McDonogh (Md.) Ranked No. 1 in High School Girls' Preseason National Top 25

McDonogh (Md.) is the No. 1-ranked teams in the USA Lacrosse Preseason National Top 25 lists for high school girls’ lacrosse. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), St. Anthony's (N.Y.), St. Paul's (Md.) and New Canaan (Conn.) round out the top five.

The rankings are compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors with input from coaches around the country. We released the Regional Top 10 lists last week.

The first in-season update to the National Top 25 will be posted March 19. Continue below for more on each team.

USA LACROSSE PRESEASON National Top 25

1. McDonogh (Md.)
2. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.)
3. St. Anthony's (N.Y.)
4. St. Paul's (Md.)
5. New Canaan (Conn.)
6. Darien (Conn.)
7. Sacred Heart (Conn.)
8. Archbishop Spalding (Md.)
9. Episcopal (Pa.)
10. Agnes Irwin (Pa.)
11. Victor (N.Y.)
12. Stone Ridge (Md.)
13. Wilton (Conn.)
14. Garden City (N.Y.)
15. American Heritage-Delray (Fla.)
16. Summit (N.J.)
17. Glenelg Country (Md.)
18. Fairport (N.Y.)
19. Good Counsel (Md.)
20. Georgetown Visitation (D.C.)
21. Skaneateles (N.Y.)
22. Greenwich Academy (Conn.)
23. Penncrest (Pa.)
24. Archbishop Carroll (Pa.)
25. Massapequa (N.Y.)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Colorado Academy (Colo.), Conestoga (Pa.), John Jay-Cross River (N.Y.), Loyola (Ill.), Manchester Valley (Md.), Maryvale (Md.), Notre Dame Prep (Md.), Oak Knoll (N.J.), Paul VI (Va.), Penn Charter (Pa.), Ridgewood (N.J.), Rush-Henrietta (N.Y.), Severna Park (Md.), Springfield-Delco (Pa.), Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.), St. Anne's-Belfield (Va.), St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Va.)

1. McDonogh (Md.)

2023 Record: 20-1

New head coach Megan Huether Nicotra will try to keep the Eagles at the top of the IAAM, the toughest league in the country. It should help that McDonogh has a lot of its significant pieces back from last year led by seniors Kate Levy (UNC, picture above), Amanda Lawson (Stanford), Remi Schaller (Michigan) and junior Mckenzie Brown (Northwestern).

2. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 20-0

The Phantoms capped a perfect season with a first-ever New York State Class C championship and graduated a strong senior core led by Felicia Giglio (Navy), Keira Rooney (Florida) and Mikaela Mooney (Albany). With returning seniors, including midfielders Julia Fusco (Stony Brook), Katherine Lemery (Hofstra) and Kayla Vazquez (Rider) and stud juniors Emma Brown (Stanford), Ava Meyn (Maryland) and Aubrie Eisfeld (Syracuse), expectations are again sky high.

3. St. Anthony's (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 16-2

After winning a fourth straight CHSAA Class AA championship, the bulk of that incredibly deep and talented team returns, led by seniors Tess Calabria (North Carolina), Brooke Long (Stony Brook) and Ashley Greene (Old Dominion) on attack, Meg Kenny (North Carolina), Riley Zusi (Ohio State) and Jena Binkis (South Florida) in midfield, Amanda Paci (Duke) on defense and goaltender Lexi Zenk (North Carolina).

4. St. Paul's (Md.)

2023 Record: 18-3

Last year's IAAM runner-up may have lost some important cogs, but the Gators aren't going anywhere. Senior Kira Balis (Clemson) moves to midfield and goalie Susan Radebaugh (Florida) is a good one. Juniors Marleigh O'Day (Clemson), Riley Vasile (USC) and Caroline Hoskins (Florida) will assume bigger roles.

5. New Canaan (Conn.)

2023 Record: 18-4

Of the Rams' four losses last year, three came to rival Darien, the other a one-goal defeat to St. Anthony’s. Led by All-Americans Devon Russell (Boston College) and Lexi Tully (Cornell) in the midfield and junior Ceci Patterson (Notre Dame) in goal, New Canaan is the CIAC Class L favorite.

6. Darien (Conn.)

2023 Record: 22-0

The undefeated state-championship season was the best in Darien’s rich history. But the Blue Wave were hit hard by graduation, with USA Lacrosse National Player of the Year Chloe Humphrey (North Carolina) one of five All-Americans to depart. Senior goalie Hope Schoudel (Duke), senior midfielder Sadie Stafford (Duke) and defender Maggie Bellissimo (Yale) lead Darien.

7. Sacred Heart (Conn.)

2023 Record: 16-1

The Tigers won the Prep Invitational but graduated All-Americans Laura O’Connor (Yale) and Kelly Haggerty (Fairfield). Senior midfielders Payton Sfreddo (Virginia), Kaitlin Robinson (Duke) and Maggie Bacigalupo (Princeton) and defender Olivia Leahy (Stanford) anchor a strong senior class.

8. Archbishop Spalding (Md.)

2023 Record: 12-5

The Cavaliers are dangerous with 10 starters returning led by junior Maeve Cavanaugh (Notre Dame) and seniors Maddie Wrenn (Clemson), Gabby Greene (Florida) and Clare McGuire (Florida Tech). Is this the year they break through?

