The big four at the top of the Nike / US Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20 continue to bulldoze opponents, but there’s a new team in the No. 5 spot this week and another newcomer in the top 10.
Lindenwood, Indianapolis, Le Moyne, and West Chester hold steady once again in the top four spots, and undefeated Limestone moved up one spot to No. 5 this week. Those top five teams are a combined 32-0 thus far.
The biggest climb was made by No. 7 Florida Southern, which jumped five spots after taking down then-No. 5 Tampa last week. The Mocs have returned to a familiar position as the apparent front runners in the SSC once again.
The most glaring absence in the top half of the ranking is 2019 national champion Adelphi, which was ranked fourth in the preseason. The No. 13 Panthers fell out of the top 10 for the first time in the history of the Nike / US Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20 after an 0-2 start to the season.
This week’s schedule features two significant matchups with potential postseason implications: No. 5 Limestone hosting No. 8 Queens on Wednesday and No. 12 Rollins visiting No. 7 Florida Southern on Friday.
Nike / US Lacrosse
Division II Women’s Top 20
April 5, 2021 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindenwood | 6-0 | 1 | 4/6 vs. Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2 | Indianapolis | 7-0 | 2 | 4/9 at Missouri Western |
| 3 | Le Moyne | 5-0 | 3 | 4/7 at S. Connecticut St. |
| 4 | West Chester | 6-0 | 4 | 4/10 vs. Shippensburg |
| 5 | Limestone | 8-0 | 6 | 4/7 vs. No. 8 Queens |
| 6 | East Stroudsburg | 6-1 | 7 | 4/6 vs. Bloomsburg |
| 7 | Florida Southern | 4-0 | 12 | 4/9 vs No. 12 Rollins |
| 8 | Queens | 8-1 | 8 | 4/7 at No. 5 Limestone |
| 9 | Tampa | 4-1 | 5 | 4/10 vs. Lynn |
| 10 | Regis | 5-1 | 10 | 4/9 at Colorado Mesa |
| 11 | Grand Valley State | 5-1 | 13 | 4/6 vs. Davenport |
| 12 | Rollins | 3-1 | 11 | 4/9 at No. 7 Florida Southern |
| 13 | Adelphi | 0-2 | 9 | 4/7 at St. Rose |
| 14 | Seton Hill | 6-0 | 16 | 4/10 vs. IUP |
| 15 | Roberts Wesleyan | 7-0 | 17 | 4/10 at D’Youville |
| 16 | St. Anselm | 2-0 | 15 | 4/7 vs. St. Michael’s |
| 17 | Assumption | 3-1 | 14 | 4/15 vs. No. 20 Bentley |
| 18 | Pace | 5-1 | 18 | 4/7 at American Int’l |
| 19 | Mount Olive | 9-1 | NR | 4/10 at Southern Wesleyan |
| 20 | Bentley | 3-1 | 20 | 4/7 at Stonehill |
Also considered: Bloomsburg (4-2), Franklin Pierce (2-1), Mercy (4-1), Mercyhurst (5-2), New Haven (3-3), Stonehill (2-2)
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Florida Southern (+5)
The Mocs have been the standard bearer in the SSC for most of the past five years and appear to be the front runner again in 2021. Sophomores Hailey Daleo and Lizzy Lynch combined for nine goals in last week’s 13-9 win over then-No. 5 Tampa. FSC is averaging nearly 17 goals per game through its first four contests.
Seton Hill (+2)
The Griffins overcame a slow start to roll to their sixth straight win Saturday, defeating Gannon 18-6. Kristi Kada leads the offense with 26 goals through six games, and the defense has held opponents to six goals or less three times.
NOT
Adelphi (-4)
The Panthers are in unchartered territory following last week’s 8-7 home loss to unranked New Haven. Now 0-2, Adelphi has lost back-to-back games for the first time in 19 years. Most of Adelphi’s struggle seems to be at the offense end, where the high-powered Panthers have mustered just 10 goals in two games. NE10 road games at St. Rose and American International this week may help get them untracked.
Tampa (-4)
One week after jumping into the top five, the Spartans tumble following their home loss against FSC. Tampa did bounce back with a 10-5 victory over winless Florida Tech three days later. UT has a chance to get back on a roll with upcoming games against Lynn and St. Leo before a re-match against Florida Southern in mid-April.
IN
Mount Olive (No. 19)
The Trojans have won nine straight since their three-goal loss to No. 8 Queens in the season-opener and are on a clear path to a collision with Belmont Abbey in mid-April for supremacy in Conference Carolinas. UMO has steamrolled its last three opponents by a combined 66-7 margin.
OUT
Mercyhurst (was No. 19)
The Lakers were held to a season-low six goals in last Saturday’s 11-6 loss against unranked IUP. Mercyhurst has dropped two of its last three after starting the year with four straight victories.