Finally, there is movement in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20. After a couple weeks of little change, we saw a handful of top 20 matchups that forced this week’s rankings to look a little different.
In the game of the weekend, Le Moyne surged back from a second-half deficit to get past Mercy 12-11 in its season opener. Most of the top 10 teams held serve — Tampa over Florida Southern, Belmont Abbey over Lenoir-Rhyne, Seton Hill over Mount Olive — but we did have an upset in the top 20.
Wingate dominated Indianapolis 13-7 behind four goals from Joe Cooper, helping the Bulldogs jump up to No. 11 this week.
Welcome back to the madness, at least for this week.
Nike/US Lacrosse
Division II Men’s Top 20
Feb. 24, 2020 |
W/L |
Prev |
Next |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Limestone | 3-0 | 1 | 3/1 vs. Saint Leo |
| 2 | Adelphi | 0-0 | 2 | 3/1 at No. 19 Lenior Rhyne |
| 3 | Le Moyne | 2-0 | 3 | 2/29 at No. 18 Bentley |
| 4 | Mercyhurst | 3-0 | 4 | 2/29 vs. No. 12 Indianapolis |
| 5 | Tampa | 3-0 | 5 | 2/28 vs. North Greenville |
| 6 | Belmont Abbey | 4-0 | 6 | 2/29 at No. 9 Queens (N.C.) |
| 7 | Seton Hill | 3-0 | 7 | 2/29 vs. NYIT |
| 8 | Rockhurst | 4-0 | 11 | 2/29 vs. Lynn |
| 9 | Queens (N.C.) | 4-1 | 12 | 2/29 vs. No. 6 Belmont Abbey |
| 10 | Mercy | 2-1 | 10 | 3/1 vs. Lake Erie |
| 11 | Wingate | 2-1 | 14 | 2/29 at No. 20 Rollins |
| 12 | Lindenwood | 3-0 | 13 | 2/26 at Lewis |
| 13 | Mount Olive | 3-1 | 8 | 2/29 vs. Florida Tech |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 2-1 | 9 | 2/29 at No. 4 Mercyhurst |
| 15 | Pace | 1-0 | 15 | 3/7 at No. 10 Mercy |
| 16 | Colorado Mesa | 5-0 | 16 | 3/5 vs. Davenport |
| 17 | Saint Anselm | 1-0 | N/A | 3/2 at Florida Tech |
| 18 | Bentley | 0-0 | N/A | 2/29 vs. No. 2 Le Moyne |
| 19 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 2-1 | 17 | 2/28 vs. Maryville |
| 20 | Rollins | 1-1 | 20 | 2/29 vs. No. 14 Wingate |
Also considered (alphabetical order): Assumption, Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Lynn, NYIT, Saint Leo, Tusculum
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Wingate (+3)
The Bulldogs got a response after losing to Mercyhurst last week. The 13-7 win over Indianapolis is one of the most impressive of the Division II season, by any team. Another ranked matchup awaits as Wingate travels to Rollins this weekend.
Queens (N.C.) (+3)
Queens is on a three-game wining streak after falling to Tampa earlier in the month. After beating Rollins last week, the Royals got past Lees-McRae and Palm Beach Atlantic in blowouts.
NOT
Indianapolis (-5)
It wasn’t the effort Indianapolis wanted on the trip to Wingate, scoring seven goals after dropping 30 goals in its first two games. The Greyhounds won’t have to wait long for their next challenge, as they meet Mercyhurst this weekend.
Mount Olive (-5)
Mount Olive managed seven goals in a loss to Seton Hill over the weekend, with just two coming in the second half. The Trojans were averaging 13.3 goals per game entering that matchup.
IN
Saint Anselm (No. 17)
In a battle of teams firmly on the top 20 bubble, Saint Anselm dominated NYIT 16-7 to open its season. The Hawks outscored the Bears 9-2 in the second half, helping them jump to No. 17 this week.
Bentley (No. 18)
Simply by process of elimination, Bentley is the only team that hasn’t hurt itself with a loss this season — and that’s because it hasn’t played yet. The Falcons open their season with No. 2 Le Moyne this weekend, so we’ll find out quickly whether this team can compete with the best.
OUT
NYIT (previously No. 18)
In a virtual rankings play-in game, NYIT was dominated by a solid Saint Anselm team. The 16 goals allowed is three more than the total of NYIT’s first two games.
Florida Southern (previously No. 19)
A 13-5 loss to Tampa moves the Mocs to 1-2 on the season. Florida Southern may have tested Belmont Abbey last week, but it trailed 10-2 at halftime to Tampa and offered little resistance in another test.