9. Episcopal (Pa.)

2023 Record: 16-3

The Churchwomen have a plethora of star power despite graduating Alexis Ventresca (Northwestern). Grace McHugh (Syracuse) and Sydney Richter (Georgetown) are seniors. The junior class includes Maura Irish (Notre Dame) and Boston College commits Grace Holland and Quinn Whitaker.

10. Agnes Irwin (Pa.)

2023 Record: 16-3

Agnes Irwin has some dynamic juniors with Caroline Chisolm (Boston College) and Mairyn Dwyer (North Carolina) and draw talent Blair Fox (Virginia). Senior attacker Ella Springer (Hopkins) and senior goalie Maggie Mullen (Richmond) return.

11. Victor (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 17-4

The two-time defending New York Class B champs are poised for another deep run with senior midfielder Devin Livingston (Maryland), senior attacker Libby Boland (New Hampshire) and stud juniors in midfielder Morgan Livingston (Arizona State), attacker Maia Pronti (Georgetown) and defender Brin Gotham (Michigan).

12. Stone Ridge (Md.)

2023 Record: 14-5

The Gators lost just two starters after capturing their first ISL title. North Carolina commit Sophia Stoltz is just a junior.

13. Wilton (Conn.)

2023 Record: 15-4

All-Americans Molly Snow (Lehigh) and Isabel DiNanno (Michigan) will be missed, but senior All-American attacker Addison Pattillo (North Carolina), senior midfielder Ashleigh Masterson (Cal) and senior defenders Josie Goldman (Penn) and Morgan Breakey (Bucknell) return.

14. Garden City (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 17-4

The New York Class B finalist features high-end returning talent in seniors Maureen Arendt (Colgate) on attack, Kendal Morris (Arizona State) in the midfield, Mabel Overbeck (Duke) on defense and Niamh Pfaff (Yale) in goal. Junior attacker Kyle Finnell (Northwestern) is terrific.

15. American Heritage-Delray (Fla.)

2023 Record: 22-1

The Stallions return the nucleus of last year’s state title-winning team that came one goal away from a perfect record. In addition to returning their three leading scorers from a year ago, Michigan recruit Caroline Byrd is set to rejoin the squad after missing most of her junior year due to injury.

16. Summit (N.J.)

2023 Record: 20-2

Top scorer Lily Spinner (Yale), Jane Freeman (Johns Hopkins) and defender Cece Webb (Virginia) graduated, but the Hilltoppers still have plenty back with sisters Lauren Riley and Kate Riley (both Dartmouth) and Anya Wardle (Richmond).

17. Glenelg Country (Md.)

2023 Record: 14-4

Another new IAAM head coach, Chrissy Adair is poised to keep the Dragons in contention. Goalie Natalie Eastwood (South Florida) and two-way middie Maggie Flanagan (Virginia Tech) lead a defense that held teams to six goals or fewer in 11 games.

18. Fairport (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 19-2

The banner is still fresh following the Red Raiders' first-ever New York State Class A title. Jaelyne Twomey (19 saves) was the hero in the final, but now she’s at Ohio State. There’s a strong group returning led by a trio of attackers in senior Katie Mallaber (Notre Dame) and juniors Lilly Kondas (Boston College) and Ella Peers (Syracuse).

19. Good Counsel (Md.)

2023 Record: 16-5

The defending WCAC champs have Hannah Rudolph for one more year before she heads to Northwestern. The Falcons have a strong supporting cast that will try to expand their success beyond the league.

20. Georgetown Visitation (D.C.)

2023 Record: 12-9

Madison Rassas (Notre Dame) and Kenzie Rassas are back along with goalie Maeve Obrist (Virginia Tech) and junior Quinn Murray (Stanford) for a Cubs squad that looked good in a semifinal run at indoor nationals.

21. Skaneateles (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 20-1

The Lakers won their fifth New York State championship and graduated vital pieces to that squad, including midfielders Julia O’Connor (North Carolina), Kathryn Morrissey (Notre Dame) and Bella Brogan (Lehigh). Senior Anasofia Cirincione (Albany), junior Paige Willard (Johns Hopkins) and junior Mara Stanton (Albany) lead the quest for a sixth title.

22. Greenwich Academy (Conn.)

2023 Record: 18-2

The Gators graduated six impactful seniors, including a pair of All-Americans in midfielder Ellie Burdick (Dartmouth) and defender Ellie Johnson (Stanford), while senior captain Molly Moore (Notre Dame) tore her ACL and is out for the season. That means new players are set for larger roles, including junior attacker Katie Barr (Dartmouth) and offensive leader Dylan Casazza (Princeton).

23. Penncrest (Pa.)

2023 Record: 21-5

The Lions improved as much as anyone last season as the year went on, and they return a strong core led by Penn-bound senior Kate Stanton.

24. Archbishop Carroll (Pa.)

2023 Record: 23-1

Midfielder Chloe Bleckley (James Madison) leads a Carroll squad that looks to reload after graduating eight starters. Dual-sport star Sienna Golden (Ohio State field hockey commit) is important on the draw.

25. Massapequa (N.Y.)

2023 Record: 12-6

After a heartbreaking OT loss in the New York Class A final, Massapequa is hungry to take the next step. UMass-bound twins Addison Labriola and Cameron Labriola anchor the attack, with Megan Felker (Quinnipiac) and Isabella Grosso (Loyola) leading the midfield.