Who are the best girls lacrosse teams in the RIIL at midseason? Here's how we ranked them

Last week I came down pretty hard on lacrosse coaches — and it worked.

Now it’s time for the second step of my master plan.

Not every coach reported results and stats to The Journal last week, but we did receive more than I can remember us having in quite some time. While I’d like to think coaches were just late to the game, I’m sure my very public push lit a fire under some — and I’m happy it did.

Hopefully things will continue. Our daily roundup is gaining traction and having lacrosse represented is only going to help. We want coaches to keep reported scores and the good news is, if they forget, we’re going to start making phone calls to ensure we get those results.

In thinking about how the sport can do a better job of publicizing itself, I think I’ve found a terrific solution.

Someone in lacrosse — boys or girls — needs to immediately contact the state’s hockey leaders, find out who created their website and duplicate it for next season.

For those who don’t know, RIHSHockey.com is a terrific asset for high school hockey. The website is loaded with the basics — rosters, schedules, standings — and also tracks the crucial stats. At any point in the season, you can see who leads the division or state in goals, assists, penalty minutes or any relevant goalie stat.

While I hope everyone comes to the Providence Journal website for analysis on lacrosse in Rhode Island, if lacrosse had a website like hockey’s it would serve as a tremendous resource for everyone following and covering the sport.

How can they do this? I’m an idea guy who doesn’t understand technology, but I feel like the leaders in the lacrosse community could contact their athletic director to help make a connection with the leaders in the hockey community and figure it out.

Until then, I’ll keep doing my best with the rankings, going to games and making sure coaches get results in. Last week was great; let’s make this one even better.

And let’s get on to the rankings.

RIIL Girls Lacrosse Division I Power Rankings

1. Moses Brown (4-1)

The Quakers cruised in two wins vs. Rhode Island opponents, then took their first loss of the season on Saturday against out-of-state Cohasset. Don’t expect many more losses this week only because MB plays once, at Westwood on Wednesday.

2. La Salle (8-0)

Beating a tough East Greenwich team on Friday kept the Rams undefeated and this week’s schedule — at Barrington on Tuesday and hosting Prout on Friday — will challenge them. We won’t really get a good gauge on La Salle’s chances until the following week when it plays MB.

3. East Greenwich (5-1)

Losing your first game of the season can be a shock, but don’t expect the Avengers to wallow in their sorrows after losing to La Salle last Friday. EG has a good chance to gain some steam heading into the final month of the season when it travels to play Chariho on Tuesday and North Kingstown on Friday.

4. Prout (5-2)

After going 2-2 in its first four games, the Crusaders are on a three-game win streak, including two wins last week. Wins are going to be important for Prout as it tries to finagle into the No. 2 or 3 slot in the RPI. This week there will be two challenges — hosting North Kingstown on Tuesday and at La Salle on Friday.

ON THE BUBBLE: Portsmouth (4-5)

RIIL Girls Lacrosse Division II Power Rankings

1. Cumberland (6-1)

The prolific offensive numbers continued for the Clippers as they outscored the opposition 30-10 last week. Cumberland remains the top team in D-II, but that could change this week. The Clippers travel to take on Westerly on Monday and Lincoln School on Wednesday before returning home to play Bay View on Thursday.

2. Westerly (5-4)

After playing a good number of out-of-state teams in April, it’ll be all Division II teams the rest of the way for the Bulldogs until the final week of the regular season. On Monday is Westerly’s first big game of the spring as it hosts Cumberland, but it will need a win on Thursday at Mt. Hope to get ready for Saturday’s regional rivalry game against Chariho.

3. Lincoln School (3-1)

Two wins last week represented half the games the team has played all season, but the Lynx are about to get busy. This week will be a grind, starting with a road game against South Kingstown on Monday before hosting first-place Cumberland on Wednesday. Lincoln School closes the week at Faxon Farm against Cranston West and we’ll have a good idea of who this team is when it's done.

4. South Kingstown (4-4)

The loss to Westerly on Thursday snapped a three-game win streak. South Kingstown played an easier schedule to start the year and, this week, things start to get tougher. The Rebels host Lincoln School on Monday and take a short trip to play D-III Narragansett on Thursday.

ON THE BUBBLE: Burrillville (4-2)

RIIL Girls Lacrosse Division III Power Rankings

1. East Providence (6-0)

Last week featured two huge tests and the Townies came away unscathed with a one-goal win over Toll Gate and an overtime victory over Smithfield. EP is the team to beat in Division III and confidence-building wins like those are only going to help. The Townies play three times this week, traveling to take on Cranston East on Monday, hosting Pilgrim on Friday and traveling to play Ponaganset on Saturday.

2. Smithfield (4-2)

It’s becoming harder to not like the Sentinels chances in Division III. The Sentinels had to grind to beat Ponaganset on the road on Tuesday and losing to EP by one goal for a second time isn’t a big deal. Smithfield has been tested so far this season and now it’s time to impose its will. The Sentinels will have to two shots, hosting Pilgrim on Wednesday and Cranston East on Friday.

3. Toll Gate (5-6)

After the top two, there’s not much that separates the remaining teams in D-III. The Titans deserve some credit because, outside of a game against D-II Cranston West, they’ve been tough every single time they hit the field. Toll Gate needs to play with more consistency and will have two chances to do that this week, hosting Ponaganset on Tuesday and traveling to play Bay View on Friday.

4. North Smithfield (2-4)

The season didn’t start well for the Northmen, but two wins over both Cranston teams last week should raise an eyebrow and make you think something big is coming. Two wins this week will solidify it for North Smithfield, which travels to play Bay View on Tuesday before hosting Ponaganset on Wednesday.

ON THE BUBBLE: Cranston East (4-3)

RIIL Girls Lacrosse Division IV Power Rankings

1. Classical (5-2)

Losing two straight would normally plummet a team in these rankings, but the losses deserve context. The Purple lost to D-II Toll Gate, didn’t play for 12 days and looked like it in a loss to Lincoln. Now it’s time to get back on track. Classical’s first shot comes on Monday at North Providence before hosting Coventry on Wednesday.

2. Coventry (2-1)

After playing three games in the first 27 days of the season, the Oakers will play 11 in the last 25. What Coventry lacks in size, it makes up for in quality, especially after last Monday’s win over Scituate. The Oakers play four games this week, traveling to Lincoln on Monday and Classical on Wednesday, then playing a home-and-home with North Providence on Thursday and Friday.

3. Scituate (4-2)

The Spartans rebounded nicely from Monday’s loss to Coventry, taking down D-III Ponaganset and Providence Country Day. Scituate can’t afford to slow down now. It travels to play a tricky Rogers team on Monday before hosting a talented Tiverton group on Tuesday, two games that will prepare it for next week’s gauntlet.

4. Lincoln (3-5)

Two one-goal wins against the best team in the division and last year’s D-IV runner up is certainly one way to earn a spot in the top four. The Lions had some early struggles but it appears they’re turning the page. Lincoln will try to stay hot with two games this week, hosting Coventry on Monday and Providence Country Day on Friday.

ON THE BUBBLE: Rogers (3-1)