MIAA Top 25 Boys Lacrosse Poll

Eastern Mass. All-American Bryce Adam leads an elite attack for Newton North

Our rankings of the best teams in the state during the 2017 lacrosse season, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 4/11)

1. Lincoln-Sudbury (2-0): Still the undisputed kings of Massachusetts lacrosse, the Warriors have shown little letdown so far despite graduating four senior captains.

2. BC High (4-0): After making a run to the state finals last year, BC High returns elite defender Will Bowen, who has helped the Eagles hang on in close tilts with Needham and Franklin thus far.

3. Medfield (3-0): A dynastic program with three straight Division 2 state titles, Medfield proved capable of taking down regional powers with a win over Shenendehowa (N.Y.) last weekend.

4. Reading (2-1): The primary competition to L-S in Division 1 North, Reading might have more talent than the two-time defending champions on paper, as Jack Geiger teams up with Kevin and Mike Tobin to form perhaps the best attack in the state.

5. Duxbury (2-0): Dragons have dominated the competition while scoring 36 goals over their first two wins. Jack Wood, Bobby Maimaron and Riley Bergstrom lead the potent attack.

6. Hingham (2-0): Only a couple of tests for the Harbormen so far, and they've passed by besting St. John’s Prep and North Quincy with relative ease.

7. Newton North (2-1): The Tigers fell short in a rain-soaked affair at Catholic Memorial last Tuesday, but looked dominant offensively in a 16-10 win over Cohasset despite the absence of three key starters.

8. Walpole (3-0): A pair of two-goal wins over elite opponents in Wellesley and Xaverian has Walpole debuting in the Top Ten of our rankings.

9. Dover-Sherborn (4-1): After dropping their season opener to D1 power Catholic Memorial, the Raiders have returned to their dominant ways and look poised to run for a third straight D3 state title behind UNC commit Bailey Laidman.

10. Wakefield (3-0): Look out for the Warriors in Division 2, as they finally got over the hump and took down Reading on Wednesday to remain undefeated on the young season.

11. Billerica (3-2): A late comeback torpedoed Billerica’s hopes of taking down Reading in an early-season showdown and then the talented Indians surprisingly dropped a game to conference foe Chelmsford.

12. Xaverian (2-2): Losses to private school power Noble & Greenough and at Walpole had the Hawks reeling, but they rebounded with wins over conference rivals Catholic Memorial and St. John's Prep.

13. Andover (3-0): Clearly a program on the rise, Wayne Puglisi’s squad opened the year by taking down traditional power Acton-Boxboro.

14. Cohasset (3-1): After falling short of a monumental comeback at Newton North on Saturday, the Skippers came back from an early five-goal deficit to stun Catholic Memorial, 14-13, on Monday.

15. St. John’s (Shrewsbury) (3-0): The class of Central Mass. will take their talents east for a test against BC High over vacation week.

16. Needham (2-1): Rockets played defending D1 South champion BC High tough in a 12-10 loss despite the absence of UMass commit Sam Eisenstadt.

17. Franklin (3-1): Another team that gave BC High a tough test, Franklin nearly came back from a three-goal deficit in the fourth quarter, but fell short in an 8-7 loss to the Eagles on Monday.

18. Acton-Boxboro (2-1): Not the Colonials powerhouse of old but still formidable, A-B bounced back from a loss to Andover in their opener to get tough road wins at Melrose and Marshfield.

19. Catholic Memorial (2-3): There will be some growing pains for a young team under first-year head coach Dennis Lynch, as the Knights have dropped two straight following huge wins over Dover-Sherborn and Newton North.

20. Winchester (4-0): Sachems opened with a quality win over Beverly before dominating Masco, Stoneham and Watertown. Now they’ll play host to the Coaches Cup Challenge and likely serve as cannon fodder for Lincoln-Sudbury next Tuesday.

21. Marshfield (2-1): An exciting team to watch this year, the Rams could make noise in D2 South.

22. Minnechaug (4-0): With traditional power Longmeadow starting slow, ‘Chaug could see a route to a Division 2 Western Mass. title this year.

23. Hanover (1-2): Brutal schedule to open the year for the Indians against Dover-Sherborn and Duxbury, but they bounced back by drubbing Silver Lake.

24. Longmeadow (1-1): Lancers suffered a 11-5 loss against BC High’s stingy defense, but they’ll get a crack at Westfield and Minnechaug over the next week.

25. Falmouth (3-1): After falling short in the D2 South tournament against Hingham last spring, these Clippers are on the revenge trail this season.

Last 10 out:  Beverly (1-1), Bridgewater-Raynham (3-1), Chelmsford (3-0), Grafton (3-1), Foxborough (4-0), Hamilton-Wenham (4-0),  Melrose (3-1), Wachusett (3-0), Wellesley (2-1), Westwood (2-2)