How stiff will the competition be in the Mid-Atlantic region this spring? Seven of the top 10 teams in the USA Lacrosse High School Girls' Preseason National Top 25 come from this area of coverage.
Fresh off its third IAAM championship in four years, St. Paul's (Md.) starts in the No. 1 spot. Who else do we have our eye on in the region?
Our Mid-Atlantic rankings cover D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Rankings are compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country.
1. St. Paul's (Md.)
2024 record: 16-5
The Gators came on strong to win their third IAAM title in four years. Goalie Susan Radebaugh (Florida) is the biggest loss for a team that otherwise has a lot of its stars back. Marleigh O'Day (Clemson), Riley Vasile (USC), Caroline Hoskins (Florida), Sofia Herrera (Maryland) and Maggie Porter (Penn State) are seniors with big-time winning experience. Defenders Lilly Schwing (Boston College) and Colleen Lorden (Florida) give St. Paul’s solid defense in front of the new goalie, either Kylee Keenan (Charlotte) or Liv Moag (Pitt). If their trend continues, the Gators will be tough to beat in May.
2. Maryvale (Md.)
2024 record: 16-3
Maryvale last won the IAAM in 2002, but the Lions are a definite threat this year with all but two starters back from a team that lost just two games and beat St. Paul’s in the regular season. They have serious star power with the top goalie in the country, senior Tessa DeLuca (Clemson), and the No. 1 junior in the country, attacker Cayden Reese (Maryland). Fellow junior Emma Mohn (Yale) is another of the 24 players that return with experience and the drive to bring Maryvale a title.
3. Episcopal (Pa.)
2024 record: 21-2
The Churchwomen have a senior class that has been contributing for three years already. Maura Irish (Notre Dame), Boston College commits Grace Holland and Quinn Whitaker, Avery Le (Penn), Kate Dente (Princeton), and Brynn Kehl (Bryant) bring great leadership. Juniors Sofia Gagliardi (Penn State), Caitlin McCarthy (Duke) and Teagan Cook (Georgetown) are strong parts of the loaded roster. Agnes Irwin (Pa.) has been a thorn in its side, but Episcopal has the talent to beat anyone.
4. McDonogh (Md.)
2024 record: 17-2
The Eagles lost six starters, including top midfielder Kate Levy (North Carolina) along with Remi Schaller (Michigan) and Amanda Lawson (Stanford), but have strength back on the defensive end led by Kit Laake (Maryland), Mckenzie Brown (Northwestern) and goalie Reagan O’Donovan (Syracuse). McDonogh will look to push the ball in transition. Newcomer Ava Fossati (Boston College) should help shore up the midfield.
5. Good Counsel (Md.)
2024 record: 21-0
Hannah Rudolph (Northwestern) and Hailey Heubner (Stony Brook) are huge graduation losses, and Carys Volley (Denver) won’t return to full go until April, and so the midfield is a question mark as the Falcons head into a front-loaded schedule with Notre Dame Prep (Md.), Maryvale (Md.), Agnes Irwin (Pa.), Episcopal (Pa.) and Georgetown Visitation (D.C.) all on tap in March. They will lean on Dani Serrano (Marquette), Ava Grandi (High Point), Annabelle Walsh (Denver), Lucy Beucher (Monmouth), Addison DelGandio (Rider), Julia Girard (Bryant), Liz Stogner (Mount St. Mary's) and Ava Panetti (Campbell). GC shouldn’t have any issues winning a fourth straight WCAC crown, but another undefeated season would be astounding.
6. St. Anne's-Belfield (Va.)
2024 record: 22-1
Could the Saints be better this year than last year’s breakout season? Possibly if their newcomers can fit right in. STAB lost seven starters, but added seven transfers, including Blair Fox (Virginia), Kelsey Kirkheide (Navy), Allison Hankins (Syracuse) and Madison Vandross (Pitt). They’ll add to the returning mix that includes midfielder Lee Kestner (Michigan), attacker Raleigh Foster (Virginia), attacker Stuart King (Virginia), defender Ashton Kilfoil (North Carolina) and goalie Hadley Booth (Florida State). An early test against McDonogh will show a lot.
7. Stone Ridge (Md.)
2024 record: 16-4
The Gators lost only four games last year, and an early season win over St. Paul’s was a highlight. Stone Ridge graduated six starters, but has one of the most dynamic attackers in the country, Sophia Stoltz (North Carolina), along with defender Logan May (Villanova), sophomore attacker Chloe Cassidy, midfielder Allison Haag (Yale), defender Izzy Bernasek (Notre Dame), sophomore midfielder Birdie McKay and goalie Emerson Cullinan (Holy Cross). The team plays fast and aggressive and again challenges itself with a top schedule.
8. Agnes Irwin (Pa.)
2024 record: 15-5
Agnes Irwin has a talented senior class led by Caroline Chisolm (Boston College), Mairyn Dwyer (North Carolina), Rowan Lawrence (Denver), Catie Holmes (Maryland) and Emma Tayloe (Navy). They will help soften the loss of five graduates. The Owls had a pair of huge regular-season wins over Episcopal (Pa.) that they hope to duplicate in what’s become a terrific matchup. They just hope to get off to a faster start after going .500 through six games last year.
9. Archbishop Spalding (Md.)
2024 record: 12-5
Spalding graduated a big scorer in Gabby Greene (Florida), but has a balanced group that gives it a lot of scoring options. Midfielder Maeve Cavanaugh (Notre Dame) and defender Ella Doerschner (High Point) are senior leaders, and attacker Ella Jane Ostrowski (Army) and goalie Ella Davis (Virginia) are standout juniors. A large sophomore class will contribute as well.
10. Manchester Valley (Md.)
2024 record: 17-1
The Mavericks return all but one starter from their one-loss team. And one of those starters back is Emma Penczek, a five-star player headed to Clemson. Sophie Baer (Jacksonville), Haylee Bittinger (Mount St. Mary’s) and sophomore Taylor Fique headline the rest of the returnees. They will have battles with Century (Md.) and Severna Park (Md.) starred in the regular season.
