2024 FanLax Forum Poll

[JustOneTime]

Started a new thread for 2024. Who do you have?
Here is my top 30
1 - Salisbury
2 - Tufts
3 - RIT
4 - Bowdoin
5 - RPI
6 - CNU
7 - Dickinson
8 - W&L
9 - Union
10 - York
11 - St. Lawrence
12 - Wesleyan
13 - Lynchburg
14 - Babson
15 - Gettysburg
16 - Amherst
17 - Swarthmore
18 - Williams
19 - Middlebury
20 - Stevens
21 - Randolph Macon
22 - Skidmore
23 - Stockton
24 - F&M
25 - Cabrini
26 - Roanoke
27 - Kenyon
28 - Stevenson
29 - Hampden Sydney
30 - Endicott

[CentennialPundit]

My top 20:

1. Tufts
2. Salisbury
3. RIT
4. Dickinson
5. Bowdoin
6. CNU
7. WNL
8. Gettysberg
9. RPI
10. Union
11. Swarthmore
12. St. Lawrence
13. York
14. Lynchburg
15. Stevens Tech
16. Amherst
17. Williams
18. Weslyan
19. Babson
20. Stockton

This early in the season it is hard to compare teams that have "good" losses, vs. undefeated teams without any great wins. For now giving the benefit of the doubt to the undefeated teams. Will become much more clear in the next few weeks.

[SKUD]

1 Salisbury
2 Tufts
3 RIT
4 CNU
5 Dickinson
6 RPI
7 Bowdoin
8 Union
9 Wesleyan
10 Gettysburg
11 St. Lawrence
12 W&L
13 Williams
14 Babson
15 York
16 Swarthmore
17 Stevens
18 Lynchburg
19 Amherst
20 Skidmore
21 F&M
22 Stevenson
23 Randolph-Macon
24 R Stockton
25 Middlebury

[Backlax]

I've been following and wanted to join - my picks for the week.

1) Salisbury
2) RIT
3) Tufts
4) RPI
5) Dickinson
6) Union
7) CNU
8) St. Lawrence
9) Swarthmore
10) W&L

11) Stevens Tech
12) York
13) Bowdoin
14) Endicott
15) Randolph-Macon
16) Lynchburg
17) Wesleyan
18) Williams
19) F&M
20) Gettysburg

A ton of great matchups this week.

[SixBySix]

19 Amherst
22 Amherst

Amherst: the team so nice, you ranked them twice!

(I tease, I used to do this all the time when I was going the forum poll)

[AbeFroeman]

19 Amherst
22 Amherst

Amherst: the team so nice, you ranked them twice!

(I tease, I used to do this all the time when I was going the forum poll)

let’s average that down to 20.5. just missed the top 20

[AbeFroeman]

3/11/24 top 20

1. Salisbury
2. Tufts
3. RIT
4. Bowdoin
5. RPI
6. CNU
7. Dickinson
8. St Lawrence
9. Union
10. York
11. W&L
12. Gettysburg
13. Lynchburg
14. Middlebury
15. Amherst
16. Stevens
17. Wesleyan
18. Williams
19. Babson
20. RMC

[TeatedBubbles0]

Wanted to post my top 20

1) Salisbury
2) Tufts
3) RIT
4) RPI
5) Bowdoin
6) Union
7) Washington and Lee
8) CNU
9) Dickinson
10) York
11) Babson
12) St. Lawrence
13) Williams
14) Amherst
15) Gettysburg
16) Middlebury
17) Lynchburg
18) Stevens
19) Wesleyan
20) Swathmore

