The top of the USA Lacrosse Division II Men’s Top 20 took care of business last week, but that doesn’t mean that the Division II landscape was bereft of upsets. Quite the contrary.
The Sunshine State Conference is, as it seems to be every year post-COVID, loaded with talent. Another team joined the upset party in the SSC, as Embry-Riddle beat Florida Southern in overtime, 15-14. Tampa and Rollins continue to look like the league heavyweights, while a newly galvanized Saint Leo team continues to win and impress. The cutoff line for the SSC tournament is four teams, so a very good squad may have to watch the tournament from afar.
Pace suffered its first defeat last week, losing to fellow NE10 power Adelphi 12-6. Netminder Dylan Renner stifled Pace, as he made a season-high 15 saves and stopped 71 percent of shots he faced.
In one of the biggest upsets of the weekend in all of college lacrosse, Rockhurst went to UIndy and won 9-8 in OT. Jonah McConnell scored the winner. It was the 27th goal of the year for the freshman, who is second on the team in points. Rockhurst has now won eight straight games and sits atop the GLVC. Three regular season games remain, and all three are against teams that have spent time in the Top 20 or have been considered for it.
USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
MEN’S TOP 20
1. Limestone, 12-0 (Prev: 1)
2. Lenoir-Rhyne, 10-1 (Prev: 2)
3. Tampa, 10-1 (prev: 3)
4. Adelphi, 6-2 (Prev: 5)
5. Mercy, 8-1 (Prev: 6)
6. Rollins, 7-2 (Prev: 7)
7. Wingate, 8-3 (Prev: 8)
8. Saint Anselm, 4-1 (Prev: 10)
9. Newberry, 8-3 (Prev: 9)
10. Pace, 6-1 (Prev: 11)
11. UIndy, 8-3 (Prev: 4)
12. Mercyhurst, 6-3 (Prev: 14)
13. Seton Hill, 5-3 (Prev: 13)
14. Bentley, 3-3 (Prev: 15)
15. Frostburg State, 8-2 (Prev: 16)
16. Saint Leo, 7-2 (Prev: 17)
17. Florida Southern, 7-3 (Prev: 12)
18. Colorado Mesa, 7-3 (Prev: 18)
19. Maryville, 8-2 (Prev: 19)
20. Rockhurst, 8-2 (Prev: NR)
Also considered (alphabetical order): Belmont Abbey, Embry-Riddle, Florida Tech, Lewis, Montevello, Westminster