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Received votes: Bucknell (12), Denver (7), Army (6), Villanova (5), Yale (4)

Number of voters: 15 (Artful Dodger, Baldo, ColumbiaBlueBlack, DALaxDad, HU34, John Henry, Laximus, Schizoid, StanDPeterson, surferlax, timbucthree, TomL, VTD, WNY Lax, Wombat)

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Pollster Comments

Johns Hopkins: Playing very well, but not a sure bet as the National Champion with so many close wins. (Artful Dodger) — #1, no question. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #1 - Tested positive for character, beating a lathered up Towson team. (timbucthree) — Showed what they're made of coming from behind in front of a very hostile Towson crowd. Probably deserves four AAs at midfield (Harrison, Donegar, Ford, Boland); all have been very impressive this season. The only team to continue winning the games they should (by as much as they should). (VTD) — Not a time to look past Loyola. (WNY Lax) — Clearly the #1 team this year. Barrie's thumb injury is not as bad as first feared. Offense is deep. Defense solid. No more night games for Scherr. (Wombat)

Virginia: ACC Champs and a definite final four team. (Artful Dodger) — Still #2 even with "bad" win over Penn State. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #2 - Beat a talented PSU team, but it wasn't easy. Perhaps a little let up. (timbucthree) — Barely avoided another loss to PSU. It seems they are finally getting midfielders other than Rotelli and Shannon to step up and start scoring some points, something which will really help them in the tournament or as soon as it gets hot. (VTD) — To me the obvious #2. (WNY Lax) — Moves up from #3 to #2 on my list. Wanted to put them at #2 last week, and now Princeton has given me a reason to move them up. (Wombat)

Massachusetts: Will win the ECAC so long as they do not take Rutgers for granted. I root for this team to win it all. (Artful Dodger) — Up to #3 with OT home win over Cruisers, but that's not enough to push them to #2. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #3 - Up one spot, after beating a tough Syracuse team. The game could just as easily have gone the other way, but UMass is for real, at least for this year. (timbucthree) — Currently #3, but could make a case to be ranked #2. They are the wildcard this season. I would not be surprised to see these guys playing Memorial Day Weekend. Must avoid a trap this weekend at Rutgers. (VTD) — Great win for their program and my #3. (WNY Lax) — Up from #4 to #3. Great win versus Syracuse. These guys have proven that they belong in the elite this year. (Wombat)

Georgetown: I believe Georgetown is in the NCAAs. Wins over Maryland or Syracuse will just solidify their position and make me more sure of my prediction. (Artful Dodger) — Stay at #6 because a soft schedule is still a soft schedule. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #5 - Georgetown beat Rutgers & MSM this week. The Rutgers game once again demonstrated that GU has an excellent defense and a questionable offense. Monday night's game could be tied 0-0 at the end of regulation. (timbucthree) — I'm expecting them to lose to Maryland on little rest ... but the offense is going to have to prove they exist (something they haven't done all season), or Syracuse could win big. (VTD) — The whole season comes down to two games in less than a week. (WNY Lax) — Up from #6 to #5. A huge week ahead with Maryland and Syracuse. (Wombat)

Maryland: Convincing win over UMBC. Should beat Georgetown, but who knows? (Artful Dodger) — #4, but I wonder if this team can put the ball in the net against a good defense. Guess we'll see on Monday. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #4 - Beat an up-and-coming UMBC team. Made it look easy. (timbucthree) — I see them beating Georgetown, but it should be a very low scoring close game. The Terps broke out on offense Friday against UMBC solely on the strength of their 1st midfield. Lack of production from the attack (save Walters) is really becoming a problem. (VTD) — Defensive team that will need more offense to go very far. (WNY Lax) — Up from #5 to #4. Solid win over UMBC. Great defense. Must now beat Georgetown to try to hold on to a top four seed. (Wombat)

Princeton: Better get healthy soon! Shows what can happen when you take a good team for granted. (Artful Dodger) — #5 because a loss is a loss, especially at home, even if you have four key players out, plus Princeton did not look all that good against Loyola. And what happened to the Princeton defense?? Losing one man should not have affected the system. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #6 - Bad week. If not careful, it could get a whole lot worse. (timbucthree) — #6. What's happened to their offense? They need to put it together this season because after this senior class leaves, Princeton is really going to be hurting because they haven't been getting the recruits. (VTD) — I am still wondering about the margin of their loss. (WNY Lax) — Down from #2 to #6. Biggest upset of the year. Cruise control through the Ivy is the usual course for Princeton, but like Yale last year, someone jumped up and bit them. This was a far worse loss though. Trouble in Tierney Town. (Wombat)

