For the third time in four weeks, there’s a new team at the top of the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20. With an 8-0 record, last year’s national runner-up Queens is now back at No. 1 for the first time since the COVID-interrupted 2020 season.
Queens is one of six teams in the top 10 that remain unbeaten and will get its first test as the new No. 1 when it visits Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday. The No. 1 Royals moved up one spot after posting two wins last week, while previous No. 1 UIndy lost 7-5 at Adelphi.
In losing to Adelphi, UIndy’s high-powered offense was held to its lowest goal total since 2019 and managed just one goal in the second half. Lindenwood, West Chester and Rollins round out this week’s top five.
Games to watch this week include No. 3 Lindenwood at No. 9 Regis, No. 8 East Stroudsburg at No. 4 West Chester in a big early season PSAC battle and No. 11 Florida Southern at No. 13 Roberts Wesleyan.
March 21, 2022 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Queens |
8-0 |
2 |
3/26 at Lenoir-Rhyne |
|
2 |
Indianapolis |
5-1 |
1 |
3/21 vs. No. 19 Tampa |
|
3 |
Lindenwood |
5-1 |
4 |
3/25 at No. 9 Regis |
|
4 |
West Chester |
4-0 |
6 |
3/22 vs. No. 8 East Stroudsburg |
|
5 |
Rollins |
8-0 |
5 |
3/22 vs. Colorado-Mesa |
|
6 |
Le Moyne |
3-2 |
3 |
3/22 at Franklin Pierce |
|
7 |
Adelphi |
4-0 |
13 |
3/22 at New Haven |
|
8 |
East Stroudsburg |
5-0 |
7 |
3/22 at No. 4 West Chester |
|
9 |
Regis |
6-0 |
8 |
3/25 vs. No. 3 Lindenwood |
|
10 |
Grand Valley State |
8-1 |
9 |
3/25 vs. Concordia-St. Paul |
|
11 |
Florida Southern |
6-1 |
10 |
3/25 at No. 14 Roberts Wesleyan |
|
12 |
Embry-Riddle |
9-0 |
11 |
3/23 at Lee |
|
13 |
Mercy |
5-2 |
15 |
3/26 vs. UDC |
|
14 |
Roberts Wesleyan |
4-2 |
12 |
3/23 at Notre Dame (Ohio) |
|
15 |
Pace |
4-1 |
16 |
3/23 vs. S. Conn. St. |
|
16 |
Stonehill |
4-1 |
NR |
3/23 at American Int’l |
|
17 |
Bentley |
2-1 |
17 |
3/22 at Assumption |
|
18 |
Florida Tech |
5-0 |
19 |
3/21 vs. Montevallo |
|
19 |
Tampa |
3-4 |
18 |
3/21 at No. 2 UIndy |
|
20 |
So. New Hampshire |
2-1 |
20 |
3/22 at St. Rose |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Davenport (6-1), Lander (6-3), Limestone (6-3), New Haven (4-0), Wingate (6-2)
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Adelphi (+6)
The perennial power Panthers, coming off a down season (for them) in 2021 when they finished 9-4 and missed out on the NCAA tournament, seem to have restored order this season. They’re off to a 4-0 start following wins over No. 1 UIndy and No. 20 Southern New Hampshire last week and jumped into the top 10 for the first time this year. The defense, which generated 17 caused turnovers against UIndy, appears to be leading the charge, having allowed just 21 goals through the first four games.
NOT
Le Moyne (-3)
The season-opening gauntlet of games against Top 20 teams finally caught up with the Dolphins, but in an unexpected way. After going 3-1 against the formidable quartet of Mercy, Lindenwood, UIndy and Roberts Wesleyan, Le Moyne stumbled against previously unranked Stonehill, falling 17-14 in their NE10 opener. The loss snapped Le Moyne’s 27-game win streak in NE10 games dating back to an 11-8 loss to Adelphi in 2018.
IN
Stonehill (No. 16)
The Skyhawks jump into the ranking after claiming their first win against conference foe Le Moyne since 2014. Led by five goals from junior Kayla Conway, Stonehill scored the most goals against the Dolphins since Adelphi posted 18 in an NCAA tournament game in 2011. Stonehill built an early 6-2 lead and never trailed in pulling off the upset win. Freshman goalie Sarah Faley registered a season-high 11 saves for Stonehill.
OUT
Seton Hill (was No. 14)
It was a tough start to the PSAC campaign for the Griffins, who dropped back-to-back games against two unranked teams in IUP (in overtime) and Slippery Rock. Coming off a berth in the NCAA tournament last year, Seton Hill was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the PSAC West by the league’s coaches. The Griffins will try to start the turnaround Tuesday at Mercyhurst, the first of three straight conference road games over the next 10 days.