First off, there is a lot of drama happening in the NESCAC that will be addressed in the superlatives. But let’s really begin with talking about how Swarthmore made it into the top five.
Yes, Swarthmore, the not-so-little team that could actually felled a real goliath by taking down Dickinson 12-11. What’s more, the mythical Von Mabbs only contributed one goal to the cause.
RPI continues to hold court in the Liberty League as the team to beat thanks to a win over Union. That victory extended the Engineers’ unbeaten streak to 13.
RPI and Salisbury remain the last two unbeatens, and two of only three unbeaten teams across all divisions of NCAA men’s lacrosse. Luke Murphy’s masterful season continued with a six-goal outing in a 16-12 win over Union; he is now up to 47 on the year. Even with RPI’s incredible run through the year, it’s a long way from clear at the top of the league table. The top three teams in the Liberty League have a combined two losses.
The Saints fell from grace, but it wasn't from flying too close to the sun ‑ it was from walking into the verdant jungle of Vermont without machetes drawn. The Middlebury Panthers are still a dangerous team despite their place in the NESCAC standings, and St. Lawrence found that out the hard way by dropping its first game of the season, 13-7, this past Tuesday.
The usual suspects are still rolling — last year’s triumvirate of Salisbury, RIT and Tufts — are all back to their winning ways.
The light at the end of the tunnel is visible for Division III teams still in the hunt for their respective conference tournaments. Strength of schedule might get you a ticket to the dance, but winning your conference will definitely get you past the bouncers.
USA LACROSSE DIVISION III
MEN’S TOP 20
1. Salisbury, 14-0 (Prev: 1)
2. RPI, 13-0 (Prev: 2)
3. RIT, 13-1 (Prev: 4)
4. Tufts, 10-2 (Prev: 6)
5. Swarthmore, 11-1 (Prev: 7)
6. Christopher Newport, 9-4 (Prev: 13)
7. Saint Lawrence, 12-1 (Prev: 3)
8. Dickinson, 11-2 (Prev: 5)
9. Babson, 11-2 (Prev: 11)
10. Bowdoin, 9-2 (Prev: 14)
11. Washington and Lee, 9-3 (Prev: 12)
12. Amherst, 8-3 (Prev: 15)
13. Union, 9-3 (Prev: 9)
14. Lynchburg, 8-5 (Prev: 16)
15. Gettysburg, 7-5 (Prev: 10)
16. Wesleyan, 9-3 (Prev: 8)
17. Endicott, 12-1 (Prev: 17)
18. Stevens, 11-2 (Prev: 18)
19. Roanoke, 11-2 (Prev: 19)
20. Middlebury, 7-6 (Prev: NR)
Also considered (alphabetical order): Cabrini, Grove City, Hampden-Sydney, Trinity, Williams