I think the top 3 are undisputed. Salisbury has 3 dominant wins against top 20 teams already. Tufts had a dominant win against CNU. RIT looks a little shaky with a close win against York and they played Ursinus close for 3 quarters. RPI is a tough team to rank. I really like that they beat York but I watched their game against Middlebury and was shocked to see them pull away in the 4th. A win is a win though. The only reason I have Bowdoin lower than RPI is because Bowdoin's only top 20 win so far is against a Middlebury team that just lost 3 straight. Union is another tough team to rank. 4 out of their 5 games have been decided by 1-2 goals. Despite this they have 2 top 20 wins against a tough Babson team and Williams. I'm interested to see how they do against Middlebury. Washington and Lee I think is a really solid team but that close loss to York in their first hurts them a bit. For some reason I see CNU and Dickinson ranked in the top 5 of most polls. I think these are the two most overrated teams in d3. Dickinson only beat Stevens by 1 and Roanoke by 2. How is that a top 5 team? CNU hasn't played anyone good except Tufts and it didn't go well for them. I don't see how you can justify putting them higher than they are in my rankings. I would like to move both of these teams down but need to see them play more quality teams. St. Lawrence is another team that I also see very high in rankings. While they don't have a loss, they haven't played anyone good. Once again, how can you rank them above teams with multiple top 20 wins? If they get some quality wins they will move up. York is 2-3 but their 3 losses come to teams in my top 5. 2 of those losses were by 1 goal. Additionally, one of their wins was against Washington and Lee. I would like to put them higher but can't seem to justify it at the moment. Babson is an interesting team that has played 3 top 20 teams very close. Unfortunately 2 of those 3 were losses so I can't put them any higher. Williams is 1-1 against top 20 teams in two close games. I expect them to drop as the season continues. Their win against Babson wasn't that strong and if Union played a 3rd quarter then it wouldn't have been so close. Outside of this I think a lot of teams could be moved around. Middlebury is interesting coming off of 3 losses. Maybe they can upset Union? Lynchburg is another team I see way higher than they should be. They are 2-2 and while their two losses are against top 20 teams they weren't very close and their wins aren't impressive. Inside Lacrosse has them above teams like Union, Williams, and Babson which is absurd. Gettysburg is the same story as Lynchburg except they beat lynchburg. I swear inside lacrosse has a thing for southern d3 teams. Let me know what you think.

[RetiredLLLaxer]

1) Salisbury
2) Tufts
3) RIT
4) Bowdoin
5) RPI
6) Dickinson
7) Washington and Lee
8) Union
9) St Lawrence
10) CNU
11) Gettysburg
12) York
13) Wesleyan
14) Amherst
15) Williams
16) Babson
17) Lynchburg
18) Stevens
19) Middlebury
20) Skidmore

[BallHunt]

Wanted to post my top 20

1) Salisbury
2) Tufts
3) RIT
4) RPI
5) Bowdoin
6) Union
7) Washington and Lee
8) CNU
9) Dickinson
10) York
11) Babson
12) St. Lawrence
13) Williams
14) Amherst
15) Gettysburg
16) Middlebury
17) Lynchburg
18) Stevens
19) Wesleyan
20) Swathmore

I think the top 3 are undisputed. Salisbury has 3 dominant wins against top 20 teams already. Tufts had a dominant win against CNU. RIT looks a little shaky with a close win against York and they played Ursinus close for 3 quarters. RPI is a tough team to rank. I really like that they beat York but I watched their game against Middlebury and was shocked to see them pull away in the 4th. A win is a win though. The only reason I have Bowdoin lower than RPI is because Bowdoin's only top 20 win so far is against a Middlebury team that just lost 3 straight. Union is another tough team to rank. 4 out of their 5 games have been decided by 1-2 goals. Despite this they have 2 top 20 wins against a tough Babson team and Williams. I'm interested to see how they do against Middlebury. Washington and Lee I think is a really solid team but that close loss to York in their first hurts them a bit. For some reason I see CNU and Dickinson ranked in the top 5 of most polls. I think these are the two most overrated teams in d3. Dickinson only beat Stevens by 1 and Roanoke by 2. How is that a top 5 team? CNU hasn't played anyone good except Tufts and it didn't go well for them. I don't see how you can justify putting them higher than they are in my rankings. I would like to move both of these teams down but need to see them play more quality teams. St. Lawrence is another team that I also see very high in rankings. While they don't have a loss, they haven't played anyone good. Once again, how can you rank them above teams with multiple top 20 wins? If they get some quality wins they will move up. York is 2-3 but their 3 losses come to teams in my top 5. 2 of those losses were by 1 goal. Additionally, one of their wins was against Washington and Lee. I would like to put them higher but can't seem to justify it at the moment. Babson is an interesting team that has played 3 top 20 teams very close. Unfortunately 2 of those 3 were losses so I can't put them any higher. Williams is 1-1 against top 20 teams in two close games. I expect them to drop as the season continues. Their win against Babson wasn't that strong and if Union played a 3rd quarter then it wouldn't have been so close. Outside of this I think a lot of teams could be moved around. Middlebury is interesting coming off of 3 losses. Maybe they can upset Union? Lynchburg is another team I see way higher than they should be. They are 2-2 and while their two losses are against top 20 teams they weren't very close and their wins aren't impressive. Inside Lacrosse has them above teams like Union, Williams, and Babson which is absurd. Gettysburg is the same story as Lynchburg except they beat lynchburg. I swear inside lacrosse has a thing for southern d3 teams. Let me know what you think.

