The Northwestern Wildcats, who have been No. 1 each week of the 2012 season, swept all 20 first-place votes and sit solidly in the top spot in week four of the IWLCA poll. The ‘Cats are one of three undefeated teams in women’s Division I and lead a contingent of six ALC teams in the top-20. Cornell’s entry into the poll this week, the Big Red’s first week in the rankings in 2012, gives the Ivy League four schools in the top-20. The American Lacrosse Conference ties its own record of six schools and 100% of members ranked, a record it first set in 2011 and tied in 2012. Led by No. 1 Northwestern, the ALC has three schools in the top-10 with Florida moving up to No. 5 and Penn State moving up to No. 9. Vanderbilt starts the second half of the poll at No. 11 while Ohio State moves to No. 15 and Johns Hopkins remains in the poll at No. 20. The ACC claims five schools in the poll, including three in the top-10. No. 3 UNC is the highest-ranked ACC school, followed by No. 4 Maryland and No. 6 Duke. Virginia falls to No. 12 and Boston College moves to No. 19. The Big East and the Ivy League both feature four teams in the rankings. The Ivy League’s Penn moves up to No. 8 and Dartmouth moves into the top-10, coming in at No. 10. Princeton moves up to No. 14 and Cornell’s landing at No. 18 rounds out the Ancient 8’s schools in the poll. The Big East also has two schools in the top-10, starting with new No. 2 Syracuse. The Orange are followed by No. 7 Notre Dame while Georgetown moves up to No. 13 and Loyola moves to No. 16. The Atlantic-10, represented by Massachusetts at No. 17, is the only other conference in the poll. On Tuesday, a top-10 matchup takes place in Florida as the No. 5 Gators host No. 10 Dartmouth. Wednesday features No. 8 Penn welcoming No. 13 Georgetown. On Friday, a key ALC game is on the docket as No. 1 Northwestern hosts No. 11 Vanderbilt. Five games featuring two ranked teams are scheduled for Saturday; four are conference rivalries. No. 5 Florida travels to face No. 15 Ohio State in ALC action while No. 8 Penn hosts the No. 18 Big Red of Cornell. A double dip in the ACC includes No. 6 Duke hosting No. 12 Virginia and No. 3 UNC traveling to No. 19 Boston College. The No. 13 Hoyas welcome No. 16 Loyola in a regional matchup. On Sunday the No. 20 Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins host No. 14 Princeton. 

Also receiving votes: Albany, James Madison, Stony Brook, Towson.
This is the fourth regular-season IWLCA poll of the 2012 season; the next poll will be released on March 26.