In a game that featured six ties, three lead changes and no leads larger than two goals by either team, No. 2 Middlebury defeated No. 1 Tufts, 10-9, on Saturday and now claims the top spot in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Women’s Top 20.
Last year's national championship runner-up, Middlebury has won 13 straight games since its season-opening loss to Bates, and is tied with Tufts at the top of the NESCAC standings. The Panthers control their own destiny and can clinch the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament with a win over Williams or a Tufts loss to Bowdoin on Wednesday.
Two-time defending NCAA champion Gettysburg is No. 2 this week, while Washington and Lee, winner of 10 straight games, is ranked third.
Key games this week as the end of the regular season quickly approaches include No. 11 York hosting No. 20 Denison, No. 9 St. John Fisher at No. 19 Brockport, and No. 7 Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson.
Nike/US Lacrosse
Division III Women’s Top 20
April 22, 2019 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlebury | 13-1 | 2 | 4/24 vs. Williams |
| 2 | Gettysburg | 13-1 | 3 | 4/24 at McDaniel |
| 3 | Washington and Lee | 13-2 | 4 | 4/24 at Shenandoah |
| 4 | Tufts | 13-1 | 1 | 4/24 vs. Bowdoin |
| 5 | Salisbury | 14-2 | 5 | 4/24 vs. St. Mary’s |
| 6 | Wesleyan | 12-2 | 7 | 4/24 vs. Connecticut College |
| 7 | Franklin & Marshall | 12-3 | 8 | 4/24 at Dickinson |
| 8 | St. John Fisher | 13-1 | 9 | 4/23 at Alford |
| 9 | Amherst | 10-4 | 10 | 4/24 vs. Trinity |
| 10 | William Smith | 14-2 | 13 | 4/27 at Skidmore |
| 11 | York | 11-5 | 11 | 4/24 vs. Denison |
| 12 | Mary Washington | 13-3 | 6 | 4/24 vs. Frostburg State |
| 13 | Catholic | 11-4 | 12 | 4/25 at Rowan |
| 14 | TCNJ | 9-5 | 18 | 4/23 vs. Stockton |
| 15 | Geneseo | 11-4 | NR | 4/24 at Buffalo State |
| 16 | Colorado College | 15-1 | 14 | 4/27 in SCAC Tournament |
| 17 | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps | 14-2 | 19 | 5/1 in SCIAC Tournament |
| 18 | Scranton | 13-2 | 20 | 4/23 at Cabrini |
| 19 | Brockport | 12-2 | 17 | 4/24 vs. No. 9 St. John Fisher |
| 20 | Denison | 12-3 | NR | 4/24 at No. 11 York |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Dickinson, Hamline, Keuka, Merchant Marine, Wooster
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
TCNJ (+4)
The Lions won three games last week, including a 15-9 win over previously undefeated and at-the-time No. 14 Colorado College. As the NJAC’s only unbeaten team, TCNJ has a chance to secure the top seed for the tournament with wins over Stockton and Kean this week.
William Smith (+3)
The Herons extended their winning streak to 12 games Saturday with a 13-0 shutout of Rochester. The victory helped William Smith move into the top 10 for the first time this year, and also clinched the Liberty League’s regular season title. William Smith is 9-0 in conference play and has clinched a first round bye in the league tournament.
NOT
Mary Washington (-6)
The Eagles had their four-game win streak snapped by visiting York, which spoiled Senior Day in Fredericksburg. UMW needs a win over Frostburg Wednesday to secure the third seed for the CAC Tournament.
Tufts (-3)
The Jumbos tasted defeat for the first time this year, falling 10-9 at Middlebury in a battle for first place in the NESCAC. Tufts closes the regular season at home Wednesday against Bowdoin before beginning play in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Tournament on Saturday.
IN
Geneseo
Sophomore Hannah Marafioti had eight goals and two assists, including the overtime game-winner, to lead the Knights to an 19-18 victory over then No. 16 Cortland Saturday. The Knights are the only undefeated team in the SUNYAC, having also defeated then No. 17 Brockport earlier in the week. A victory in one of its final two conference games will clinch the top seed the SUNYAC Tournament or only the second time (2005) in program history.
Denison
Denison took another step towards its sixth-straight NCAC title with a 20-9 win over John Carroll on Saturday. The victory extended the Big Red’s winning streak to 10 games and helped Amanda Daniels become the winningest coach in program history. Denison has scored 20 or more goals seven times this year.
OUT
Trinity (previously No. 15)
The Bantams have dropped three of their last four, including Saturday’s 13-6 decision against Colby. Trinity fell behind 8-2 at halftime and never pulled closer than five goals in the second half.
Cortland (previously No. 16)
Saturday’s loss to Geneseo was only the second time Cortland has lost to a SUNYAC team in its last 90 outings. The Red Dragons lost at Brockport in 2017 for their only other setback to a conference opponent dating back to 2009. Geneseo beat Cortland for only the second time in 34 all-time meetings and for the first time since 2005.