Polls for Feb 23: Media #6 / Coaches #7

[OrangeXtreme]

1. North Carolina 413 (9)
2. Notre Dame 385 (3)
3. Richmond 378 (3)
4. Harvard 359 (4)
5. Cornell 358 (2)
6. Syracuse 350 (1)

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Irish Next at No. 1 in USA Lacrosse Division I Men's Top 20

Division III rankings were shaken up by upsets galore, while Division II remained relatively steady.

www.usalacrosse.com

1. Notre Dame
2. Cornell
3. Richmond
4. Harvard
5. Syracuse

 

[OrangeXtreme]

4. Syracuse

Handling success was the requirement this week for the Orange after beating Maryland. Coach Gary Gait is trying to teach the championship mindset to his squad. That’s a theme in 2026. Remain dissatisfied. Stay present in the moment.

The Orange lost at Harvard — you could see this one coming a mile away. A trip to Boston was their first outside game of 2026. And initial road game. Last year in the NCAA first round, the No. 6 seeded Orange defeated Harvard 13-12 in overtime in the Dome. Syracuse overcame a six-goal halftime deficit. FOGO John Mullen dominated the face-off circle (24-of-28). The signs were clear to see. You knew this would be competitive. SU had to be ready.

Harvard topped ’Cuse 13-12 in Cambridge. SSDM Jake Spallina didn’t play, so Harvard picked on other shorties with success. More depth is needed to share shifts as a 12-10 lead with 5:00 to play disappeared.

HHH regressed to what we saw often in 2025. The hustle was inconsistent. Shot selection was poor (12-of-47). Tied at 12-12, a clearing blunder (going offsides) gave Harvard the ball. That’s not winning lacrosse. That’s not championship-level game management.

Ivy doubleheader weekend is on deck for SU: Otto plays at Princeton on Saturday and at Penn on Sunday.

 

[upperdeck]

is Quints thoughts a thing?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

is Quints thoughts a thing?

He thinks once a week, usually after lunch.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[orange79]

Five spots after losing to a ranked team on the road?

 

[Hawknate144]

Five spots after losing to a ranked team on the road? View attachment 260406

Good old Terry Foy simultaneously had us 9th and Harvard as 1st

 

[Powellfan]

Interesting thought process. Not sure I agree with it, but I think it makes more sense than dropping them to nine like Terry did. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and five or six makes the most sense.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

1. Notre Dame
2. Cornell
3. Richmond
4. Harvard
5. Syracuse

Interesting thought process. Not sure I agree with it, but I think it makes more sense than dropping them to nine like Terry did. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and five or six makes the most sense.

I think both of these are reasonable. Ultimately, we destroyed two second tier teams at home, beat a top tier team at home, and lost to a really good squad on the road under challenging conditions. I would be ok being behind Army too. Duke and OSU have both played far to soft of schedules to be ranked higher and OSU lost their best defender for the year.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

Good old Terry Foy simultaneously had us 9th and Harvard as 1st

Foy is not a Cuse fan.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Good old Terry Foy simultaneously had us 9th and Harvard as 1st

He's consistently totally anti-Syracuse. Does he consider himself a journalist?

 

[Hawknate144]

He's consistently totally anti-Syracuse. Does he consider himself a journalist?

I'm more than aware, I'm more surprised he put Harvard 1 for beating us, though I also think there is an argument for Harvard at 1.

 

[Lax Mouse]

I'm more than aware, I'm more surprised he put Harvard 1 for beating us, though I also think there is an argument for Harvard at 1.

There's just such a hypocrisy in dropping Cuse to #9 and pushing Harvard to #1. And to clarify, I do think Harvard could certainly be ranked #1.

His rankings inflate the value of Cuse for Harvard and deflate the value of Harvard for Cuse.

 

[Cuse All-In]

At this point in the season, the polls are quite frankly a joke. It's apples to broccoli to papaya. I don't know where Cuse or UNC or Richmond should be ranked at this point. Cuse was up by 2 late and ended up losing by 1. Falling from 1 to 5 or 6 seems such an overreaction. Maryland is now in the range of 9-12?

I guess it's fun to watch the weekly moves but meaningless for probably another few weeks .

 

[Cuse All-In]

I'm reminded of John McEnroe - "you can't be serious!!!'

 

[Hawknate144]

#7 in the coaches poll

 

[UrbanaOrange]

Foy is not a Cuse fan.

Yup and Kinnear struggles to positively recognize 'Cuse in any shape or form. It is always the other team that didn't execute.

 

[cuselaxss26]

Now after how much cuse dropped by losing to one i was mad maryland losing to us by 2 n only fell one spot. As said if cuse were to lose if we would have dropped only 1 spot like maryland did. It’s so biased it isn’t even funny. But honestly i’d rather not have the top seed now n hope the team realizes the disrespect n proves everyone wrong by going on a tare. Wanna shut up the critics then start playing like mad men n beating teams. The way they played vs harvard (game they should have won honestly) made them look like really didn’t take next step tho think they are better then people give credit. But time to play top level every game.

 

[FloridaCuse]

#7 in the coaches poll

Does someone have the full coaches poll.

 

[FloridaCuse]

I find it surprising that after Maryland only drops one spot in the polls after losing on the road by 2 goals to the #2 in the polls, that we drop 4, 5, or 6 spots after losing on the road by 1 goal to a team that is now rated in the top 4 or 6. It shows a continued lack of respect for the Orange. But I wonder if any of it had to do with the way we played against Harvard. We didn't look the greatest. Clearly not, as many on here have said, like a championship caliber team.

 

[cuselaxss26]

I find it surprising that after Maryland only drops one spot in the polls after losing on the road by 2 goals to the #2 in the polls, that we drop 4, 5, or 6 spots after losing on the road by 1 goal to a team that is now rated in the top 4 or 6. It shows a continued lack of respect for the Orange. But I wonder if any of it had to do with the way we played against Harvard. We didn't look the greatest. Clearly not, as many on here have said, like a championship caliber team.

i mention this exact thing when happen n some didn’t take kindly to it. As said was slap in face to cuse dropping maryland right behind them after beating them. But it’s bias by people who doing rankings n shouldn’t be biased as isn’t best for sport. But honestly felt like we weren’t ready to be top or we”d handle the pressure accordingly. I’d don’t like the disrespect but also hope maby this sets fire in guys n they come out playing like maniacs n prove the haters wrong. Prob still hate as that’s life. But they need to realize gotta play consistently through out n each week or each game.

Hey everyone has off week no doubt. Seems someone we play terrible vs harvard for some reason. Maby those harvard guys chirp n get in our heads or who knows. But they can’t keep making mistakes def not seniors making rookie mistakes or panic at times. Also gotta know have to hustle every play for every ball. Felt like to many watching one guy instead of moving n doing whatever they can.

Also think this next game n even this weeks game are huge. Not just to get good wins but also to have upper hand on the ivies. As sure they look at that. Princeton is no pushover n coming off big win n us coming off a lost. I’m sure they will be prepared i hope we are also.