BALTIMORE -- The University of Delaware men’s lacrosse team, coming off its first loss of the season Saturday at Albany and facing another top 10 opponent this week, dropped in this week’s two national polls but remained solidly in the top 20.

The Blue Hens (5-1), who dropped a 13-7 verdict on the road at then No. 4 Albany Saturday afternoon, dropped from No. 10 last week to No. 14 this week in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches Poll and fell from No. 11 to No. 17 in this week’s Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll announced Monday.

Albany moved up to No. 2 in the USILA poll and No. 6 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse thanks to their win this week. The Blue Hens will host Georgetown Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Rullo Stadium as the Hoyas bring in national rankings of No. 7 in USILA and No. 8 in Nike/Inside Lacrosse after a loss to Syracuse Saturday. Delaware will be looking to snap a streak of 18 straight losses to Top 10 opponents since the 1999 season.

History could also be made Wednesday night as Delaware senior faceoff specialist Alex Smith (at right), a two-time All-American from Timonium, MD (Boy’s Latin High School) and national faceoff winning percentage champion the past two years, enters the game with 832 victories, just six shy of the school and NCAA record of 838 set by Steve Shaw in 1983-86. Smith has won 82.3 percent of his 257 faceoffs this season.

Cornell moved up two spots to take the No. 1 position in the USILA poll this week, earning 10 first place votes and 236 points. Albany was a close second with two first place votes and 227 points followed by Johns Hopkins, last week’s No. 1 Duke, Navy, Virginia, Georgetown, Syracuse, Army, and Princeton in the top 10. Bucknell and Maryland were tied at No. 11 followed by North Carolina, Delaware, Loyola, Towson, Yale, Notre Dame, Drexel, and Fairfield.

Cornell also took over No. 1 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll with six first place votes and 290 points. Virginia was second with seven first place votes and 283 points followed by Johns Hopkins, Navy (two first place votes), Duke, Albany, Syracuse, Georgetown, Princeton, and Maryland in the top 10. North Carolina was 11th followed by Loyola, Army, Bucknell, Towson, Notre Dame, Delaware, Yale, UMBC, and Stony Brook.

AGATE:

United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Coaches Poll for March 11: 1. Cornell (4-0), 10 first place votes, 236 points; 2. Albany (3-0), 2, 227; 3. Johns Hopkins (3-1), 198; 4. Duke (4-1), 182; 5. Navy (4-0), 179; 6. Virginia (4-1), 157; 7. Georgetown (2-1), 152; 8. Syracuse (2-2), 139; 9. Army (4-1), 127; 10. Princeton (1-2), 115; 11. Bucknell (5-0) & Maryland (3-2), 111; 13. North Carolina (5-1), 109; 14. Delaware (5-1), 84; 15. Loyola (2-2), 83; 16. Towson (2-1), 63; 17. Yale (3-0), 48; 18. Notre Dame (2-2), 36; 19. Drexel (4-1), 35; 20. Fairfield (3-0), 30; Others receiving votes: UMBC, Stony Brook, Colgate, Ohio State, Brown, Denver, Hofstra.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Poll for March 12: 1. Cornell (4-0), 6, 290; 2. Virginia (4-1), 7, 283; 3. Johns Hopkins (3-1), 254; 4. Navy (4-0), 2, 252; 5. Duke (4-1), 221; 6. Albany (3-0), 215; 7. Syracuse (2-2), 214; 8. Georgetown (2-1), 208; 9. Princeton (1-2), 202; 10. Maryland (3-2), 164; 11. North Carolina (5-1), 128; 12. Loyola (2-2), 124; 13. Army (4-1), 113; 14. Bucknell (5-0), 106; 15. Towson (2-1), 82; 16. Notre Dame (2-2), 73; 17. Delaware (5-1), 61; 18. Yale (3-0), 50; 19. UMBC (3-2), 27; 20. Stony Brook (2-1), 25; Others receiving votes: Fairfield, Ohio State, Massachusetts, Brown, Drexel, Hofstra, Colgate.