Huntington (N.Y.), Morristown (N.J.) Debut in Public High School Girls' National Top 25

Huntington (N.Y.) returns after a brief losing streak and Morristown (N.J.) comes in red-hot as the two newcomers in the latest USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25, presented by CWENCH Hydration. 

Huntington picked up a quality win when it put the clamps on previously highly ranked Ward Melville (N.Y.) in a 9-3 decision. It was a significant win after bouncing back from losses to Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) and Northport (N.Y.). 

Morristown might be the hottest team in New Jersey. They have won eight straight games. They avenged one of their earlier losses by topping Chatham (N.J.) by a goal to win the Morris County Tournament. They followed up the title win with a tight win over a ranked Westfield (N.J.) team. They’ll take on Ridgewood (N.J.) this week in another strong in-state matchup with national impact.

Alyssa Brackley made six saves and Milton (Ga.) had a balanced attack with a hat trick from Kylie Waters and two goals apiece from Caroline Katula, Lillian Katula and Caroline Marshall gave them an 12-8 win over Lassiter (Ga.) for their ninth straight Division 2 state title.

West Forsyth (Ga.) plays for the Division 3 state championship against Lambert (Ga.). West Forsyth won its state semifinal, 19-3, over North Gwinnett (Ga.) to improve to 21-0.

After a close call last week with Nyack (N.Y.), No. 1 Darien (Conn.) had more breathing room as the Blue Wave kept their perfect record intact with a 14-3 win over Staples (Conn.). They play at Ridgefield (Conn.) today.

Other notable developments:

— Nyack crossed state lines to pick up an 12-11 win over Chatham, a tough-luck loser in two one-goal games in the week.

— West Islip (N.Y.) narrowly preserved their one-loss season. They edged Mount Sinai (N.Y.) 13-12 to start their week.

— Nassau County power Manhasset (N.Y.) got by Suffolk County juggernaut Northport (N.Y.) in a top-notch matchup. 

— Suffern (N.Y.) will take on one of its toughest challenges when it plays at Nyack on May 18. The Mounties’ only loss came against Garden City (N.Y.). 

— Defending state champion Manchester Valley (Md.) played their closest game of the season, knocking off Glenelg High (Md.) in the Class 2A state quarterfinals 11-8. The second-seeded Mavericks host third-seeded Kent Island (Md.) May 15. They won their region final, 20-7, over Hereford (Md.).

— Severna Park (Md.) defeated South River (Md.) 13-6 in the Class 3A East II final. They opened the state tournament as the top seed with a 19-5 win over Towson (Md.). They host Linganore (Md.) on May 15 in the semifinals.

— Fresh off its Howard County championship, Marriotts Ridge (Md.) has advanced to the 3A state semifinals. After a 21-4 win over Thomas S. Wootton (Md.) in the quarterfinals, they’ll play at second-seeded Westminster (Md.) on May 15. They won the 3A South I region, 11-3, over Sherwood (Md.).

— Moorestown (N.J.) split their week. They lost to Academy of Notre Dame (Pa.) — all three of their losses have come to Pennsylvania’s private Inter-Ac League teams — before bouncing back with a 9-6 win over Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.).

— Ridgewood (N.J.) defeated Immaculate Heart (N.J.) 13-7 in the Bergen County Tournament final. It’s the Maroon’s 19th county title in 20 years.

— The District 1 3A girls playoffs are underway in Pennsylvania. Top-seeded Conestoga (Pa.) will host 17th-seeded Great Valley (Pa.) today. Second-seeded West Chester Henderson (Pa.) hosts No. 18 seed Upper Merion (Pa.) tonight. Third-seeded Springfield-Delco (Pa.) hosts 19th-seeded Downingtown East (Pa.).

— In the regional rankings, Huntington moved into the Northeast Top 10, Marriotts Ridge bumped back up into the Mid-Atlantic rankings, Cambridge (Ga.) moved a spot ahead of Anderson (Texas) after their first loss, York (Ill.) joined the Midwest Top 10 and the West Region held form and the top two teams, Coronado (Calif.) and La Costa Canyon (Calif.), face off for the CIF San Diego Open Division Championship on May 16. 

By focusing exclusively on public school programs, these USA Lacrosse National Top 25 and Regional Top 10 lists (also found here in our rankings hub) highlight the best teams that have built powerhouse rosters through local development and strong grassroots efforts.

Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country, rankings and records usually reflect results as of previous Tuesday.

