Manchester Valley Making Waves in Mid-Atlantic Girls' Top 10

Every Tuesday during the high school lacrosse season, USA Lacrosse updates Regional Top 10 and National Top 25 rankings to reflect the results of the previous week. Below are the Nike/USA Lacrosse High School Girls’ Regional Top 10 updates through games played May 21.

It’s nothing new at the top of the Northeast Region, with Darien (Conn.) and Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.) leading the way as they put their perfect marks on the line in playoff showdowns in their respective states. Sacred Heart (Conn.) leapfrogs a couple teams after capturing the Prep Invitational title. Their move jumbles the middle of the rankings somewhat, but there are no new teams in the Top 10 this week. It’s proving time with the playoffs in full swing.

The top seven teams remained the same in the Mid-Atlantic Region rankings with only two of them still playing after Maryland’s IAAM conference wrapped its season. Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) and Owen J. Roberts (Pa.) overwhelmed their opponents to remain among the best in the region as they get into state playoffs. With Oak Knoll (N.J.) losing, No. 8 Summit (N.J.) climbs one spot, as does No. 9 Episcopal (Pa.) after finishing with a win. The upcoming playoffs will help sort New Jersey’s finest. The lone newcomer to the Top 10 is Manchester Valley, the only unbeaten public school team left in Maryland. They reached their class semifinals with a narrow victory and next go for their first state crown since 2016.

No. 4 Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) retained the state championship and kept pace with the three state title winners ahead of it and the two behind it in the South Region. The region has wrapped up play for the spring season. Gibbons’ victory keeps the Top 10 solidly intact.

The top six teams kept their spots in the Midwest Region that is led by Loyola Academy (Ill.). There’s a new No. 7 team as Sacred Heart Academy (Ky.) captured a state championship after avenging last year’s title loss. The Valkyries were unranked coming into their playoff run, and they are the only team new in a region that now sees its states opening tournament play.

Colorado Academy (Colo.) kept pace with San Ramon Valley (Calif.) and kept the top spot as the newest state champion in the West Region. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.) and Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.) also won section crowns. Regis Jesuit fell in the final to Colorado Academy (Colo.) but entered the rankings at No. 5 on the strength of its march to the title game. Most of the West Region has wrapped up play for the spring but Grant (Ore.) returns to the Top 10 as it moves into the state semifinals.

Nike/USA Lacrosse High School Rankings

National Boys' Top 25 | National Girls' Top 25
Northeast Boys' Top 10 | Northeast Girls' Top 10
Mid-Atlantic Boys' Top 10 | Mid-Atlantic Girls' Top 10
South Boys' Top 10 | South Girls' Top 10
Midwest Boys' Top 10 | Midwest Girls' Top 10
West Boys' Top 10 | West Girls' Top 10

NORTHEAST TOP 10

1. Darien (Conn.), 15-0

The Blue Wave have been perfect to this point of the season, with resounding wins in Connecticut and up and down the East Coast. But now it’s the business end of the season, beginning with the FCIAC tournament. The last two years New Canaan (Conn.) beat the Blue Wave to win the title. Previous: 1

2. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), 16-0

The top seed in the Suffolk Class C playoffs defeated fourth-seeded Shoreham-Wading River (N.Y.) in the semifinals, which sets up a scintillating county championship game against sixth-seeded Mt. Sinai (N.Y.) Wednesday. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.) won the regular season meeting 11-7 back on March 31. Previous: 2

3. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.), 16-2

The Friars edged Sacred Heart (N.Y.) 8-7 to win a fourth straight CHSAA Class AA championship. Brooke Long and Megan Kenny scored two goals apiece, Tess Calabria had one goal and two assists, Jill Lopez had one goal and one assist and Shea Lembo and Lexi Zenk made three saves apiece, with Zenk making a key free position save with 1:27 left to secure yet another St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) championship. Previous: 3

4. Sacred Heart (Conn.), 16-1

After beating Dexter Southfield (Mass.) 12-3 on Saturday, Sacred Heart (Conn.) defeated Exeter Academy (N.H.) 15-5 Sunday to win the Prep Invitational. Karina Sethi scored three goals, Payton Sfreddo had two goals and two assists, Kelly Haggerty had two goals and one assist and Charley Bacigalupo and Kaitlin Robinson had two goals apiece. Previous: 7

5. New Canaan (Conn.), 14-2

Can the Rams make it three straight FCIAC titles? The road isn’t an easy one for New Canaan (Conn.), with Wilton coming up in the semifinals after a 14-3 win over Fairfield-Ludlowe (Conn.) in the quarterfinals. Previous: 4

