The USA Lacrosse High School Girls’ National Top 25 welcomed five new teams after a flurry of losses to previously ranked teams gave them opportunities to rise. All five of the newly added teams were unbeaten as of Sunday, avoiding the sort of pitfalls that cost some of the teams that dropped from the rankings.
One of the most impactful teams this week was Sacred Heart Greenwich (Conn.), which won a pair of games over Stone Ridge (Md.) and Georgetown Visitation (D.C.). Maryvale (Md.) moved into the top 15 on the strength of a huge head-to-head win over St. Paul’s (Md.), which suffered a pair of losses in the week.
McDonogh (Md.) asserted its strength with a top-five win over Darien (Conn.) in the biggest matchup of last week. McDonogh can’t enjoy the win too long before refocusing on surging Maryvale to start this week.
Manchester Valley (Md.) rides a huge winning streak that goes back to last season to pace the five newcomers. Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.) already has a big win as the top newcomer out of the Northeast. Severna Park (Md.) comes in off a tight win that showed its depth after star Alyssa Chung played very little in an overtime win. Sayville (N.Y.) has maintained its promising start, and Colorado Academy (Colo.) gives the West some representation with a perfect start.
Top to bottom, what has become very apparent is that no team is immune to an upset. There is as much depth as ever in high school lacrosse with plenty of the usual powers now facing weekly tests.
ABOUT OUR RANKINGS
High school rankings are compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine writers with input from coaches around the country. Teams with post-graduate players are not eligible, nor are those from outside the United States. These rankings are not affiliated with the official USA Lacrosse High School Awards program overseen by area chairs.