The defending champions made a STRONG statement to open the season.
For the first time since last May, women’s lacrosse is finally back! After Boston College’s stunning six-goal comeback to topple Northwestern and take the program’s second national title, the 2025 season got even juicier. Every week, I’ll dive into the IWLCA rankings (which are typically released on Mondays, although Tuesday games may make those irrelevant) and take a look at the top 10 teams, where they’ve been, and where they’re headed. I’ll also try and spotlight some of the individual greats from each team. Let’s get into it!
1. Boston College (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Movement: none
Last Week: W vs. No. 8 Loyola Maryland 21-7, W at Boston University 21-6
This Week: at No. 2 Northwestern, vs. UMass
After beating Northwestern last May to take the title, Boston College picked up right where it left off. The Eagles smoked a very good (currently No. 14) Loyola Maryland to open their season, getting a running clock by halftime. Against BU, it took until the third quarter, but BC once again got a running clock well before the fourth quarter began. Rachel Clark has 12 goals through two games and is firmly in the running for the Tewaaraton Award. The Eagles are very clearly the best team in college lacrosse, but that title will be threatened as soon as this weekend, when it takes on the next team on this list.
2. Northwestern (2-0, 0-0 B1G)
Movement: none
Last Week: W vs. No. 13 Notre Dame 13-10, W vs Canisius 23-3
This Week: vs. No. 2 Boston College, vs. Niagara
No Izzy Scane or Erin Coykendall, no problem? Apparently so, as the Wildcats put up 17 points in their first two first quarters of the season. Northwestern has 57 shots on goal through its first two games, and 36 of them have found the back of the net. Madison Taylor leads the nation in points with 15, and three other Wildcats have at least five points. Notre Dame clawing back from down 8-0 to cut the Northwestern lead to just 10-6 is cause for some concern, but the Wildcats closed the game strong. We’ll see just how close to No. 1 Northwestern is this weekend against the Eagles.
3. North Carolina (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Movement: up one spot
Last Week: W vs. No. 18 James Madison 14-2, W at Liberty 23-1
This Week: at No. 5 Florida
Hello, defense. Sophomore goalkeeper Betty Nelson has been almost impassable between the pipes, with eight saves against just two goals allowed. Admittedly, she’s only faced 20 shots, but on the rare occasions she’s been tested, she’s passed with flying colors. Redshirt freshman Chloe Humphrey, who was the top-ranked recruit in the class of 2023, has proven that she’s ready for the college game with eight goals and two assists. UNC has a point differential of 37-3 through two games, and is clearly very motivated by its first round exit a season ago.
4. Michigan (1-0, 0-0 B1G)
Movement: down one spot
Last Week: W at Jacksonville 13-5
This Week: at No. 9 Yale, vs. Central Michigan
Well, Erin O’Grady is ready for the season. The 2025 Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year saved 12 shots in Michigan’s season opener and gave up just five goals. The offense, of course, is nothing to sneeze at — Kaylee Dyer scored five goals all by herself. It’s still early to tell just how close Michigan will come to Northwestern in the Big Ten, but the Wolverines will face their first real test of the season this weekend against Yale.
5. Florida (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Movement: up four spots
Last Week: W at No. 11 Johns Hopkins 12-11, W vs. Kennesaw State 18-5
This Week: vs. No. 3 North Carolina, at South Florida
After their Final Four trip a season ago, the Gators took a little bit of time to get going. Graduate goalkeeper Georgia Hoey has been brilliant, with 10 saves against Johns Hopkins and a first-half shutout of Kennesaw State. The by-committee offense has five players with at least five points, but no players with more than six. Also, going down 11-9 against Johns Hopkins is cause for mild concern. We’ll see just how close Florida is to top-four status when the Gators take on North Carolina this weekend.
6. Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
Movement: up five spots
Last Week: W vs. Albany 21-9
This Week: at No. 7 Maryland, vs. Cornell
The Orange opened their season as expected. Syracuse outshot Albany 20-9 in the first half, and 17 of those attempts were on frame. Olivia Adamson had six points and Emma Ward added five, and SIX other players added three points. Only Boston College and Holy Cross are averaging more goals per game (both Holy Cross and Syracuse have only played one game). Last year, the Orange scored just eight points in an overtime loss to Maryland. They’ll have a great shot to avenge that loss in College Park on Saturday.
7. Maryland (0-0, 0-0 B1G)
Movement: up three spots
Last Week: no games
This Week: vs. No. 6 Syracuse, vs. Georgetown
It’s very difficult to analyze this Maryland team, especially given that the Terrapins are working in 11 freshmen. However, they do return two All-Americans — Kori Edmondson and Kennedy Major. Maryland no longer has Emily Sterling in goal, instead starting JJ Suriano, who redshirted under Sterling last season. This relatively inexperienced team is going to get thrown into the fire quickly, with the home game against Syracuse on tap. But with head coach Cathy Reese now in her 19th season at the helm, the Terrapins will always be tough to topple.
8. Virginia (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
Movement: down three spots
Last Week: W vs. Liberty 20-5
This Week: at No. 17 Princeton
The Cavaliers used a brilliant third quarter to break the game wide open against Liberty, scoring 20 goals on 39 shots. Four different Virginia players scored hat tricks, and Addi Foster added two goals and four assists. I’m not quite sure why the IWLCA has the Cavaliers below Maryland (especially given that Maryland hasn’t played a game yet), but that should work itself out in time. Jenna Dinardo, who had four goals and an assist, is going to build off a strong debut campaign that saw her land a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team.
9. Yale (0-0, 0-0 Ivy)
Movement: down three spots
Last Week: no games
This Week: vs. No. 3 Michigan, at Quinnipiac
Well, the first-place team in the preseason Ivy League poll will get a chance to prove itself early. Jenna Collignon and Fallon Vaughn both made preseason All-American teams, and they join defender Emmy Pascal on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List. Last season was one of the most successful seasons in program history — Yale took the Ivy League regular season and tournament titles, and made a run all the way to the NCAA quarterfinals before falling to Syracuse. The Bulldogs will have a chance to build on their 17-3 campaign, and potentially pull a season-shifting upset, when they take on Michigan in New Haven on Saturday.
10. Johns Hopkins (0-1, 0-0 B1G)
Movement: down three spots
Last Week: L vs. No. 9 Florida 11-12
This Week: vs. No. 25 Duke, at No. 14 Loyola Maryland
Well, you can’t say the Blue Jays are starting with a soft schedule. Johns Hopkins is opening this season with four consecutive games against ranked foes, the only team in the top 10 to do so. However, the Blue Jays got off on the wrong foot with their 11-12 loss at the hands of the Gators. Johns Hopkins outshot Florida 37-19, won the turnover battle 15-18 and won the draw control battle 15-7…but still came out on the losing end. Ashley Mackin’s five goals (including her 100th career point) all ended up going to waste after the Gators sprung forth for three unanswered goals in the final 3:30. Morgan Giardina’s first career start in goal was not ideal, but her next matchup is against a Duke squad that’s scored 33 goals in its first two games. If the Blue Jays are going to beat the Blue Devils at home for the first time in program history, they’re going to need the defense to step up.
Just missed the cut: Notre Dame, Penn, Stony Brook