No. 1 Colorado Academy (Colo.) again starts atop the West Region rankings. The Mustangs are the only team that was unbeaten last year in the region’s top 10. They face an early test of their mettle against No. 5 Sacred Heart (Calif.) in an appealing opener March 8.
Most of the region will also be underway by the end of next week as well, and there are plenty of opportunities throughout the season to see the best teams go head-to-head.
Our West rankings cover the Mountain, Pacific and Northwest regions and at least part of the Southwest. Rankings are compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country.
1. Colorado Academy (Colo.)
2024 record: 19-0
Colorado Academy won its ninth consecutive 5A CHSAA State Championship after a dominant 15-3 victory over Fairview (Colo). The Mustangs went undefeated, 19-0, in the 2024 season. Colorado Academy returns standouts Addy Westerberg (Arizona State) and Addison Smith (Cornell) for their senior campaigns. Sydney Goodspeed and Harper Ezrine, a South Florida commit, are also returning as juniors and freshman Seven Greaves will be one to watch this season.
2. Oak Ridge (Calif.)
2024 record: 20-2
Last season, Oak Ridge claimed the first-ever CIF Sac-Joaquin state championship in an 8-6 victory over St. Francis (Calif.). It marked the Trojans’ second straight 20-win season and their third seeing only two losses. They return eight collegiate-bound seniors, including Oregon-commits Kaley Gunning and Caitlin Beckman, and Annika Tanner (Louisville).
3. St. Ignatius (Calif.)
2024 record: 17-5
The Wildcats were crowned the CCS Division 1 champions for the third consecutive season after defeating Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.). St. Ignatius finished the season 17-5 overall and returns senior middie Millie Bartlett who’s headed to Penn in the fall, and junior goalkeeper Sophie Ghosh is committed to Stanford.
4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.)
2024 record: 20-1
San Ramon Valley clinched the Division 1 CIF North Coast championship for the first time since 2018 and finished the season 20-1 overall. Seniors Lia Wilgus and Ava Horrocks, both UC Davis commits, return for their final campaign.
5. Sacred Heart (Calif.)
2024 record: 18-3
Last season Sacred Heart capped its season at 18-3 and was the CCS Division 1 state championship runner-up for the fourth consecutive year. The Gators return standout juniors Olivia Abbott (Stanford), Katie Pepper (Dartmouth) and Lily Selcher (Duke).
6. Valor Christian (Colo.)
2024 record: 12-6
Valor Christian ended last season on a 12-6 ledger and made an appearance in the 5A CHSAA state championship semifinals. Stanford commits Amanda Stevens and Leele Bigelow return for their senior and junior campaigns, respectively, while Delaney Stafford is headed to Louisville next fall.
7. Fairview (Colo.)
2024 record: 14-4
The Knights made their first-ever appearance in the 5A CHSAA state championship match after upsetting ThunderRidge (Colo.) in the semifinals. Fairview ended its season on a 14-4 run and is home to senior twins Tessa (Army) and Gabriella (Northwestern) McCollester.
8. ThunderRidge (Colo.)
2024 record: 16-2
ThunderRidge ended last season 16-2 overall and made its first 5A CHSAA state championship semifinal appearance since 2021. Seniors Rocquette Allen and Serena Reiter are both four-star recruits and members of the USA Select U18 team.
9. Marlborough (Calif.)
2024 record: 18-1
Marlborough clinched the Division 1 CIF Southern Section championship with an impressive victory over Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.) who bested them in the 2023 title match. The Mustangs finished their season on an impressive 18-1 run and return juniors Aubrey Geibelson (Harvard) and Sophia Cuteno (Syracuse).
10. Jesuit (Ore.)
2024 record: 17-2
The Crusaders clinched their third straight OGLA state championship over the No. 1-seeded Lake Oswego (Ore.) after previously falling to the Lakers in the regular season. Jesuit capped the 2024 season 17-2 overall and returns seniors Quinlan Handley (Penn), Gigi Abernathy (Bucknell) and Evie Hester (Holy Cross).