The top five in this week’s Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Women’s Top 20 remained unchanged, but there was quite a bit of early season shuffling just below that group, as most teams have now launched their 2022 campaigns.
There are just four Top 20 teams left that have yet to play.
At the top of the poll, defending champion Lindenwood improved to 4-0 but faces its sternest test of the young season this week with a neutral site game against No. 3 Le Moyne at Tierney Field in Sparks, Md. The Lions made significant off-field news last week with the announcement that they will be reclassifying to Division I following the conclusion of the current season.
Lander, a third-year program in Greenwood, S.C., is back in the ranking this week after notching a 16-15 road victory at then-No. 10 Limestone. The Bearcats outscored the Saints 4-1 in the fourth quarter to claim the program’s first-ever top 10 win.
This week’s schedule includes several outstanding matchups to keep an eye on, including No. 2 UIndy hosting No. 19 Grand Valley State and No 18 Tampa welcoming both No. 4 Queens and No. 9 Regis. In addition, No. 3 Le Moyne hosts No. 13 Mercy before its showdown with Lindenwood on Sunday.
NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II WOMEN’S TOP 20
Feb. 28, 2022 | W/L | Prev | Next | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lindenwood | 4-0 | 1 | 3/6 vs. No. 3 Le Moyne (in Sparks, Md.) |
2 | Indianapolis | 2-0 | 2 | 3/4 vs. No. 10 Grand Valley State |
3 | Le Moyne | 0-0 | 3 | 3/2 vs. No. 13 Mercy |
4 | Queens | 4-0 | 4 | 3/5 vs. No. 18 Tampa |
5 | West Chester | 1-0 | 5 | 3/12 vs. No. 14 Adelphi |
6 | Rollins | 3-0 | 8 | 3/5 at Flagler |
7 | Roberts Wesleyan | 1-0 | 7 | 3/4 at St. Michael’s |
8 | East Stroudsburg | 0-0 | 6 | 3/2 vs. Jefferson |
9 | Regis | 2-0 | 12 | 3/1 at No. 18 Tampa |
10 | Grand Valley State | 2-0 | 11 | 3/4 at No. 2 UIndy |
11 | Seton Hill | 1-0 | 13 | 3/2 at Walsh |
12 | Florida Southern | 1-1 | 9 | 3/4 vs. Findlay |
13 | Mercy | 1-0 | 14 | 3/2 at No. 3 Le Moyne |
14 | Adelphi | 1-0 | 16 | 3/9 at No. 13 Mercy |
15 | Embry-Riddle | 3-0 | 18 | 3/2 vs. Flagler |
16 | Lander | 5-1 | NR | 3/5 vs. Montevallo |
17 | Bentley | 0-0 | 15 | 3/12 vs. American International |
18 | Tampa | 1-1 | 17 | 3/1 vs. No. 9 Regis |
19 | Limestone | 3-2 | 10 | 3/5 at Wingate |
20 | Pace | 1-0 | 19 | 3/5 vs. Molloy |
Also considered: Bloomsburg (1-0), Concordia-St. Paul (4-2), Davenport (2-0), Lynn (3-0), St. Anselm (0-0)
Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings
Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women
HOT
Regis (+3)
The Rangers are off to a solid 2-0 start, including a strong 18-4 win at UC-Colorado Springs last week in which All-American Kyleigh Peoples netted a career-high seven goals. Regis faces its first ranked opponent this week when it visits No. 18 Tampa, but that will be the last time they’ll have to leave their home confines in Denver until April.
Embry-Riddle (+3)
The Eagles are off to an early 3-0 start, including a 14-10 win over NE10 foe Assumption in a non-conference matchup last Saturday. Freshman midfielder Sallie Squire tallied a game-high five goals to lead ERU and has recorded a team-high 16 goals through the first three games. The Eagles will learn a bit more about themselves this week when No. 11 Seton Hill comes to town.
NOT
Limestone (-8)
It was a bad week in Gaffney, S.C., as the Saints suffered a pair of losses on home soil. Lander scored twice in the final 90 seconds to shock Limestone 16-15, then No. 6 Rollins added a second loss four days later, never trailing en route to a 12-7 win. Limestone will try to rebound this week when it begins SAC play at Wingate.
IN
Lander (No. 16)
It’s been a yo-yo start for the Bearcats, who made their first-ever poll appearance two weeks ago on the heels of a 3-0 start, then fell out of the poll last week following an upset loss at unranked UVA Wise. Lander is back in this week after recording the program’s first top 10 victory at Limestone.
Seven goals by freshman Mickey Burnett, including the game-tying tally with 1:28 left, helped to fuel the upset. A 22-13 advantage in draw controls, led by 12 draws by senior Melissa Clapsaddle, was also critical.
OUT
St. Anselm (was No. 20)
Picked to finish fifth in the NE10 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, St. Anselm launches its season this week against conference opponent Southern Connecticut State. The Saints then follow with a three-game trip to Florida that concludes with a meeting against No. 15 Embry-Riddle.