Hofstra: Won 7 of their last 8. I say they get in the NCAAs either with or without an AQ. (Artful Dodger) — Move up to #9 with win over Duke. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #9 - Up four spots with good wins over Duke and Villanova. Young team could be pulling it together at the right time. Still have to go through Villanova and Towson to get the AQ. Neither is likely to be easy! (timbucthree) — Coming on strong in recent weeks. Despite losing to Towson earlier, most would probably consider them the favorite to win the CAA tournament. (VTD) — Another win over Duke. Maybe this year will be kinder to them. (WNY Lax) — Up from #13 to #8. The wins over Duke and Syracuse have put Hofstra into the playoff picture again. Doubt they get a snub this year. (Wombat)

Rutgers: A win over UMass guarantees a spot in the NCAAs. (Artful Dodger) — Still #8. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #7 - Respectable loss to Georgetown. A win next week will make picking the tournament field a nightmare. (timbucthree) — #7 seems as good a spot as any for these guys ... though I'm not sure exactly where to put them. Despite the high ranking, there are teams below them with a better chance to make the tournament. (VTD) — Tough loss to GT that would look better if GT does well. (WNY Lax) — Stays at #7 on my list, mainly because most of the teams immediately below them also lost. (Wombat)

Syracuse: They really should be doing better than they are. Who knows what plagues a team like this? Hopefully Desko does. (Artful Dodger) — Still #7 because they can beat every single team below them. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #10 - Down three spots. Needs to find a defense in a hurry. (timbucthree) — They've made the tournament already. Whether they truly deserve to go or not is irrelevant. If they want a Top 8 seed in the 1st round, they HAVE to beat Georgetown. If not, they will get a 1st round road game against a very good team. (VTD) — In the tourney, but I doubt Desko wants to go in on a 4-game losing streak. If they lose to GT, they should play the first round away. (WNY Lax) — Down from #8 to #9 for me. Must win over Georgetown if they hope to host a first round game. I have all the teams that they have lost to ahead of them in the poll. (Wombat)

Cornell: Cornell wins the AQ draw, or I say they walk. (Artful Dodger) — #13 just because. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #18 - Moves into top 20 thanks to Dartmouth. Pretty unimpressive season. Could still make the dance. (timbucthree) — No quality wins, and no chances for quality wins left. If they make the tournament, it will be because of blind luck (i.e., a coin toss). (VTD) — An Ivy co-champ? Still not enough offense. (WNY Lax) — Up one spot from #14 to #13. Dartmouth win earlier looms large, plus has a tougher schedule. (Wombat)

Towson: They need the AQ. Only quality win is #8 RPI Hofstra. (Artful Dodger) — #17 - a team lacking discipline and endurance. Crazed emotion good only for a quarter or so, then you have to really play. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #13 - Down 1 spot. Good show against a stronger Hopkins team. The rest of the CAA better get their rabies shots before the start of the tournament! (timbucthree) — Came out on fire in the 1st half in front of a pumped up crowd on Senior Night. Note to Seaman: Tell your student section not to yell "OVERRATED" at half time. (VTD) — Down from #11 to #17. Played a great 35 minutes and then the wheels came off, and the play got ugly. Must win their conference tourney to get the AQ, or else they will be sitting at home in May. (Wombat)

North Carolina: #11 because when the Heels have it together, they can play. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #8 - Up two spots with wins over Stony Brook and Air Force. Anyone who wants to play this "bubble" team in the tournament should have their head examined! (timbucthree) — If Maryland beats Georgetown and secures a Top 4 seed, the Tar Heels (and possibly even Duke) are in the tournament, though they should probably count on a road game in the 1st round. (VTD) — Up from #12 to #10. Now playoff eligible and clearly the third best team in the ACC. Beat Duke 14-9 earlier in the year. (Wombat)

