Nyack (N.Y.) Rebounds, Garden City (N.Y.) Climbs Public Girls' Top 25

After a week in which five new teams entered the rankings, only Nyack (N.Y.) is new in a week that overall saw few significant changes to the latest USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25, presented by CWENCH Hydration. 

It's the regional level that saw the biggest moves, with Marriotts Ridge (Md.) using a historic win to jump into the Mid-Atlantic rankings, Oviedo (Fla.) entering the South Region on the strength of its 2A final four run, and Barrington (Ill.), Minnetonka (Minn.), Eureka (Mo.) and New Albany (Ohio) all entering the Midwest Region rankings. 

Nyack comes off an incredible season, and they've played a loaded schedule, which resulted in three straight losses to powerhouse programs Wilton (Conn.), New Canaan (Conn.) and St. Anthony's (N.Y.) — by a total of five goals. Since then, the Red Hawks have won three straight, including a 13-12 overtime win over Rye (N.Y.) heading into today's showdown with No. 1 Darien (Conn.).

Garden City (N.Y.) was impressive in doubling up Manhasset (N.Y.) 16-8 in the annual Woodstick Classic, the most highly anticipated matchup of last week. Garden City has won seven straight games to move to No. 5.

Darien stayed unbeaten with a 9-5 win over Sacred Heart Greenwich (Conn.). After Nyack, the Blue Wave host another good team, Staples (Conn.), on Friday.

It's starting to turn to championship time for many regions, and those games can be especially impactful. After losing their first meeting of the year, 14-6, Marriotts Ridge rebounded in the rematch for the Howard County championship to defeat Glenelg High (Md.) in overtime on Hayden Baumgartner’s game-winner.  The win snapped Glenelg’s 55-game county winning streak. They had not lost to a county opponent since 2019.

Severna Park (Md.) defeated Broadneck (Md.) for the Anne Arundel County championship behind another complete game from Maria Bragg, who had two goals, an assist, a caused turnover, two ground balls and seven draw controls. Ava Deegan had a team-high four goals and Kelsey Begin made eight saves.

Conestoga (Pa.) finished the regular season with just one loss. It closed the regular season with a win over a Marple Newtown (Pa.) team that had just two losses. The Pioneers will be top seed for their District 1 AAA tournament. 

The second seed will be West Chester Henderson (Pa.), the only team to beat them. They, too, only have one loss. Springfield-Delco (Pa.) is slated to be the No. 3 seed, and their only loss came against Conestoga. Delco faces a strong challenge from Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) Friday to close their regular season.

Other notable developments:

— West Forsyth (Ga.) improved to 20-0 and reached the state final four in the Division 3 state playoffs. Milton (Ga.) cruised into the Division 2 state final four.

— Manchester Valley (Md.) has now won 33 straight games heading into its playoffs. The Mavericks have outscored teams 240-52 this season. Only one team stayed within six goals of them.

— Ward Melville (N.Y.) continues to climb. They have won 10 straight games. 

— Northport (N.Y.) edged Huntington (N.Y.). It was the Tigers’ third one-goal game in their last four games. 

— After being blanked in the first quarter, West Islip (N.Y.) scored six times in the second quarter on their way to a one-goal win over Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.).

— Suffern (N.Y.) needed overtime to get by Yorktown (N.Y.) in their latest game.

— Moorestown (N.J.) handed Haddonfield (N.J.) their second defeat of the season in a matchup of top Jersey teams. They’ll face two tough opponents this week with Academy of Notre Dame (Pa.) and Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.).

— Westfield (N.J.) fell to private Kent Place (N.J.) for the second time this season. Their only other loss came against Ward Melville.

— In the regional rankings, Marriotts Ridge's win over Glenelg propelled them into the Mid-Atlantic rankings. Oviedo (Fla.) is into the Class 2A state final four and they're into the South Region rankings now. Barrington (Ill.), Minnetonka (Minn.), Eureka (Mo.), New Albany (Ohio) take the last four spots in the Midwest. 

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas), Battlefield (Va.), Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), Cape Henlopen (Del.), Century (Md.), Chatham (N.J.), Coronado (Calif.), Douglas Freeman (Va.), Downingtown West (Pa.), Great Valley (Pa.), Haddonfield (N.J.), Hudson (Ohio), Huntington (N.Y.), James Madison (Va.), La Costa Canyon (Calif.), Marple Newtown (Pa.), Mendham (N.J.), Mira Costa (Calif.), Morristown (N.J.), New Canaan (Conn.), Nyack (N.Y.), Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 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.), West Genesee (N.Y.), Westminster (Md.), Yorktown (Va.)

Northeast Top 10

1. Darien (Conn.), 12-0 (1)
2. Sayville (N.Y.), 13-0 (2)
3. Garden City (N.Y.), 13-2 (4) 
4. West Islip (N.Y.), 13-1 (5) 
5. Ward Melville (N.Y.), 12-1 (6)
6. Northport (N.Y.), 11-1 (8) 
7. Manhasset (N.Y.), 12-2 (3) 
8. Suffern (N.Y.), 11-1 (7)
9. Wilton (Conn.), 7-5 (9)
10. Penfield (N.Y.), 10-3 (10)

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

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

South Top 10

1. West Forsyth (Ga.), 20-0 (1)
2. Milton (Ga.), 17-2 (2)
3. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 15-3 (3)
4. Anderson (Texas), 13-0 (4) 
5. Cambridge (Ga.), 15-4 (5)
6. Lambert (Ga.), 17-2 (6)
7. Pinecrest (N.C.), 18-0 (7)
8. Lake Mary (Fla.), 18-4 (8) 
9. Plant (Fla.), 15-1 (9) 
10. Oviedo (Fla.), 20-1 (NR)

Midwest Top 10

1. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 15-1 (1) 
2. Hudson (Ohio), 14-0 (2) 
3. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 13-3 (3)
4. New Trier (Ill.), 9-5 (4) 
5. Prior Lake (Minn.), 7-1 (6)
6. Mariemont (Ohio), 12-1 (7)
7. Barrington (Ill.), 14-1 (NR)
8. Minnetonka (Minn.), 6-1 (NR)
9. Eureka (Mo.), 15-1 (NR)
10. New Albany (Ohio), 12-5 (NR)

West Top 10

1. Coronado (Calif.), 15-3 (1) 
2. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 15-2 (2)
3. Mira Costa (Calif.), 14-3 (3)
4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 14-3 (4)
5. Del Oro (Calif.), 20-0 (5)
6. Grant (Ore.), 13-1 (6)
7. Redwood (Calif.), 15-5 (7) 
8. West Linn (Ore.), 12-2 (8) 
9. Fairview (Colo.), 11-3 (9) 
10. Heritage (Colo.), 14-1 (10)