen: Getting five goals, including the game-winner, from senior Adam Goldner, in a 13-12 win over Saint Joseph’s.
Initial forecast: The knee-jerk reaction for any of the Ivy League powers is to expect a drop-off, and there obviously are some serious graduation losses for the Quakers. Goldner will return, according to Penn’s official 2021 roster, though stalwart defenseman Kyle Thornton is gone. He’ll be joined at Notre Dame by faceoff specialist Kyle Gallagher, who might be the biggest loss of the bunch after winning 63.3 percent of his draws in his two seasons in University City. But Penn remains capable. Sean Lulley (14 goals, 16 assists) and Dylan Gergar (19 goals) are back, as well as a presumably healthy Sam Handley. How much of Penn’s defensive issues (14 goals per game) was a function of pace, how much was opposition (it faced Duke, Maryland, Penn State and Villanova) and how much of it was personnel limitations? It’s fair to wonder. That and the matter of getting possession are why Penn starts off as a borderline top-20 team.