Hah, that's the problem at the moment, 1-5 there's not too much argument, and around 16 and up there are plenty of teams. It's the 6-15 rankings roughly that is the current challenge. Top 5 teams or so, then everyone else should be considered for top 20.

[SixBySix]

FWIW, today's LaxPower rankings:

1 Tufts
2 Wesleyan
3 Bowdoin
4 Salisbury
5 RIT
6 St Lawrence
7 CNU
8 Swarthmore
9 W&L
10 RPI
11 York
12 Dickinson
13 Cortland
14 Lynchburg
15 Stockton
16 Middlebury
17 Babson
18 Randolph Macon
19 Amherst
20 Stevens

and Massey rankings:

1 Tufts
2 RIT
3 Salisbury
4 Bowdoin
5 RPI
6 Wesleyan
7 Union
8 CNU
9 St. Lawrence
10 Dickinson
11 Amherst
12 W&L
13 Middlebury
14 York
15 Gettysburg
16 Williams
17 Swarthmore
18 Lynchburg
19 Babson
20 Hamilton

By midseason, I usually find the Laxpower algorithm to be spot on, but I think a few of the NESCAC teams need a few more games before it will truly work well. Massey looks a lot better by the eye test at the moment.

[Backlax]

Who has Bowdoin beaten to be ranked so high?
Not saying they aren't a quality team, just curious.

[BallHunt]

Who has Bowdoin beaten to be ranked so high?
Not saying they aren't a quality team, just curious.

Bowdoin and several other teams are entering the expectations meets actual results zone of their schedules. Another week and this will sort out a lot better. But it is D3 lacrosse so...

[AbeFroeman]

FWIW, today's LaxPower rankings:

1 Tufts
2 Wesleyan
3 Bowdoin
4 Salisbury
5 RIT
6 St Lawrence
7 CNU
8 Swarthmore
9 W&L
10 RPI
11 York
12 Dickinson
13 Cortland
14 Lynchburg
15 Stockton
16 Middlebury
17 Babson
18 Randolph Macon
19 Amherst
20 Stevens

and Massey rankings:

1 Tufts
2 RIT
3 Salisbury
4 Bowdoin
5 RPI
6 Wesleyan
7 Union
8 CNU
9 St. Lawrence
10 Dickinson
11 Amherst
12 W&L
13 Middlebury
14 York
15 Gettysburg
16 Williams
17 Swarthmore
18 Lynchburg
19 Babson
20 Hamilton

By midseason, I usually find the Laxpower algorithm to be spot on, but I think a few of the NESCAC teams need a few more games before it will truly work well. Massey looks a lot better by the eye test at the moment.

i feel like the massey ratings are a little odd. salisbury has better wins that RIT
york has better and closer losses than middlebury and a better win
this weekend will clear up some questions. lots of top 15 matchups.

[Backlax]

Who has Bowdoin beaten to be ranked so high?
Not saying they aren't a quality team, just curious.

Bowdoin and several other teams are entering the expectations meets actual results zone of their schedules. Another week and this will sort out a lot better. But it is D3 lacrosse so...

No doubt - certainly some clarity will be forthcoming after the weekend.

[BallHunt]

Wanted to post my top 20

1) Salisbury
2) Tufts
3) RIT
4) RPI
5) Bowdoin
6) Union
7) Washington and Lee
8) CNU
9) Dickinson
10) York
11) Babson
12) St. Lawrence
13) Williams
14) Amherst
15) Gettysburg
16) Middlebury
17) Lynchburg
18) Stevens
19) Wesleyan
20) Swathmore

