The 2017 college lacrosse season concluded just a week ago. While it may seem too soon to look ahead to next year, it's still a fun exercise. Over the next five days, US Lacrosse Magazine will make an early attempt to size up a Division I top 25 for 2018.
NO. 25 DENVER
2017 record: 14-4 (7-2 Big East)
Last seen: Falling to Florida twice in its Big East debut, first by seven in the regular season and then by six in the conference tournament.
Senior starts lost: 110 of 216 (50.9 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 48 of 332 points (14.5 percent)
Initial forecast: Despite a hiccup against Georgetown on April 22 and the suspected challenge by conference leader Florida, Denver otherwise cruised through the Big East in its debut. The Pioneers didn’t make the NCAA tournament lacking a more convincing resume for a seemingly one-bid conference, but they hung on in the polls for beating Stanford and Louisville. Season two could still pose its challenges given its starting defense – the No. 4 scoring defense in Division I in 2017 – graduated (goalie Maddy Stevenson, plus defenders Hunter Gray, Sybil Pallace and Layne Voorhees). However, the offense remains intact as the top three point getters return – rising juniors Kendra Lanuza, Julia Feiss and Elizabeth Behrins.
NO. 24 STANFORD
2017 record: 12-6 (6-2 MPSF)
Last seen: Being edged out by Colorado for an NCAA tournament at-large bid after the Buffs knocked the Cardinal out of the MPSF tournament.
Senior starts lost: 53 of 216 (24.5 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 190 of 374 points (50.8 percent)
Initial forecast: Hailing from the MPSF, a conference the Cardinal has historically dominated, Stanford was thrown a curveball in 2017 as unsuspecting fourth-year program Colorado knocked them out of postseason consideration. The Cardinal had six losses in 2017, but the most surprising one was to Yale, which finished 1-6 in the Ivy League and 7-9 overall. Looking ahead to 2018, they won’t have their top two leading scorers Kelsey Murray and Elizabeth Cusick, but they still have their two next best attackers in Dillon Schoen and Areta Buness. Genesis Lucero returns as their top draw specialist and starting goalie Allie DaCar will be entering her senior season looking to lead in the new Pac-12.
NO. 23 UMASS
2017 record: 17-4 (9-0 Atlantic 10)
Last seen: Dominating the Atlantic 10 like it does every year, stunning the MSPF rising power Colorado in the NCAA first round, then losing to Cinderella Navy by more than 10 goals.
Senior starts lost: 105 of 252 (41.7 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 145 of 531 points (27.3 percent)
Initial forecast: UMass only had four losses on the year, three of which came to Top 20 opponents at the beginning of the season and the last to Navy, the team that shocked everyone in the lacrosse world. While the Minutewomen may have missed out on being a regularly ranked team in 2017, it will continue to make an argument for itself as the dominant staple of the Atlantic 10 after winning their ninth consecutive conference title. They graduate just five seniors, but the hardest to replace of them all might be midfielder Hannah Murphy, who was their do-it-all dynamo with 212 draw controls, 64 points and 44 ground balls. The key to getting ranked in 2018 will be their performance against out-of-conference teams.
NO. 22 JOHNS HOPKINS
2017 record: 11-7 (3-3 Big Ten)
Last seen: Missing out on the NCAAs after an average debut in the Big Ten, despite putting up a fight against Maryland with just a three-goal loss in the conference tournament.
Senior starts lost: 99 of 216 (45.8 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 66 of 309 points (21.4 percent)
Initial forecast: The hype surrounding Johns Hopkins in its debut in the Big Ten was evident, no longer playing an independent schedule and having the opportunity to battle for an automatic bid, but its regular season resume was underwhelming, but mostly, haunted by its overtime loss to Northwestern where a disputed goal at the buzzer allowed the Wildcats to tie it with no time left on the clock. If it was a win for the Blue Jays, they would’ve had at least one quality win to boost its case. While presenting a valiant effort, the 19-16 loss to the No. 1 Terps in the conference tournament marked the end of their season. Next year could be a bit more challenging, graduating leading scorer Haley Schweizer, its defensive line in Maddie Bodde, Nevi Fernandez and Claudia Flister, plus starting goalie Caroline Federico, but it comes with one more year of experience against its Big Ten opponents. Rising seniors Emily Kenul and Shannon Fitzergald should take the reins.
NO. 21 LOUISVILLE
2017 record: 11-8 (3-4 ACC)
Last seen: Shocking Syracuse in its regular season finale with a one-goal win before finishing the year with back-to-back losses to Virginia in the ACC tournament and JMU in the NCAA tournament.
Senior starts lost: 48 of 227 (21.1 percent)
Senior scoring departing: 75 of 276 points (27.2 percent)
Initial forecast: Replacing draw specialist and all-around standout Kaylin Morissette might’ve been a taller task than expected, finishing in the bottom three in the ACC, but Louisville’s losses didn’t have more than a four-goal differential – until the NCAA tournament. James Madison stunned the Cardinals, defeating them 12-6 with a 12-8 advantage on the draw and 20-13 edge in ground balls. Louisville upset Syracuse to end the regular season, but failed to carry that play into the postseason. Looking to 2018, they have the potential to improve. Leading scorer Hannah Koloski might’ve graduated, but rising junior Meghan Siverson is grooming herself into the new Morissette, finishing second on the team with 55 goals and first with 91 draw controls in 2017.