After a week eight shakeup, we’ve got lingering movement in week nine of college lax. The ‘Cats continue to impress and dominate, looking more like the program the world has come accustomed to seeing.
But on a larger, national scale, this week was an extremely telling one: a week that may be hinting at who’s Final Four bound this year on The Lakefront.
Let’s take a look at where the top 10 rankings stand.
No. 1 Maryland (13-0, 5-0 B1G)
Movement: N/A
Last Week: 18-11 win vs. Rutgers
This Week: vs. No. 4 Northwestern
Not too much of note
this past week from the Terps, as they handily defeated a Scarlet Knights squad they’re more than capable of handling itself against. However, this week presents JJ Suriano’s biggest test in Northwestern — Maryland’s first top-5 opponent this season. Although not a prolific scoring team, Maryland’s Lauren LaPointe has most certainly solidified herself in the upper echelon of the Big Ten. However, it’ll be interesting to see who head coach Cathy Reese turns to if NU focuses its attention on the junior, as it found much success in stifling the top scoring offense in the conference in Johns Hopkins by nullifying Ava Angello.
No. 2 North Carolina (11-1, 8-0 ACC)
Movement: N/A
Last Week: 19-4 win at Virginia
This Week: vs. No. 12 Stanford
The nation’s top scorer in Chloe Humphrey did what she does best: linking rubber with polyester mesh. She did so seven times against the Cavaliers while scooping up three ground balls and causing four turnovers.
While a team like NU can make a claim to being the best attacking team in the country, UNC can certainly make the case at being the best all-around squad out there. Betty Nelson has struggled after a superb redshirt freshman season, ranking 2nd to last in the ACC in save percentage, but that’s seemed to have little to no effect on a defensive unit that causes 11 turnovers per game. With the Tewaaraton favorite at her best, North Carolina can beat any team in any capacity.
No. 3 Syracuse (11-3, 6-2 ACC)
Movement: +1
Last Week: 10-9 win at then-No. 17 Duke
This Week: vs. No. 19 Notre Dame
The Orange continue to climb and climb, week after week, seemingly getting stronger as we reach the final stretch of the regular season. ‘Cuse succeeds in dogfight tilts against its toughest of opponents — low-scoring games decided by a the slimmest of margins is what constitutes a “signature win” for this year’s Syracuse team. It proved it against NU earlier in the year, proved it again against then-No. 7 Yale and solidified it against then-No. 19 Virginia. Its win in Durham last week was no different and the Fighting Irish better enter The Dome prepared to do what its name suggests: fight.
No. 4 Northwestern (9-3, 3-1 B1G)
Movement: +2
Last Week: 11-5 win vs. USC
This Week: at No. 1 Maryland, at No. 18 Penn State
NU moving up in the polls is quite the surprise, considering that a team like Michigan could make claim to having had a better performance last week. Nonetheless, the ‘Cats find themselves back in the top-five for the first time in quite a while and in striking distance to reclaim the No. 1 spot with the NCAA Tournament looming. With a chance to claim a road win over Maryland, the current best team in the country, Kelly Amonte Hiller and company can show the lacrosse world that Northwestern’s rough start to its season was only a blip on the radar.
No. 5 Yale (10-2, 4-0 Ivy League)
Movement: +2
Last Week: 11-8 win at Dartmouth
This Week: vs. Penn
Unlike its matchup against then-No. 17 Army the week previous, the Bulldogs’ matchup against the Big Green was never really in question. Eight goals in the first half carried Yale to victory.
However, there are two major problems that Dartmouth may have exposed of Yale last week: undisciplined defense and draw circle inconsistency. The Big Green were +3 in the draw circle and found themselves the beneficiaries of eight fouls around the arc that led to free position, of which they converted on four times. Although Yale doesn’t have as tough of a end to a regular season as others, it could cost them next week against second-place Penn in the Ivy League tournament if it faces Princeton.
No. 6 Michigan
Movement: -3
Last Week: 10-6 win vs. then-No. 25 Ohio State
This Week: at Rutgers (received votes), at No. 9 Johns Hopkins
Since losing to Yale early on in the season, Michigan’s been on a heater and has looked like the best team out of the Big Ten thus far.
