Ward Melville Leads Five Newcomers in Public High School Girls' Rankings

There's a New York state of mind to the rankings this week.

Ward Melville (N.Y.) makes the highest debut after handing Northport (N.Y.) its first loss and dominating the top team in New Jersey, Westfield. The Patriots are one of five new teams — three of them from New York — to enter the latest USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25, presented by CWENCH Hydration. 

Days after sustaining its first loss of the season, West Chester Henderson (Pa.), knocked off No. 3 Conestoga (Pa.) in overtime on a goal by Bailey Schalleur to earn a spot in the rankings. It was Conestoga’s first loss.

Wilton (Conn.) has strong wins over Nyack (N.Y.) and New Canaan (Conn.). Penfield (N.Y.) has won six straight games, including a critical win over Victor (N.Y.). And Massapequa (N.Y.) has played a good schedule and won five of their last seven games with both losses coming by a goal apiece to ranked teams.

Conestoga was coming off an 8-7 win over Springfield-Delco (Pa.). The Pioneers had been able to manage losing star Price Orcutt until Henderson tripped them up, and they own wins over privates Agnes Irwin (Pa.), Notre Dame (Pa.) and Archbishop Carroll (Pa.), all of whom are ranked in the overall National Top 25.

‘Stoga and Delco both face 14-1 Marple Newtown (Pa.) this week. The Pioneers also take on traditionally strong Radnor (Pa.). 

Other notable developments:

— Sayville (N.Y.) stayed unbeaten. The Golden Flashes handed West Islip (N.Y.) an 8-3 loss — the Lions' first defeat of the season — to stay on a roll.

— Manchester Valley (Md.) continues to throttle teams. The Mavericks have outscored opponents by 8.92 goals per game on their way to wins in their first 13 games. 

— Westfield’s (N.J.) overtime win over Ridgewood (N.J.) on Kate Cymbor’s goal gave the Blue Devils a key victory in a rematch of last year’s North Group 4 final. They have won six of their last seven games. 

— Glenelg High (Md.) fell hard to private school Good Counsel (Md.) but rebounded with its most impressive win of the season, a 14-6 victory over Marriotts Ridge (Md.). The Maryland public school regular season ends this week with playoffs next.

— New York teams have done well in out-of-state games this season. Ward Melville (N.Y.) was a lopsided winner over Westfield, Huntington (N.Y.) edged Ridgewood, Manhasset (N.Y.) defeated Chatham (N.J.), and earlier this year Garden City (N.Y.) handled Glenelg.

— Manhasset and Garden City face each other this week. Huntington, which is trying to stay unbeaten and move into the rankings, has golden chances with games against Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) and Northport this week. West Islip faces another traditionally tough team, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.).

— Moorestown (N.J.) battles Haddonfield (N.J.) on Friday in a matchup of traditional Jersey powers. Haddonfield hasn’t played a game since April 16.

— West Forsyth (Ga.) and Milton (Ga.) are headed into the playoffs. They won't see each other again this season because they are in different Georgia state classes.

— In the regional rankings, Upper Arlington (Ohio) takes over the top spot in the Midwest after a big win over New Trier (Ill.). In the West, Coronado (Calif.) wins the head-to-head against La Costa Canyon (Calif.) to move to No. 1. 

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas), Battlefield (Va.), 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.), 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.), Westhampton (N.Y.), Westminster (Md.), Wilton (Conn.), Yorktown (Va.)

Northeast Top 10

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

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

1. Conestoga (Pa.), 15-1 (1)
2. Manchester Valley (Md.), 13-0 (2) 
3. West Chester Henderson (Pa.), 14-1 (NR)
4. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 13-1 (3) 
5. Severna Park (Md.), 10-4 (6)
6. Westfield (N.J.), 8-3 (10) 
7. Moorestown (N.J.), 8-2 (7)
8. Ridgewood (N.J.), 9-3 (4) 
9. Glenelg High (Md.), 9-4 (8)
10. Broadneck (Md.), 10-4 (9)

South Top 10

1. West Forsyth (Ga.), 18-0 (1)
2. Milton (Ga.), 15-2 (2)
3. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 13-3 (3)
4. Anderson (Texas), 12-0 (4) 
5. Cambridge (Ga.), 14-4 (5)
6. Lambert (Ga.), 15-2 (6)
7. Pinecrest (N.C.), 17-0 (7)
8. Lake Mary (Fla.), 17-3 (8) 
9. Plant (Fla.), 13-1 (9) 
10. Chapel Hill (N.C.), 16-3 (10)

Midwest Top 10

1. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 12-1 (2) 
2. Hudson (Ohio), 12-0 (3) 
3. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 10-3 (4)
4. New Trier (Ill.), 6-5 (1) 
5. East Grand Rapids (Mich.), 13-0 (5) 
6. Prior Lake (Minn.), 6-1 (6)
7. Mariemont (Ohio), 10-1 (7)
8. Edina (Minn.), 5-1 (8) 
9. Dublin Coffman (Ohio), 9-2 (NR)
10. Hudson (Wisc.), 8-0 (10)

West Top 10

1. Coronado (Calif.), 14-3 (2) 
2. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 14-2 (1)
3. Mira Costa (Calif.), 13-3 (3)
4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 12-3 (4)
5. Del Oro (Calif.), 18-0 (5)
6. Grant (Ore.), 10-1 (6)
7. Redwood (Calif.), 13-5 (7) 
8. West Linn (Ore.), 10-2 (9) 
9. Fairview (Colo.), 10-3 (8) 
10. Heritage (Colo.), 12-1 (10)