6. Wilton (Conn.), 13-2

Wilton (Conn.) entered the FCIAC tournament as the No. 3 seed and knocked off No. 6 Staples (Conn.) 17-3 to reach the semifinals where the Warriors will seek to avenge a 13-6 regular season loss to the Rams on May 11. A win there and Wilton’s revenge tour will be complete with Darien (Conn.) likely awaiting in the championship game. Previous: 5

7. Ward Melville (N.Y.), 15-2

Mia Pirozzi had four goals and one assist, Grace Mulham had a pair of goals, MJ Timpanaro added one goal and two assists and Ava Carrillo made six saves for Ward Melville (N.Y.), the top seed in the Suffolk Class A playoffs in a 10-7 opening round win over No. 8 Connetquot. The Patriots host fifth-seeded Smithtown East (N.Y.) in the semifinals Wednesday. Previous: 6

8. Garden City (N.Y.), 13-3

Maureen Arendt had three goals and one assist, Grace Hopkins had two goals and one assist, Michaela Malgano, Deanna Prisco and Arcangela Haffner had two goals apiece and Averie Smith added four assists in a 19-0 win over eight-seeded New Hyde Park (N.Y.) in the Nassau Class B quarterfinals. Top-seeded Garden City (N.Y.) takes on No. 4 Mepham (N.Y.) in the semifinals at Adelphi University Thursday. Previous: 8

9. Wantagh (N.Y.), 12-3

The second seed in the Nassau Class C playoffs, Wantagh (N.Y.) earned a bye into the quarterfinals where upset-minded Locust Valley (N.Y.) awaits. The Warriors, led by Madison Alaimo (62 goals, 56 assists) are one of several contenders in what appears to be a wide-open tournament. Previous: 9

10. North Shore (N.Y.), 14-2

North Shore (N.Y.) is the top seed in Nassau Class C and will take on ninth-seeded Plainedge (N.Y.) in the quarterfinals. The Vikings have been led by Kylee Colbert, who has 86 goals and 11 assists on the season. Previous: 10

— Dylan Butler

MID-ATLANTIC TOP 10

1. McDonogh (Md.), 20-1

The top-seeded Eagles captured their first IAAM A Conference championship since 2019 with a 13-8 win over second-seeded St. Paul’s (Md.). Unbeaten this season in the toughest conference in the country, McDonogh pulled away after rallying from a 6-3 first-half deficit. McDonogh’s only loss this year came at the hands of non-conference foe Georgetown Visitation (D.C.) in the first half of the season. They then put together a long streak to the title. Previous: 1

2. St. Paul’s (Md.), 18-3

After a decisive 16-4 win over third-seeded Maryvale (Md.), the two-time defending champion Gators fell to McDonogh in the championship game. St. Paul’s jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the final. The Gators lost twice to McDonogh and dropped a narrow decision to national No. 1 Darien (Conn.) in another tremendous season. Previous: 2

3. Maryvale (Md.), 16-3

The third-seeded Lions bowed out of the IAAM A Conference playoffs in the semifinals, their deepest run since reaching the title game in 2012. Maryvale fell to St. Paul’s, 16-4. Maryvale took a big step forward this year with a pair of one-goal losses to McDonogh and St. Paul’s being the only marks against them in the regular season. Previous: 3

4. Archbishop Carroll (Pa.), 19-1

The Patriots blasted Cardinal O’Hara (Pa.) 20-3 for the Philadelphia Catholic League championship. Machaela Henry had five goals, six draw controls and two assists. Ava Bleckley won eight draw controls, scored four goals and had an assist. Lainey Straub finished with a hat trick. Bridget Robinson made five saves. Two days earlier in the semifinals, Carroll defeated Archbishop Wood (Pa.) 30-2. Bleckley had six goals, five assists and another eight draw controls. Henry scored five goals and had two assists. Previous: 4

5. Glenelg Country (Md.), 14-3

The fourth-seeded Dragons fell in the IAAM A Conference semifinals to McDonogh, 13-4, to close another strong season. The game marked the conclusion of Paige Walton’s 24-year coaching tenure with the Dragons, which she helped to steer out of the C Conference, through the B Conference and up to the A Conference in 2017. Glenelg overcame losing a huge senior class that took them to the IAAM finals a year ago to return to the semifinals. Previous: 5

6. Archbishop Spalding (Md.), 12-5

The Cavaliers’ season ended with a heartbreaking 7-6 overtime loss to Glenelg Country in the IAAM A playoff quarterfinals on May 5. Spalding had a 13-2 edge in draws and grabbed an early 2-0 lead. Spalding will return the bulk of their roster as they look to climb in the toughest division in the country. Previous: 6