The issue is that it hasn’t played a top-10 opponent since mid-February, which could explain its slide this week and even against the Buckeyes, the Wolverines didn’t look like a formidable top-five squad until the final quarter. However, that changes this Sunday when it treks east to the DMV to face the Blue Jays, not to mention that its final two games of the year come against potential No. 1s in Maryland and Northwestern.
There’s still more room for this team to bolster its resume before postseason play, so a No. 6 nod might just be prime positioning for Big Blue.
No. 7 Florida (9-2, 2-0 Big 12)
Movement: -2
Last Week: 9-7 win vs. No. 15 Colorado
This Week: vs. USF, at San Diego State
For a moment, it seemed as though the Buffs’ would surge themselves into the top 10 conversation with a win over Florida. Colorado took and early 3-1 lead and seemed to have the Gators completely out of rhythm.
But the Gators would persist and despite being held to single digits in the score column for the first time this season, they’d find their grittiest win of the year over a pesky Buffaloes team. However, it remains that they showed vulnerability for the first time in a month, when it took a loss to then 10th-ranked Navy on the road. With the rest of the season not really giving the Gators much of an opportunity to boost their RPI, it seems that they’ll have to wait until the Big 12 Tournament to make their case to be hosts of a regional.
No. 8 Navy (12-1, 4-1 Patriot League)
Movement: N/A
Last Week: 16-5 win vs. Boston University
This Week: vs. No. 14 Army
After taking a loss to a prolific Loyola Maryland squad, Navy took its matchup against BU as an opportunity to work out the kinks in the defensive zone. In all fairness, the Greyhounds have been giving Navy issues dating back to last season, but the point still remains, allowing 19 goals in a single contest is unacceptable.
Responding with a 4-0 run in the first quarter of the next game, however, is quite the response to a deflating loss.
This week’s rivalry matchup against the top team in the conference for the Midshipmen is their biggest of the season — one that might determine who secures the top seed in the Patriot League tournament, but more importantly, one for bragging rights. Army vs. Navy in any sport is must-watch. Especially when it’s a top-15 matchup.
No. 9 Johns Hopkins (11-3, 4-2 B1G)
Movement: N/A
Last Week: 21-9 win at Oregon
This Week: vs. No. 6 Michigan
After a tough draw of opponents two weeks ago in Northwestern and Maryland — two opponents whose rankings didn’t reflect their ability — the Blue Jays finally had a week to get their wits about them against Oregon. Lacey Downey seemed more like herself, re-emerging as Big Ten Midfielder of the Week after losing out on the honor last week to Maryland’s Kori Edmondson. She was the de facto “point guard” of the offense against the Ducks, going off for six assists that spearheaded a 20-goal performance from Hopkins.
What’s most important is Angello’s confidence in her shot taking, which hasn’t seemed to take a hit after she was flustered by NU inside Ryan Fieldhouse. She converted six of her seven shots on Sunday for her best performance since March 19 against USC. It’ll be critical for JHU to get her opportunities against the Wolverines for an upset this weekend.
No. 10 Boston College (8-5, 5-3 ACC)
Movement: +3
Last Week: 11-8 win at No. 11 Loyola Maryland
This Week: at No. 24 Virginia
If the past two weeks have taught us anything about BC, its that it’ll always be in contention for the national title under Acacia Walker-Weinstein. Sure, the win over then-No. 2 Stanford was at home, but what are they going to say about a win over a top-15 squad on the road.
A dominant win, at that. The Eagles went +5 on the draw against a Greyhound team that entered Saturday afternoon as the best draw takers in the nation per draw control percentage and draw controls per game.
After letting up 3 early goals, BC anchored down and made Loyola’s life difficult. Senior defender Abbey Herod stepped up and Giulia Colarusso rose to the challenge along with her. The two combined for 11 caused turnovers in the contest, as the offense propelled the team to victory with seven unanswered goals between the first and second periods.
For Boston College, leaders are emerging and taking charge. That’s exactly what this team needed and is what will carry them deep into May if it holds true come tourney time.
First Four Out
No. 11 Clemson: 17-8 win at Cal
No. 12 Stanford: 22-5 win vs. Louisville
No. 13 Stony Brook: 10-8 win at then-No. 20 Princeton, 19-7 win vs. Towson
No. 14 Army: 20-5 win vs. American
