Dec 22, 2005
BALTIMORE, Md. - Four defending national champions, including all three women's NCAA champions, will repeat as title-winners in 2006, according to Lacrosse magazine's annual preseason college rankings, released today.
The rankings, compiled by Lacrosse magazine staff with consultations from coaches and other members of the press, predict the women's teams of Northwestern, Stonehill and The College of New Jersey to repeat as champions of NCAA Divisions I, II and III, respectively, and Herkimer to repeat as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) men's champion.
Duke, an NCAA finalist in 2005, ranks atop Division I, ahead of defending champion and preseason No. 2 Johns Hopkins. Le Moyne, which qualified for the four-team Division II tournament in 2005, was picked to win the championship this season. No. 2 New York Institute of Technology won the title last season. In Division III, 2005 finalist Middlebury was picked to end No. 2 Salisbury's run of three straight NCAA crowns. In NJCAA women's play, Anne Arundel will unseat Catonsville as national champion.
The rankings appear below and in the January/February issue of Lacrosse magazine. Expanded college previews will run in the March issue. The magazine is online at www.laxmagazine.com <http://www.laxmagazine.com> .
NCAA Division II Men Preseason Top 10
1. Le Moyne
2. NYIT
3. C.W. Post
4. Limestone
5. Adelphi
6. Dowling
7. Mercyhurst
8. Molloy
9. Bryant
10. Queens
NCAA Division II Women Preseason Top 10
1. Stonehill
2. Adelphi
3. C.W. Post
4. West Chester
5. Limestone
6. Queens
7. Lock Haven
8. Pfeiffer
9. Gannon
10. Philadelphia
Lacrosse magazine is a publication of US Lacrosse, the sport's national governing body. Subscriptions are available via membership in US Lacrosse. US Lacrosse is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information or to join, visit www.uslacrosse.org <http://www.uslacrosse.org> .
