Villanova Crashes First Update to USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20

We have the first party crasher of 2026 in the first update to the USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20.

Villanova took over Holuba Hall and upset Penn State, ranked No. 9 last week, 14-13 in overtime. Eight players scored for the Wildcats, and Dan Martin scored the winner. The Wildcats aren't without their flaws (they were 13-for-31 on faceoffs and goalie Denis Fargione made only five saves), but they've immediately put lacrosse on notice and are ranked No. 14 this week.

Denver is also new to the Top 20, checking in at No. 20 on the heels of a 2-0 start in which the Pioneers have allowed just three goals combined to Cleveland State and Air Force.

The top four are holding strong, but with the introduction of Ivy League play next weekend, shakeups are surely on the way up and down the Top 20.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I
MEN'S TOP 20

1. Maryland
2. Syracuse
3. Princeton
4. Georgetown
5. Cornell
6. Notre Dame
7. North Carolina
8. Duke
9. Richmond
10. Ohio State
11. Harvard
12. Virginia
13. Army
14. Villanova
15. Penn State
16. Johns Hopkins
17. Michigan
18. Rutgers
19. Towson
20. Denver

Also considered (alphabetical order): Boston U, Drexel, Fairfield, High Point, Providence, UAlbany, Yale

While Division III’s initial schedule has struggled to reach liftoff due to weather and NESCAC considerations, Division II has not had a failure to launch. 

The past three days featured 22 games with just one cancellation — and multiple teams in the Top 20 duked it out with longtime rivals and first-time showdowns across the board.  

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
MEN'S TOP 20

1. Adelphi
2. Tampa
3. Saint Anselm
4. Wingate
5. Maryville
6. Lenoir-Rhyne
7. Lewis
8. Seton Hill
9. Anderson
10. Molloy
11. Pace
12. Mercy
13. Bentley
14. Colorado Mesa
15. Newberry
16. UIndy
17. Saint Leo
18. Embry-Riddle
19. Flagler
20. Palm Beach Atlantic

Also considered (alphabetical order): Assumption, Belmont Abbey, Florida Tech, North Greenville, Rockhurst, Rollins, Wilmington (Del.)

There were not a lot of games played by teams in the Division III Top 20 this week, so movement here will not be nearly as seismic as it could have been. 

There was an opportunity for more, but Mother Nature extended her freeze to the Division III world, and the game between Ohio Wesleyan and Stevenson was postponed. 

There is one notable shift at the very top of the ranking, though, with Christopher Newport and Salisbury swapping places.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III
MEN'S TOP 20

1. Tufts
2. Salisbury
3. Christopher Newport
4. Dickinson
5. Bowdoin
6. Washington and Lee
7. RIT
8. RPI
9. Gettysburg
10. Wesleyan
11. York
12. Lynchburg
13. St. Lawrence
14. Amherst
15. Stevenson
16. Swarthmore
17. Stevens
18. Cortland
19. Middlebury
20. Roanoke

Also considered (alphabetical order): Babson, Denison, Ohio Wesleyan, St. John Fisher