This year is interesting but mostly more of the same. UNC will clearly be the best team again (yes I realize they lost to BC in the semis) followed more closely this season by BC . Cuse will round out the top 3 and then there is a bit of a gap in which you can insert multiple teams in no particular order such as NW, Duke, Princeton, MD, UVA, Loyolla, ND . The ACC will be the dominant conference again The interesting thing is I think UNC takes a small step back to the pack ,more so on the defensive side while I think BC may be a little better than they were last year overall. I think Stanford could take a step forward but they need to play some better out of conference games . I think SBU takes a big step backwards even with the best coach in the NCAA.
Don’t think Syracuse is a lock to be top 3 or in the Final Four. Loyola a notch below the other teams mentioned. Agree Northwestern, Princeton, Virginia, Maryland Duke, ND will fight it out to get in the Final Four along with Syracuse. Tournament Seeding will be critical, don’t want to have to play BC or UNC before The Final Four. Any other contenders or teams that can surprise? Michigan? Denver? USC? Rutgers?
Florida?
Duke, Virginia, Rutgers, Michigan,Rutgers, USC, Denver, Princeton are NOT getting into the final four! No chance!
Duke , Virginia & Princeton all have legitimate chance to get to the Final Four. As good of a chance as Syracuse, Maryland Northwestern and ND.
Totally disagree. They would be lucky to finish 5-10. Not in same league, but don
t take my my word for it, see what happens when they play the games. Big drop off after UNC,NW,BC,Cuse
Pretty much hear the same song every year.... Big drop off after the top 4 (Pick 4 traditional powers) it is generally stated by a parent who has a daughter at one of the schools that they pick.
The reality tells a different story. Just looking at the past 5 years (minus 2020)
2021 BC won the Championship, they were ranked 12th in the pre-season poll.
2019 MD won the Championship, they were ranked 2nd in the pre-season poll.
2018 JMU won the Championship, they were ranked 16th in the preseason poll.
2017 MD won the Championship, they were ranked 2nd in the preseason poll.
2017, one of the pre-season Top 4 made it to the Final Four.
2018, two of the pre-season Top 4 made it two the Final Four.
2019, three of the pre-season Top 4 made it to the Final Four.
2021, two of the pre-season Top 4 made it to the Final Four.
on average 50% of the pre-season Top 4 actually make it to the Final Four.
During that time period there have been several close competitive games decided by 2 or less goals in the Quarter Finals which also indicates the drop is not so significant. It could be argued that in many cases a 3, 4 or even a 5 goal game is competitive and there is not that big of a difference between the teams.
Although I would agree there is not a lot of parity across the board in women's lacrosse, there does seem to be a bit of parity among the perennial top 10 - 15 programs from year to year. What is the saying? "Any given day..." I guess that is why they play the games.
Only time will tell, looking forward to watching some great games.
