UNC Back at No. 1 in USA Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20

The defending champions are back on top of the national ranks.

Following Maryland's first loss of the spring at the hands of Northwestern, North Carolina is the new No. 1 in the USA Lacrosse Division I Women's Top 20, presented by CWENCH Hydration. It was Northwestern that knocked UNC off its perch at No. 1 after beating the Tar Heels by a goal on March 25.

Since that loss, North Carolina has bounced back in a big way by outscoring its three opponents 60-16.

Northwestern boasts the best two wins in the country. So why aren't the Wildcats No. 1? Well, it's impossible to overlook its three losses against Colorado, Ohio State and Syracuse.

That said, a ranking will only mean so much at this point in the spring. Northwestern has its eyes set on something much grander.

USA LACROSSE DIVISION I
WOMEN’S TOP 20

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Georgetown, James Madison, Penn, Penn State, Princeton

USA LACROSSE DIVISION II
WOMEN'S TOP 20

Without any movement in the top five this week, our eyes shift immediately toward No. 6 Saint Leo, which is up five spots this week after taking down two top 10 teams — Tampa and Embry-Riddle.

Elsewhere, both Adelphi and Regis are surging thanks to nine-game winning streaks.

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Frostburg, Grand Valley State, McKendree, Mount Olive, Wilmington (Del.)

USA LACROSSE DIVISION III 
WOMEN'S TOP 20

A matchup between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams did not disappoint, as the battle between Tufts and Wesleyan needed overtime. The Cardinals scored the final four goals of regulation, three of which came from Addie Cummings (five goals, two assists), but the Jumbos came out on top 11-10 thanks to Elsa Schutt’s sixth goal of the season.

In other rivalry games around the nation, Amherst topped Williams 13-9 behind nine saves from goalie Lily Samoska, and MIT defeated Babson 19-8 thanks in part to four goals and three assists from Ashley Thomas.

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Chicago, Colorado College, Ithaca, Muhlenberg, Scranton