Every team in the Nike / US Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20 that played this week picked up at least one win, so that doesn’t make for any seismic shifts. The teams at the top have been consistent, and lower-ranked teams like Ohio Wesleyan, Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg have continued to pick up victories.
Tufts even beat a Division I team in Dartmouth, and while the Ivies haven’t played much this season — if at all — it really speaks to how dominant the Jumbos have been this season. Tufts moving up is no reflection of RIT; the Tigers have been dominant in their own right. There’s just something special about Tufts thus far.
Teams on the outside looking in like Ithaca haven’t helped themselves too much, while Stevens Tech just hasn’t had the schedule strength to break through.
Christopher Newport kept itself in the rankings with an overtime win over Washington and Lee.
Nike / US Lacrosse
Division III Men’s Top 20
April 26, 2021 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts | 5-0 | 2 | 5/1 at Colby |
| 2 | RIT | 7-0 | 1 | 5/1 at No. 9 Union |
| 3 | Salisbury | 10-1 | 3 | 5/1 at Southern Virginia |
| 4 | York | 11-0 | 4 | TBD |
| 5 | Lynchburg | 11-2 | 5 | 5/1 vs. No. 20 Hampden-Sydney |
| 6 | Cabrini | 8-1 | 6 | TBD |
| 7 | Gettysburg | 4-0 | 7 | 5/1 at No. 8 Franklin & Marshall |
| 8 | Franklin & Marshall | 5-0 | 9 | 5/1 vs. No. 7 Gettysburg |
| 9 | Union | 4-1 | 8 | 5/1 at No. 2 RIT |
| 10 | St. John Fisher | 8-3 | 13 | 4/28 at Alfred |
| 11 | Stevenson | 5-0 | 14 | TBD |
| 12 | Williams | 3-0 | 12 | 5/1 vs. Trinity |
| 13 | Ursinus | 2-2 | 10 | 4/28 vs. Muhlenberg |
| 14 | Colorado College | 8-2 | 11 | TBD |
| 15 | Washington and Lee | 7-4 | 15 | 4/28 at Guilford |
| 16 | Saint Lawrence | 5-2 | 16 | 4/28 vs. Clarkson |
| 17 | Denison | 4-1 | 17 | 4/28 at Wittenberg |
| 18 | Ohio Wesleyan | 8-1 | 20 | 4/27 at DePauw |
| 19 | Christopher Newport | 9-4 | 19 | 4/28 at Mary Washington |
| 20 | Hampden-Sydney | 9-1 | 18 | 4/27 at Guilford |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Cortland, Ithaca, Stevens Tech, Wesleyan
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Tufts (+1)
They beat a Division I team, and while that won’t matter on the final record or anything, you have to take it into consideration. And yes, the Ivy League teams haven’t played much, but Brown beat a D-I team in Boston University this week, too, in its first game in over a year. The Jumbos are a force, plain and simple.
Lynchburg (no change)
The Lynchburg offense exploded for 23 goals in Sunday night’s win over Colorado College. The Hornets have won seven games in a row, scoring 17 or more in all games but one. Junior Kyle Lewis already has 59 points. Senior Colin Dean has 39 goals. They’ve also gotten in 13 games, more than most everyone, and have a cohesive unit.
NOT
Union (-1)
The Dutchmen did rebound with a win over Clarkson, but a loss to Ithaca hurts them, too. The win over Clarkson helps, and it’s a good sign for the defense, but it’s so tight in the top 10, losses to unranked teams are going to hurt.
Ursinus (-3)
Two losses in the last three games won’t get it done. They were against good teams — Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall — but those are the games to make a statement. The Bears have struggled to score a bit, not reaching double digits in either of those losses. Their leading scorer, Hakan Atillasoy, has just six goals.