Despite a number of postponements in top-20 games last week, there was enough action on the field to yield some significant changes in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20. Lindenwood, Indianapolis, Le Moyne and West Chester retained the first four positions, while No. 5 Tampa jumped five spots following its win over then-No. 7 Rollins.
Triggered by Tampa’s rise, there was additional shuffling in the back half of the of the top 10, with Limestone also climbing while Adelphi and Rollins slipped. The good news for 2019 national champion Adelphi was that it was finally able to play its thrice-delayed opener, but the bad news was that it never got its high-powered offense on track in a loss at Le Moyne.
Four ranked teams — Grand Valley State, Assumption, St. Anselm and Mercy — were sidelined due to COVID exposure, but all have hopes of returning to action this week, including a top-20 matchup Monday as No. 14 Assumption visits No. 20 Bentley.
The midweek schedule also includes two additional games of note on Wednesday, as No. 3 Le Moyne hosts No. 18 Pace in a battle of NE10 unbeatens, and No. 5 Tampa welcomes No. 12 Florida Southern.
Nike/US Lacrosse
Division II Women’s Top 20
March 29, 2021 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindenwood | 5-0 | 1 | 4/3 vs. at McKendree |
| 2 | Indianapolis | 6-0 | 2 | 4/3 vs. Lewis |
| 3 | Le Moyne | 3-0 | 3 | 3/31 vs. No. 18 Pace |
| 4 | West Chester | 4-0 | 4 | 3/31 vs. Shepherd |
| 5 | Tampa | 3-0 | 10 | 3/31 vs. No. 12 Florida Southern |
| 6 | Limestone | 6-0 | 9 | 3/29 at Lenoir-Rhyne |
| 7 | East Stroudsburg | 4-1 | 6 | 3/31 at Kutztown |
| 8 | Queens | 7-1 | 8 | 4/3 vs. Lincoln Memorial |
| 9 | Adelphi | 0-1 | 5 | 3/31 vs. New Haven |
| 10 | Regis | 5-1 | 11 | 4/1 vs. CSU-Pueblo |
| 11 | Rollins | 1-1 | 7 | 3/31 vs. Florida Tech |
| 12 | Florida Southern | 2-0 | 12 | 3/31 at No. 5 Tampa |
| 13 | Grand Valley State | 3-1 | 13 | 4/1 vs. Concordia-St. Paul |
| 14 | Assumption | 1-0 | 14 | 3/29 at No. 20 Bentley |
| 15 | St. Anselm | 2-0 | 15 | 4/7 vs. St. Michael’s |
| 16 | Seton Hill | 4-0 | 19 | 3/31 vs. Lock Haven |
| 17 | Roberts Wesleyan | 5-0 | 17 | 3/31 vs. Tiffin |
| 18 | Pace | 4-0 | NR | 3/31 at No. 3 Le Moyne |
| 19 | Mercyhurst | 5-1 | 16 | 3/31 at Edinboro |
| 20 | Bentley | 2-0 | NR | 3/29 vs. No. 14 Assumption |
Also considered: Franklin Pierce (2-0), Mercy (2-1), Mt. Olive (7-1), St. Leo (1-2)
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Tampa (+5)
The Spartans are off to a 3-0 start, including a 13-9 win over then-No. 7 Rollins last week. Tampa jumped out to a 6-1 lead in that game and never trailed. The Spartans avoided a letdown by adding an 18-12 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic three days later, tallying their biggest offensive output of the young season. A victory over No. 12 Florida Southern this week will firmly establish UT as the front runner in the SSC.
Limestone (+3)
Limestone remains undefeated through six games, including a perfect 5-0 record in its new league home, the South Atlantic Conference. While the Saints have yet to face a ranked opponent, they have handled their business effectively, outscoring their six opponents to date by a cumulative 99-33 margin.
NOT
Adelphi (-4)
Saturday’s loss at Le Moyne may not have been a surprise, given the competitive nature of the rivalry between the two NE10 powerhouse programs, but the lopsided 14-3 score did raise some eyebrows. The Dolphins dominated this game from the beginning and handed Adelphi its first double-digit loss since the 2002 season.
Rollins (-4)
Trailing 7-4 at halftime of last week’s showdown with Tampa, the Tars scored the first three goals in the second half and appeared to seize the momentum. But Tampa answered with its own three-goal run and tallied five of the next six goals to claim the SSC victory. Rollins doesn’t have much room left for error with only five games remaining on its abbreviated 2021 schedule.
IN
Pace (No. 18)
Six goals from junior Aleya Corretjer helped push the Setters past New Haven, 19-8, last Saturday, allowing Pace to record the first 4-0 start in the program’s history. The Setters will learn a little more about themselves with Wednesday’s visit to No. 3 Le Moyne, a battle of unbeatens in the NE10’s Southwest Division.
Bentley (No. 20)
One week after slipping out of the top 20 and having its first two games postponed, the Falcons are back in the ranking and sporting a clean 2-0 record. That mark will be put to the test with matchups this week against No. 14 Assumption and unbeaten Franklin Pierce.
OUT
Mercy (was No. 18)
The Mustangs were one of the teams dealing with schedule issues last week, with their only game (against Georgian Court) postponed. They slip out of the ranking this week to make room for Pace and Bentley.
New Haven (was No. 20)
The Chargers have lost three straight since their season-opening win. Pace delivered the latest blow with last Saturday’s drubbing. Unfortunately, the NE10 road doesn’t get any easier as New Haven visits No. 9 Adelphi Wednesday.