7. Owen J. Roberts (Pa.), 20-1

The Wildcats picked up a 20-0 win over Pennridge (Pa.) in the second round of the District 1 AAA playoffs. Alexa Vogelman led Owen J. Roberts with seven goals, two assists, five draw controls, and seven ground balls. Gabbi Koury scored four times and dished out five assists while winning 12 draw controls. Colby Wasson put in four goals and two assists. Pennridge was limited to three shots on goal. Previous: 7

8. Summit (N.J.), 14-2

The Hilltoppers swept three road games this week by a combined 54-17 score. They opened the week with a 20-6 win at Mountain Lakes (N.J.), followed it with an 18-6 win at Northern Highlands (N.J.) two days later, and then closed the week with a 16-5 win at West Essex (N.J.). Against a West Essex team that had only three losses coming in, Jane Freeman put up seven points on four goals and three assists, Lauren Riley delivered a hat trick and Anya Wardle had a goal and three assists. Charlotte Burke and Elizabeth Walsh combined to make seven saves. Summit faces a huge challenge from Chatham (N.J.) on May 23. Previous: 9

9. Episcopal (Pa.), 16-3

The Churchwomen wrapped up their season with a 14-5 win over Germantown Academy (Pa.). Quinn Whitaker fired in five goals and had three ground balls and two draw controls. Grace Holland made eight saves. Kate Dentre caused three turnovers. Grace McHugh and Maura Irish had hat tricks, and Lex Ventresca had five points on a pair of goals and three assists. Episcopal jumped out to an 8-2 halftime lead to set the tone. Previous: 10

10. Manchester Valley (Md.), 18-0

The Mavericks held off C.M. Wright (Md.) in the Class 2A state semifinal, 11-10, to remain the lone unbeaten public school in the state. After jumping out to a 7-3 halftime lead, Manchester Valley were challenged in the second half before advancing to the final. They will play Middletown (Md.) for the championship. Addison Meyer and Haley Bittinger both had hat tricks. Emma Penczek won eight draw controls and deposited the game-winner with her only score of the game. Casey Meredith scored two goals and had an assist. Penczek scored five goals and Erin Herrold fired in the game-winner in a 10-9 victory over Glenelg High (Md.) in the 2A West Region final to begin the week. Manchester Valley also beat Northeast (Md.), 21-0, in the quarterfinals to set up a game with C.M. Wright. Previous: NR

— Justin Feil

SOUTH TOP 10

1. American Heritage-Delray (Fla.), 22-1

For the second time in three years, the Stallions are Class 1A state champions. American Heritage-Delray cruised to a 11-4 win over Lake Highland Prep (Fla.). AHD’s only loss was to Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.). American-Heritage Delray picked up big in-state wins over Lake Highland Prep and Bartram Trail while picking up out-of-state wins over Bishop Ireton (Va.) and Good Counsel (Md.). Brooke Goldstein led a talented junior class with 69 goals and 41 assists. Previous: 1

2. Milton (Ga.), 20-2

The Eagles picked up a sixth consecutive state championship by defeating West Forsyth (Ga.) 11-6 in the title game. The win followed a 17-7 victory over Walon (Ga.) in the semis. Milton remained unbeaten against in-state competition. Previous: 2

3. Hockaday (Texas), 20-0

The Daisies closed out a perfect season with a dominating 18-8 win over St. Michaels (Texas) in the Texas championship game. Hockaday advanced to the finals thanks to a 21-5 victory over Frisco. Hockaday didn’t even come close to losing this year, as it never won a game by fewer than five goals. Previous: 3

4. Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.), 21-2

The Crusaders repeated as state champions by pulling off a 15-11 win over Charlotte Catholic (N.C.) in the finals. The win followed a 19-4 semifinal win over Topsail (N.C.). Charlotte Jackson had a team-high five goals in the semifinal win. Jackson and Izzi Hammond each had four goals in the final. Previous: 4

5. Blessed Trinity (Ga.), 19-2

The Titans repeated as state Class 5A-6A champions, toppling Roswell (Ga.) 11-5 in the title game. The championship followed a 19-8 victory over Creekview (Ga.) in the semifinals. Blessed Trinity’s two losses both came by just one goal. The season was highlighted with a win over Roswell (Ga.) and Charlotte Catholic (N.C.). Previous: 5

6. Bartram Trail (Fla.), 19-4

The Bears repeated as Class 2A champs by defeating St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) 5-4. Junior Ryann Frechette once again led Bartram Trail’s potent offense with 125 goals for the season. Senior Adi Ferrara was second in scoring with 81 goals. Previous: 6

7. Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), 20-4

The Highlanders lost for a second time in 2023 to American Heritage-Delray, falling 11-4 in the state championship. Junior Alex Horn, who is committed to Costal Carolina, led Lake Highland with 48 goals and 27 assists. Nearly every starter will return for LHP next season. Previous: 7

8. Plant (Fla.), 18-4

The Panthers lost to eventual state champions Bartram Trail (Fla.) 13-6 in the state semifinals. Plant’s signature win in 2023 came against Steinbrenner in the playoffs. Sophomore McKenzey Craig had a team-leading 48 goals and 49 assists. Plant is another top team expected to return its core roster. Previous: 8

9. Steinbrenner (Fla.), 14-3

The Stallions season previously came to an end in the regional final after losing to Plant (Fla.) 6-5. Steinbrenner previously defeated Plant early in the regular season. Steinbrenner also picked up an early-season win over Lake Highland Prep (Fla.). Senior Taylor Lapointe, a Northwestern signee, had a team-leading 49 goals this season. Previous: 9

10. St. Michaels (Texas), 16-3

St. Michaels Academy advanced to the state championship game after knocking off Anderson (Texas) in the semifinals by a 17-12 margin. Unfortunately for the Crusaders, they ran into a highly talented Hockaday squad that blew out nearly everyone they faced. St. Michaels Academy lost in the state championship 18-8. Previous: 10

— Justin Boggs

MIDWEST TOP 10

1. Loyola Academy (Ill.), 16-4

After more than two weeks off, the Ramblers, winners of seven straight, begin postseason play Monday. It isn’t just that Loyola has won seven straight. It’s that the Ramblers’ win streak includes victories over their biggest rival, New Trier, and two of Ohio’s best, New Albany and Upper Arlington. Previous: 1

2. New Trier (Ill.), 16-4

The Trevians impressed in their lone game of the week, topping Lake Forest, one of the state’s best teams, by a double-digit margin. Senior Addie Shevitz (4 goals, 1 assist), sophomore Sonja Keneally (4 goals), senior Kennedy Meier (1 goal, 3 assists) and junior Claire Ratke (1 goal, 3 assists) all had at least four points in the victory. The Trevians also held the Scouts to a single second-half goal, led by sophomore defender Allie Trukenbrod. Previous: 2

3. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 17-3

The Golden Bears won their first couple of Region 3 games by a combined margin of 38-4. Next up for top-seeded Upper Arlington is a semifinal clash with No. 5 Beavercreek with either No. 4 Thomas Worthington or No. 2 Dublin Coffman waiting in the wings. The Golden Bears beat the Cardinals by seven and the Rocks by nine in the regular season. Previous: 3

4. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 18-2

The Patriots were no less dominant in Region 1, topping Westerville North and Lewis Center Olentangy by a combined margin of 42-4 to advance to the regional semifinals. Senior Makena Harrington and junior Isabelle Pohmer had five goals apiece in the latter contest while sophomore Corinna Hilmas also tallied five points (3 goals, 2 assists). Previous: 4

5. New Albany (Ohio), 15-5

The Eagles were no less impressive, winning their first two Region 1 contests by a combined score of 48-4. This week should bring more intense competition as top-seeded New Albany goes against a tough Medina team Monday and potentially Liberty on Wednesday. The Patriots won their first 2023 battle, 16-12, after the Eagles won both of their 2022 contests (by a combined four goals). Previous: 5

6. Lakeville South (Minn.), 11-0

After a run of five straight 20-goal performances, the Cougars competed in a much different kind of contest Friday but managed to prevail 10-4 over Stillwater. Sivanna O’Brien provided all the offense needed for Lakeville South with five goals (and an assist). Meanwhile, the Cougars have allowed more than four goals just once in 11 games. Previous: 6

7. Sacred Heart Academy (Ky.), 23-5

The Valkyries avenged their state championship game losses to Kentucky Country Day in 2021 and 2022 with a 9-8 victory over the Bearcats in this year’s state semifinals. Norah Teff saved more than half the shots she faced (9 of 17) against KCD and fellow senior Elizabeth Mueller provided a hat trick in a game in which goals didn’t come easy. The Valkyries then shook off any thought of a state title game letdown, topping Eastern 20-6 behind an absurd nine assists from Molly Allen. Previous: NR

8. Carmel (Ind.), 15-2

Tori Tomalia delivered another all-around performance in the state quarterfinals with three goals, two assists and 10 draw controls in the Greyhounds’ 16-7 win over Westfield. Breckin Hare and Sophie Mock tacked on four goals apiece for Carmel, which will next face Noblesville in the state semifinals. Previous: 8