I think the top 3 are undisputed. Salisbury has 3 dominant wins against top 20 teams already. Tufts had a dominant win against CNU. RIT looks a little shaky with a close win against York and they played Ursinus close for 3 quarters. RPI is a tough team to rank. I really like that they beat York but I watched their game against Middlebury and was shocked to see them pull away in the 4th. A win is a win though. The only reason I have Bowdoin lower than RPI is because Bowdoin's only top 20 win so far is against a Middlebury team that just lost 3 straight. Union is another tough team to rank. 4 out of their 5 games have been decided by 1-2 goals. Despite this they have 2 top 20 wins against a tough Babson team and Williams. I'm interested to see how they do against Middlebury. Washington and Lee I think is a really solid team but that close loss to York in their first hurts them a bit. For some reason I see CNU and Dickinson ranked in the top 5 of most polls. I think these are the two most overrated teams in d3. Dickinson only beat Stevens by 1 and Roanoke by 2. How is that a top 5 team? CNU hasn't played anyone good except Tufts and it didn't go well for them. I don't see how you can justify putting them higher than they are in my rankings. I would like to move both of these teams down but need to see them play more quality teams. St. Lawrence is another team that I also see very high in rankings. While they don't have a loss, they haven't played anyone good. Once again, how can you rank them above teams with multiple top 20 wins? If they get some quality wins they will move up. York is 2-3 but their 3 losses come to teams in my top 5. 2 of those losses were by 1 goal. Additionally, one of their wins was against Washington and Lee. I would like to put them higher but can't seem to justify it at the moment. Babson is an interesting team that has played 3 top 20 teams very close. Unfortunately 2 of those 3 were losses so I can't put them any higher. Williams is 1-1 against top 20 teams in two close games. I expect them to drop as the season continues. Their win against Babson wasn't that strong and if Union played a 3rd quarter then it wouldn't have been so close. Outside of this I think a lot of teams could be moved around. Middlebury is interesting coming off of 3 losses. Maybe they can upset Union? Lynchburg is another team I see way higher than they should be. They are 2-2 and while their two losses are against top 20 teams they weren't very close and their wins aren't impressive. Inside Lacrosse has them above teams like Union, Williams, and Babson which is absurd. Gettysburg is the same story as Lynchburg except they beat lynchburg. I swear inside lacrosse has a thing for southern d3 teams. Let me know what you think.

RPI is too high I think, at least until they have another positive top 20 result. I thought last year RPI would have a great season, but they underperformed. Union is the opposite, they were great last year, had some injuries and trended down. Like the NESCAC, the Liberty League will start eating itself. The top teams in these conferences can't slip up and lose one to a team they "should" beat. Finishing in top 4 of these conferences, going to at least the conference semis, throw in some OOC quality teams and wins, and no slip ups will put teams in the NCAA's.

[JPAtlantic]

I think the USILA does a pretty good job of it. I thought it was interesting that about half of the teams in the top 20 don't have any 5th year covid (Grad Student) players. It will be a big change for some of these teams next year to be without them.

1) Salisbury: 8 Grads
2) Tufts: none
3) RIT: 8 Grads
4) Dickinson: 1 Grad
5) CNU: 11 Grads
6) Bowdoin: 6 Grads
7) RPI: 6 Grads
8) W&L: none
9) Union: none
10) St. Lawrence: none
11) York: 6 Grads
12) Lynchburg: 7 Grads
13) Gettysburg: none
14) Amherst: none
15) Swarthmore: none
16) Middlebury: none
17) Stevens: 6 Grads
17) Williams: none
19) Babson: 6 Grads
20) Wesleyan: 4 Grads

[2laxers]

I think the USILA does a pretty good job of it. I thought it was interesting that about half of the teams in the top 20 don't have any 5th year covid (Grad Student) players. It will be a big change for some of these teams next year to be without them.

1) Salisbury: 8 Grads
2) Tufts: none
3) RIT: 8 Grads
4) Dickinson: 1 Grad
5) CNU: 11 Grads
6) Bowdoin: 6 Grads
7) RPI: 6 Grads
8) W&L: none
9) Union: none
10) St. Lawrence: none
11) York: 6 Grads
12) Lynchburg: 7 Grads
13) Gettysburg: none
14) Amherst: none
15) Swarthmore: none
16) Middlebury: none
17) Stevens: 6 Grads
17) Williams: none
19) Babson: 6 Grads
20) Wesleyan: 4 Grads

Also a difference between grads and starting/contributing grad. These grads and seniors also have 1 more year if they choose.

[ah23]

1 Salisbury
2 Tufts
3 RIT
4 Christopher Newport
5 RPI
6 Bowdoin
7 Dickinson
8 St. Lawrence
9 Wash. & Lee
10 Stevens
11 Union
12 Babson
13 Wesleyan
14 York
15 Gettysburg
16 Williams
17 Lynchburg
18 Middlebury
19 Amherst
20 Denison
21 Swarthmore
22 Franklin & Marshall
23 Skidmore
24 Endicott
25 Randolph-Macon

Not much to go on this early in the season; thankfully the next two weeks are full of games that will help sort this out.

[ah23]

6) Bowdoin: 6 Grads

Bowdoin doesn't have any graduate programs - how do they have graduate students on the roster?