:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49180291/20150207_ML_122_AM.0.0.jpg)
Monday morning means a new Cascade/Maverik media Top 20 poll, and as has been the case for all but one week this season, Marquette men's lacrosse is in the "Receiving Votes" category. This week is different, though. In the past, Marquette has been hovering right around the edge of the poll. After getting saved from overtime against 1-8 Georgetown by a shot clock violation on Saturday, Marquette has dipped down to the sixth spot in the RV line. In other words, even if they expanded the poll to a top 25, MU still wouldn't be ranked this week.
Following their 15-10 loss to Penn State on Saturday, Big East favorite Denver is no longer undefeated and they're no longer #1 in the country. That honor falls to the Yale Bulldogs, who are 7-0 following an 11-10 win over Princeton this past week. Future Marquette opponent Notre Dame holds steady at #2 with a 6-1 record after escaping Columbus with a 9-8 win over Ohio State. Duke split two games against ranked foes this week, losing to Air Force and defeating Syracuse, and the net result is that the Blue Devils stayed ranked #11. Duke has lost four times already this season, which makes you wonder if they're ripe for a fifth loss when Marquette visits Durham later this season.
Villanova beat Fairfield since the last poll to move up the rankings. They were #8 last week, but they'll be #6 when they arrive at Valley Fields on Saturday. They do have to host #3 Brown between now and then, and the Bears are 6-0 and are in no hurry to drop a non-conference game of this importance.
Richmond joins Marquette in the receiving votes category, and that win over Duke is, for now, enough to keep the Spiders ahead of MU in the polls, even though the Golden Eagles hold a 7-2 head to head win over Richmond.
Faceoff against #6 Villanova is scheduled for 1pm Central at Valley Fields on Saturday. The first 400 fans in attendance will get a Marquette Lacrosse drawstring bag, and the Spirit Shop will have a tent down at the Valley for you to open your wallet for some great MU lacrosse gear.
You can check out the full Cascade/Maverik Top 20 right here.