All but four teams in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20 now have at least one game under their belts, and the season’s third week brought us the first top-10 matchup of the spring.
No. 4 Lynchburg was able to take care of business against then-No. 9 Cabrini 15-9, and although Cabrini takes a small tumble down the rankings this week, there’s still plenty of time for the powerhouse program to recover.
There was also some shuffling in the back half of the standings, with two new teams entering the fray of the Top 20.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks, as the Division III season continues to unfold. The NESCAC returns next weekend for (mostly) the first time since March 2020, and a heavyweight matchup between top-ranked Salisbury and Lynchburg looms on March 5.
NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION III MEN’S TOP 20
Feb. 28, 2022 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Salisbury |
2-0 |
1 |
3/2 vs. Stevens |
|
2 |
RIT |
1-0 |
2 |
3/2 at Nazareth |
|
3 |
Tufts |
0-0 |
3 |
3/5 vs. Colby |
|
4 |
Lynchburg |
3-0 |
4 |
3/5 at No. 1 Salisbury |
|
5 |
Christopher Newport |
3-0 |
5 |
3/2 vs. Grove City |
|
6 |
Franklin & Marshall |
3-0 |
6 |
3/2 vs. Elizabethtown |
|
7 |
York |
1-0 |
7 |
3/2 vs. Arcadia |
|
8 |
St. John Fisher |
1-0 |
8 |
3/2 vs. No. 9 SUNY Cortland |
|
9 |
SUNY Cortland |
1-0 |
11 |
3/2 vs. No. 8 St. John Fisher |
|
10 |
Stevenson |
2-0 |
13 |
3/5 at Gettysburg |
|
11 |
Illinois Wesleyan |
1-0 |
10 |
3/2 at Hope |
|
12 |
Williams |
0-0 |
12 |
3/5 at Trinity |
|
13 |
Denison |
2-0 |
15 |
3/5 at Washington and Lee |
|
14 |
John Carroll |
1-0 |
16 |
3/2 at Wittenburg |
|
15 |
St. Lawrence |
0-0 |
17 |
3/2 at SUNY Potsdam |
|
16 |
Dickinson |
3-0 |
20 |
3/5 vs. No. 17 Cabrini |
|
17 |
Cabrini |
1-1 |
9 |
3/1 at Hampden-Sydney |
|
18 |
Wesleyan |
0-0 |
18 |
3/5 vs. Bates |
|
19 |
Ohio Wesleyan |
1-0 |
NR |
3/5 vs. North Central |
|
20 |
Catholic |
3-1 |
NR |
3/5 vs. No. 5 Christopher Newport |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Centre (2-1), Gettysburg (2-1), Grove City (2-1), Ithaca (1-1), Union (1-0), Ursinus (1-1)
Nike/USA Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Dickinson (+4)
After earning a spot in the Top 20 with a win over Stevens to start the season, Dickinson added two more wins to improve to 3-0. Chris Brandau — a former Georgetown and Maryland goalie profiled by Matt DaSilva last week — continued his impressive start, allowing only three goals in a win against Susquehanna last Wednesday. The offense stepped up the following game with a 19-goal performance to beat Roanoke.
NOT
Cabrini (-8)
The Cavaliers were held to single digits against Lynchburg in what was their first game against a ranked opponent this spring. The loss knocked them out of the top 10, but the season is still young and Cabrini is still talented. The Cavaliers have two games next week, one against another ranked opponent in Dickinson that could send them climbing back up the Top 20.
IN
Ohio Wesleyan (No. 19)
Ohio Wesleyan was supposed to open against Illinois Wesleyan, but that game was postponed, delaying the Bishops’ opener by a week. That didn’t appear to cause any problems, as they put up 17 against then-No. 14 Centre. The win over a ranked opponent was enough to feature Ohio Wesleyan in the rankings for the first time this year.
Catholic (No. 20)
The Cardinals responded to a loss last week with a 19-14 win over Colorado College. Graduate Kevin Crowley has played a big role in Catholic’s success offensively; he’s already got 15 goals and seven assists.
OUT
Centre (was No. 14)
The Colonels lost to Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, surrendering 17 goals. They’re still one game above .500 through three games, but they fall just outside the rankings with a loss to an unranked team.