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Make that two weeks in a row that Notre Dame has upended the No. 1 team in the nation — and, rightfully so, the Irish are back in the top spot themselves this week.
After a 10-5 win over North Carolina, the Irish are No. 1 in the USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20, presented by CWENCH Hydration.
Their win over the Tar Heels was thorough. Thomas Ricciardelli made 15 saves as the defense stuffed UNC, holding the potent duo of Dominic Pietramal and Owen Duffy to just two goals on 15 shots.
Perhaps the most impressive feat was the work of Tyler Spano. He effectively became the first person to solve Brady Wambach all season. Spano won 10 of his 17 faceoff attempts, and UNC was held under 50 percent on draws for the first time all season.
North Carolina did not fall far. The Tar Heels now occupy the No. 3 spot held previously by the new No. 1.
1. Notre Dame
2. Princeton
3. North Carolina
4. Richmond
5. Syracuse
6. Maryland
7. Cornell
8. Harvard
9. Virginia
10. Georgetown
11. Ohio State
12. Johns Hopkins
13. Towson
14. Yale
15. Penn State
16. Army
17. Duke
18. Loyola
19. Penn
20. Rutgers
Also considered (alphabetical order): Boston U, Michigan, Siena, Utah
The top team in the land avoided a midweek upset against Molloy, even with starting goaltender Christian Tomei out with an illness.
Molloy jumped all over the Panthers to get out to a 6-2 halftime lead in his absence. The Adelphi offense stormed back in the second half as Thomas Gentile settled in, but it was a reminder of just how thin the margin of error can be, even for the top team.
The NE-10 insanity continued into the weekend with Bentley registering its biggest win to date with a victory over Pace.
1. Adelphi
2. Tampa
3. Saint Anselm
4. Wingate
5. Lenoir-Rhyne
6. Newberry
7. Anderson
8. Seton Hill
9. Catawba
10. Lewis
11. Florida Tech
12. Pace
13. Rockhurst
14. Maryville
15. Molloy
16. Saint Leo
17. Colorado Mesa
18. Bentley
19. Mercy
20. Belmont Abbey
Alphabetical order (also considered): Assumption, Flagler, UIndy, North Greenville
Midweek madness set the stage for an exciting weekend in Division III.
Ithaca upset RIT on Wednesday night to start the week’s fireworks. RIT held a two-goal lead heading to the fourth quarter, but Ithaca scored three unanswered to secure its third straight win. Ithaca notched another big conference win Saturday, taking down RPI. The Bombers now hold wins over RIT, RPI, Union and St. Lawrence and look the part of a contender in the Liberty League.
In the Centennial, Dickinson picked up a key win with an upset of Gettysburg. Williams dropped a game to Hamilton in the middle of the week and then lost to nemesis Amherst on Saturday. Williams beat Salisbury on March 24 but have lost four straight since.
The NESCAC race is about as exciting as it can get heading into the final week of regular-season play. Amherst, Wesleyan, Hamilton and Bates are all at five wins, while Middlebury sits at 4-4 with Amherst and Williams left on their docket.
1. Tufts
2. Bowdoin
3. Lynchburg
4. Christopher Newport
5. Salisbury
6. York
7. Babson
8. Wesleyan
9. Gettysburg
10. Stevens
11. Dickinson
12. Ithaca
13. RIT
14. Bates
15. Amherst
16. Middlebury
17. St. Lawrence
18. St. John Fisher
19. Hamilton
20. Skidmore
Also considered (alphabetical order): Randolph-Macon, Washington College, Washington and Lee, Williams
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