Only a smattering of games to date have taken place in the NCAA Division III women’s ranks, and this week’s Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20 reflect that.
The rankings remain largely unchanged as most of the top 20 teams begin either this week or next week. No. 6 Mary Washington impressed, however, in a 10-8 home win over then-No. 14 Washington and Lee. The Eagles got five goals from Julia Albert to help turn a 5-3 first-half deficit into the non-conference victory. No. 10 Salisbury, a national semifinalist in 2018, defeated Stevenson to start its season.
Defending USA South Conference champion Meredith enters this week following a weekend sweep of non-league opponents in Virginia.
Top-ranked and defending national champion Gettysburg gets underway Wednesday at home against Messiah. Next weekend features two top-20 matchups, so expect some changes in the rankings one week from today.
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
Feb. 18, 2019 |
W/L |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gettysburg | 0-0 | 1 | 2/20 Messiah |
| 2 | TCNJ | 0-0 | 2 | 2/23 Neumann |
| 3 | Middlebury | 0-0 | 3 | 3/2 Bates |
| 4 | Wesleyan | 0-0 | 4 | 3/2 at Williams |
| 5 | Amherst | 0-0 | 5 | 3/2 Colby |
| 6 | Mary Washington | 1-0 | 6 | 2/20 at Shenandoah |
| 7 | Tufts | 0-0 | 7 | 3/2 at Hamilton |
| 8 | York | 0-0 | 8 | 2/19 Washington College |
| 9 | Franklin & Marshall | 0-0 | 9 | 2/23 at No. 19 Washington & Lee |
| 10 | Salisbury | 1-0 | 10 | 2/24 at No. 17 Catholic |
| 11 | Cortland | 0-0 | 11 | 3/2 at No. 14 Ithaca |
| 12 | Bowdoin | 0-0 | 12 | 3/2 at Connecticut College |
| 13 | Trinity | 0-0 | 13 | 3/7 at Skidmore |
| 14 | Ithaca | 0-0 | 15 | 2/23 at Nazareth |
| 15 | William Smith | 0-0 | 16 | 2/27 Geneseo |
| 16 | St. John Fisher | 0-0 | 15 | 2/23 Rochester |
| 17 | Catholic | 0-0 | 18 | 2/24 No. 10 Salisbury |
| 18 | Colorado College | 0-0 | 19 | 3/8 at Chapman |
| 19 | Washington & Lee | 0-1 | 14 | 2/20 at Christopher Newport |
| 20 | Meredith | 2-0 | NR | 3/4 at Salem |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Colby, Denison, Dickinson, Geneseo, Hamilton, Haverford, Rowan, Stevens, Washington College
NOT HOT
Washington and Lee (-5)
The Generals’ slide partially is due to an early opener, which they dropped on the road at No. 6 Mary Washington. Of concern, perhaps, for W&L was the manner of defeat — surrendering a two-goal first-half lead and then failing to score for 18:13 in the second half. The Eagles used that drought to score four straight goals for a 9-6 advantage. The Generals can rebound quickly, however, traveling Wednesday to Christopher Newport.
IN
Meredith
Winning on the road is tough; twice in two days, tougher. The Avenging Angels weekend wins at Christopher Newport Saturday and Virginia Wesleyan Sunday, in which they scored 20 goals apiece, get them in at No. 20.
Lilia Cruz exploded for nine goals and three assists to lead Meredith over the Captains, 20-14, Saturday. The sophomore from Great Mills, Md., followed that with five goals and three assists Sunday in the 20-6 defeat of the Marlins. A lacrosse and field hockey athlete at Leonardtown High School, Cruz won the USA South Conference Rookie of the Year award last season and seems to have picked up where she left off.
OUT
Messiah (was No. 19)
Host Scranton dismantled the Falcons, 22-7, Saturday as the Royals broke open a 2-2 game with a 7-2 run over the last 20 minutes of the first half. Messiah committed 23 turnovers in the loss and a repeat of that likely would spell doom at No. 1 Gettysburg Wednesday.