Syracuse Vaults Up USA Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20

After a slow start, Syracuse looks like it has fully arrived on the scene.

The Orange were 0-3 but have since won five straight — the most recent a Thursday victory over then-No. 5 Northwestern. That win catapults Syracuse up to No. 7 in the USA Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20, presented by CWENCH Hydration.

You never want to lose three straight, but in the defense of Syracuse, the Orange looked competitive in all three. They lost 9-5 to Maryland (No. 3), 13-9 to North Carolina (No. 1) and 8-6 to Stanford (No. 2).

Backed by one of the top defenses in the country, Syracuse is putting it all together in March of Regy Thorpe's first season at the helm.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I
WOMEN’S TOP 20

1. North Carolina
2. Stanford
3. Maryland
4. Navy
5. Yale
6. Michigan
7. Syracuse
8. Johns Hopkins
9. Florida
10. Stony Brook
11. Clemson
12. Colorado
13. Northwestern
14. Notre Dame
15. Denver
16. Army
17. Duke
18. Princeton
19. Loyola
20. Boston College

Also considered (alphabetical order): Georgetown, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Richmond, Virginia

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
WOMEN’S TOP 20

There are no changes among the top 11 teams in this week's Top 20, with teams like Flagler continuing their strong seasons. Notably, though, there is a first-timer in the ranks.

Wilmington (Del.) is one of six undefeated teams remaining at 6-0.

1. Flagler
2. Maryville
3. Slippery Rock
4. Florida Southern
5. UIndy
6. East Stroudsburg
7. Tampa
8. Embry-Riddle
9. West Chester
10. Saint Leo
11. Lynn
12. Rollins
13. Pace
14. Wingate
15. Kutztown
16. Mercy
17. Rockhurst
18. Wilmington (Del.)
19. Regis
20. Dominican (N.Y.)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson, Florida Tech, McKendree, Northern Michigan

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III 
WOMEN’S TOP 20

The top of the table remains unchanged, as Middlebury, Salisbury, Tufts and Wesleyan all took home victories — multiple in the case of everyone except for Salisbury — against teams in the Top 20 or also considered.

Some shuffling occurred underneath them, though. Franklin & Marshall beat Washington and Lee in the first game of the season but hasn’t won a game since then. As such, F&M falls to No. 12 after a loss to York. 

While York climbs, Washington and Lee leapfrogs the Spartans after the Generals (and Diplomats) beat the Spartans in overtime.

1. Middlebury
2. Salisbury  
3. Tufts
4. Wesleyan
5. William Smith 
6. Gettysburg
7. Denison
8. Washington and Lee
9. Amherst
10. York
11. Franklin & Marshall
12. Pomona-Pitzer
13. Colby
14. Babson 
15. TCNJ
16. Stevens
17. MIT
18. Christopher Newport
19. St. John Fisher
20. Chicago

Also considered (alphabetical order): Colorado College, Ithaca, Rowan, Scranton, Trinity