1. Duke
Is there any sport at which Duke isn’t good? If there is, it is not women’s lacrosse. A year after making it all the way to the NCAA semifinals, Duke has their whole attack, a goalie, and a defender, not to mention the nation’s best player in senior attacker Katie Chrest, back on board, along with a top-five recruiting class. Look for the Blue Devils to make a serious run in ay.
2. Northwestern
Can’t argue with the champs. Though they’ve lost a few pieces of their championship puzzle, the Wildcats are still among America’s most athletic squads. Now, all they have to do is remember when not to wear flip-flops.
3. Princeton
The old guard of lacrosse just gets stronger every year. Ranked by Inside Lacrosse magazine as the nation’s second-best recruiting class, the Tigers’ newcomers should combine with a solid core that went to the quarterfinals a year ago and make Princeton among the nation’s top teams in 2006.
4. Maryland
What would lacrosse be without a top team hailing from College Park? Last year was a “down year” for Maryland as they went 12-6 and lost in the first round of the tournament, but a year’s experience should be the difference for the Terrapins to overcome last year’s slump.
5. North Carolina
The 2005 season for the Tar Heels was one plagued by injuries, yet they still made it to the NCAA quarterfinals. Of course, since they lost to Tobacco Road rival Duke, the folks in Chapel Hill will be working extra hard to make sure a repeat performance is avoided. Watch for the Heels to gel, catch fire midseason and show themselves to be serious title contenders.
6. Georgetown
Featuring Coco Stanwick, one of the nation’s top attackers – one of the top players, for that matter – the Big East’s best defender in Chloe Asselin and a top-10 recruiting class, the Hoyas can be counted on to make some serious noise on the come the tournament in May.
7. Boston University
After a 17-1 regular season and a semifinal appearance, the Terriers have an extra incentive to make the Final Four this year: It will be played in Boston on their home turf. And with nine of 12 starters returning, BU has a very good chance of realizing that goal.
8. Dartmouth
They knocked off Georgetown a year ago, and Dartmouth should be just as formidable a threat to any top contenders in 2006. Junior attacker Whitney Douthett, fresh off of a 62-goal campaign, is back and ready to take charge for the Big Green.
9. Virginia
Finalists a year ago, the Cavaliers are looking for more in 2006. Two-time all-American Nikki Leib, a senior midfielder, and third-team all-American Meredith Lazarus, a senior defender, should help UVa. prove once again why it is a mainstay on the national scene.
10. Johns Hopkins
After an 11-6 campaign last year, the Blue Jays are looking to bounce back to a top spot in the nation a big way in 2006. Preseason all-Americans Mary Key, a junior attacker, and Kadie Stamper, a sophomore midfielder, should provide stability to lead the team through a slew of tough contenders this spring.
– Compiled by Bailey Heaps