National Top 25

1. Darien (Conn.), 14-0 (1)
2. Sayville (N.Y.), 15-0 (2)
3. Conestoga (Pa.), 17-1 (3)
4. Manchester Valley (Md.), 17-0 (4) 
5. Garden City (N.Y.), 14-2 (5)
6. West Islip (N.Y.), 15-1 (6) 
7. Manhasset (N.Y.), 14-2 (9) 
8. Northport (N.Y.), 14-2 (8) 
9. West Forsyth (Ga.), 21-0 (11) 
10. Milton (Ga.), 18-2 (12) 
11. Huntington (N.Y.), 14-2 (NR)
12. Suffern (N.Y.), 13-1 (10)
13. West Chester Henderson (Pa.), 16-1 (13) 
14. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 15-2 (14) 
15. Severna Park (Md.), 13-4 (15) 
16. Moorestown (N.J.), 11-3 (16) 
17. Morristown (N.J.), 12-4 (NR)
18. Wilton (Conn.), 9-5 (17)
19. Penfield (N.Y.), 12-3 (18)
20. Westfield (N.J., 10-5 (19) 
21. Ridgewood (N.J.), 14-3 (20) 
22. Marriotts Ridge (Md.), 14-4 (22) 
23. Nyack (N.Y.), 9-4 (23)
24. Massapequa (N.Y.), 12-3 (24)
25. Ward Melville (N.Y.), 13-2 (7)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas), Battlefield (Va.), Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), Broadneck (Md.), Cape Henlopen (Del.), Century (Md.), Chatham (N.J.), Coronado (Calif.), Douglas Freeman (Va.), Downingtown West (Pa.), Glenelg High (Md.), Great Valley (Pa.), Haddonfield (N.J.), Hudson (Ohio), James Madison (Va.), La Costa Canyon (Calif.), Marple Newtown (Pa.), Mendham (N.J.), Mira Costa (Calif.), New Canaan (Conn.), Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), Pittsford (N.Y.), Plymouth-Whitemarsh (Pa.), Ponte Vedra (Fla.), Robinson (Va.), Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.), Rye (N.Y.), South Carroll (Md.), South Jefferson (N.Y.), Summit (N.J.), Upper Arlington (Ohio), Victor (N.Y.), Westminster (Md.), Yorktown (N.Y.), Yorktown (Va.)

Northeast Top 10

1. Darien (Conn.), 14-0 (1)
2. Sayville (N.Y.), 15-0 (2)
3. Garden City (N.Y.), 14-2 (3) 
4. West Islip (N.Y.), 15-1 (4) 
5. Manhasset (N.Y.), 14-2 (7)
6. Northport (N.Y.), 14-2 (6) 
7. Huntington (N.Y.), 14-2 (NR)
8. Suffern (N.Y.), 13-1 (8)
9. Wilton (Conn.), 9-5 (9)
10. Penfield (N.Y.), 12-3 (10)

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

1. Conestoga (Pa.), 17-1 (1)
2. Manchester Valley (Md.), 17-0 (2) 
3. West Chester Henderson (Pa.), 16-1 (3)
4. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 15-2 (4) 
5. Severna Park (Md.), 13-4 (5)
6. Moorestown (N.J.), 11-3 (6) 
7. Morristown (N.J.), 12-4 (NR)
8. Westfield (N.J.), 10-5 (7) 
9. Ridgewood (N.J.), 14-3 (8) 
10. Marriotts Ridge (Md.), 14-4 (10)

South Top 10

1. West Forsyth (Ga.), 21-0 (1)
2. Milton (Ga.), 18-2 (2)
3. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 17-3 (3)
4. Cambridge (Ga.), 17-4 (5)
5. Anderson (Texas), 13-1 (4) 
6. Lambert (Ga.), 18-2 (6)
7. Pinecrest (N.C.), 18-0 (7)
8. Lake Mary (Fla.), 18-4 (8) 
9. Plant (Fla.), 15-2 (9) 
10. Oviedo (Fla.), 21-2 (10)

Midwest Top 10

1. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 17-1 (1) 
2. Hudson (Ohio), 16-0 (2) 
3. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 15-3 (3)
4. New Trier (Ill.), 13-5 (4) 
5. Prior Lake (Minn.), 8-1 (6)
6. Mariemont (Ohio), 15-1 (6)
7. York (Ill.), 15-2 (NR)
8. Barrington (Ill.), 17-1 (7)
9. Minnetonka (Minn.), 9-1 (8)
10. Eureka (Mo.), 15-1 (9)

West Top 10

1. Coronado (Calif.), 16-3 (1) 
2. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 16-2 (2)
3. Mira Costa (Calif.), 15-3 (3)
4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 15-4 (4)
5. Del Oro (Calif.), 20-0 (5)
6. Grant (Ore.), 15-1 (6)
7. Redwood (Calif.), 16-6 (7) 
8. West Linn (Ore.), 13-2 (8) 
9. Fairview (Colo.), 12-4 (9) 
10. Heritage (Colo.), 15-2 (10)