9. Hinsdale Central (Ill.), 17-4

The Red Devils racked up back-to-back wins Monday and Tuesday to finish out the regular season, including a tough 11-7 victory at York. Seniors Angie Conley (3 goals, 4 assists) and Reese Napier (3 goals, 1 assist) were a major reason the Red Devils held off the Dukes, while sophomore keeper Savannah Alexander saved the majority of shots she faced. Previous: 9

10. Dublin Coffman (Ohio), 17-2

The Rocks topped Marysville and Hilliard Davidson by 15 and 14 goals, respectively, to surge forward in the Region 3 postseason. That brings up one of the area’s more intriguing regional semifinals as Dublin Coffman faces Thomas Worthington, after the Rocks picked up a 16-12 win over the Cardinals May 10 led by Kate Tyack’s five goals. Previous: 10

— Jonah Rosenblum

WEST TOP 10

1. Colorado Academy (Colo.), 19-0

The Mustangs capped off a perfect season with an 11-6 win over Regis Jesuit (Colo.) in the CHSAA Class 5A championship, capturing their eighth straight title and ninth overall. Zoe Martin scored three goals in the final, Charlotte Corkins added two goals, one assist and a team-leading four ground balls. Corkins had led Colorado Academy with four goals and one assist in a 17-7 win over Cherry Creek (Colo.) in the semifinals. Previous: 1

2. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 24-0

Grace Kerr tallied four goals and an assist and Leslie Iorio had four goals as the Wolves beat Oak Ridge (Calif.) 14-7 to claim the CIF North Coast Section Division 1 title. They had advanced out of the semifinals with an 18-5 win over Redwood, who beat SRV in the 2022 championship game. Lauren Poulson collected 11 saves in the championship game May 11. Previous: 2

3. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.), 18-3

The Wildcats avenged a regular-season loss to Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.) to collect a second straight CIF Central Coast section title with a 10-8 victory in the championship game. Eleri Colon scored the go-ahead goal with 10:45 left, then added an insurance goal with less than seven minutes remaining and St. Ignatius was able to hold on for the win. The Wildcats had defeated SHP in the CCS finals last year in another close game. Previous: 5

4. Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.), 18-2

Mia Marchetti and Brynn Perkins each tallied three goals as the Knights won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title – their third straight sectional title – with a 13-5 win over Marlborough (Calif.) in the final Friday. Foothill is 61-3 in the last three years and hasn’t lost to a Section team since 2019. Previous: 6

5. Regis Jesuit (Colo.), 12-5

The Raiders avenged an early-season loss to Valor Christian (Colo.) to get to the CHSAA Class 5A final for the first time in program history. They beat Valor 11-7 in the semifinals May 16, as Ava Rogala and Maddy Jokerst each tallied four goals and one assist. Regis, however, fell short in the championship against Colorado Academy. Previous: NR

6. Valor Christian (Colo.), 14-4

The Eagles split games with Regis Jesuit this season but lost the one that mattered more, falling in the Class 5A semifinals, 11-7, on May 16. They had a dominant win over fellow semifinalist Cherry Creek (Colo.) this season, beat St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.) by a goal and only lost to Colorado Academy by three goals on April 25. Previous: 3

7. Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.), 17-3

Emily Leschin scored four goals, but the Gators ultimately fell 10-8 to St. Ignatius Prep in the CIF Central Coast Section championship after beating the Wildcats during the regular season. They advanced to the final with a 14-11 win over Scotts Valley (Calif.) in the semifinals May 17. Previous: 4

8. Torrey Pines (Calif.), 16-6

Laurel Gonzalez scored six goals and added an assist to power the Falcons to a 13-4 win over Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship, as they claimed their first title since 2018. Tatum Bryant added three goals, and Camille Samarasinghe finished with six saves to preserve the lead. Torrey Pines had avenged a regular-season loss to Coronado (Calif.) in the semifinals. Previous: 8

9. Oak Ridge (Calif.), 22-2

The No. 2-seeded Trojans made it to the CIF North Coast Section championship game but couldn’t avenge their only regular-season loss, falling again to San Ramon Valley, 14-7. They had advanced out of the semifinals with an 11-7 win over Amador Valley. Previous: 7

10. Grant (Ore.), 19-0

The Generals advanced to the Oregon Girls Lacrosse Association state semifinals with a 22-8 win over Oregon Episcopal (Ore.), powered by Megan McDevitt’s eight goals and one assist and Kate Ratanaproeksa’s five goals and three assists. Grant faces 2022 champion Jesuit Portland (Ore.), a team the Generals beat 15-14 earlier this season. Previous: NR

— Laurel Pfahler