LOUISVILLE, Ky. – From eighth in the preseason poll to ninth in the nation.
The Ursinus College men's lacrosse team's meteoric rise up the national rankings continued Monday as the Bears moved up three spots and into the top-10 of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse (USILA) coaches' poll, just one behind Dickinson at the head of a pack of four Centennial Conference programs. The No. 9 ranking is the highest in program history.
Picked near the bottom of the CC preseason prognostication, Ursinus has been one of the country's biggest surprises this season. Following Saturday's 16-6 victory at Lycoming, the Bears are off to a 5-0 start and represent one of eight ranked teams still standing with a perfect record. First-year head coach Gary Mercadante and crew have earned that unbeaten status, too, knocking off three squads that resided within the top-20 at the time of the game.
Four CC programs are ranked among the top-15, a list that includes Dickinson (No. 8), Ursinus, Gettysburg (No. 11), and Franklin & Marshall (No. 14). Swarthmore is receiving votes.
The Bears, who have played four of their first five games away from home, return to Patterson Field on Wednesday to take on Eastern in their final non-conference contest of the season. Ursinus opens CC play at 11th-ranked Gettysburg on March 23.