UMBC: On the bubble. Two wins against second tier RPI teams; two against third tier teams. (Artful Dodger) — Down to #10 because Hofstra moved up. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #11 - A day late and a dollar short. Donny Zimmerman was heard to remark after the MD loss, "I'll be back!" I believe him. OSU game will provide even more frustration for this season, as the dogs are likely to win the game and still not get invited to the dance. (timbucthree) — Though they are ranked at #12, someone like Duke (#14) has a better chance at making the tournament. (VTD) — Falls from #10 to #12. Really needs to beat Ohio State on the road this week. (Wombat)

Duke: No surprises this year. They are out! (Artful Dodger) — #12 - Typical, I wish I could think of something clever to say, but it has all been said, and repeated, over and over and ... (timbucthree) — Their sole win over Maryland might now be enough to get them into the Dance. It's a shame because there are other (better) teams who probably deserve it more (UMBC, possibly Rutgers). (VTD) — No comment. (WNY Lax) — Falls from #9 to #11 on my list. A bursting bubble, with only a win over Maryland to show for their season. Might not be enough this year. (Wombat)

Penn State: Only quality win is over UMass. Not sure that's enough, even though it's a win over a top 5 RPI team. (Artful Dodger) — #12 because they've been coming on. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #16 - Unchanged. A top 4 team this year with a different coach. Now a big fan of UMass winning out. (timbucthree) — Would be a Top 8 team if it weren't for some bad losses early in the season. They have the only win over UMass, who is arguably the 2nd best team in the country right now. (VTD) — Moving up every week. (WNY Lax) — Down from #16 to #19, now must beat Ohio State to be playoff eligible. (Wombat)

Ohio State: Wins the GWLL and the AQ. (Artful Dodger) — Winning GWLL gets #14. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #15 - Make the tournament for the first time. Why not? (timbucthree) — I can't understand whether they have the inside track on the GWLL tie-breaker or not. This is all really confusing. (VTD) — Up from #17 to #15; won the GWLL AQ. Congrats. (Wombat)

Dartmouth: Is Princeton win enough without AQ? I don't think so. SOS may bite them. (Artful Dodger) — Beating Princeton gets #15. (ColumbiaBlueBlack) — #19 - Moves into top 20 for the first time this year. Great game against Princeton. Sowell threw a turd into the Ivy punch bowl! Shades of Animal House! (timbucthree) — Jumps from outside my Top 25 to #15 with a complete trashing of Princeton at Class of '52. It's a shame that their season will probably come down to a coin toss. (VTD) — Well, they are likely Ivy co-champ. Huge win. (WNY Lax) — Major mover from #21 to #14 on my list after the surprise of the year in trouncing Princeton 13-6. Wow! (Wombat)

Notre Dame: Sits at home this year. (Artful Dodger) — #14 - Unchanged. Can still make the dance, but they have to beat Maryland without Georgetown doing it. (timbucthree) — A young team to look out for next season. (VTD) — Up from #18 to #16 on my list, ND needs to beat Maryland this week to get a quality win, otherwise they may not get an at-large bid. (Wombat)

Loyola: One quality win over Hofstra. Not enough for the dance. (Artful Dodger) — The 2OT loss to Princeton jumps them up a few spots to #16, though it's not nearly as impressive now that Dartmouth beat them. (VTD) — Tough year, but the future looks brighter. (WNY Lax) — Down from #15 to #18 on my list. Took Princeton to double OT, but it's still a loss. Coupled with PU's loss to Dartmouth, the PU game is one that really got away from Loyola - a big missed opportunity. Now MUST beat JHU. (Wombat)

Navy: #20 - Moves back into my top 20 with good win over Army. A better team than their record would indicate. Other teams of note this year: Army, Denver, and Villanova. (timbucthree)

Bucknell: #17 - Up one spot. Best team in the Patriot, is likely to sit home for the dance. Go Lafayette! (timbucthree) — Down one notch from #19 to #20 due to Dartmouth moving up. The Army loss looms large. Just missing out of my top 20 this week were: #21 Villanova, #22 Denver, #23 Navy, #24 Army, and #25 Yale. (Wombat)

Denver: Seems to have come into their own, as they say, towards the last third of the season. Looking forward to Virginia game. (Artful Dodger) — Moves into my Top 20 for the first time. It seems we also have a 3-way tie in the GWLL. (VTD)

Army: Won the games it needed for Patriot title. (Artful Dodger)