West Forsyth Finishes Perfect in Public High School Girls' National Top 25

Georgia powerhouse West Forsyth (Ga.) wrapped up a perfect season with a state title. The Wolverines pulled out a 10-8 win over Lambert (Ga.) for their second straight state crown to remain firmly in the Top 10 in the latest USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25, presented by CWENCH Hydration. There were no newcomers to the rankings this week, but with playoffs heating up around the country, there's plenty of opportunity for movement in the next week. 

It’s down to the state championships in Maryland. The 3A state championship featured a pair of Top-25 teams. Severna Park (Md.) extended their own state record with their 17th state title. Maria Bragg scored four goals and had an assist and Kelsey Begin made a last-second save for a 9-8 win over Marriotts Ridge (Md.) in the 3A championship. Severna Park lost to Marriotts Ridge in the regular season. Marriotts Ridge knocked off a strong Westminster (Md.) squad, 15-8, in the semifinals.

Wednesday’s storms forced the postponement of Manchester Valley’s (Md.) bid to repeat as Class 2A state champions. The Mavericks will take on first-time state finalist Centennial (Md.) today. Manchester Valley did have to rally by Glenelg High (Md.) in their quarterfinal game, but ripped Kent Island (Md.) 19-8 in the semifinals last week.

Conestoga (Pa.), West Chester Henderson (Pa.) and Springfield-Delco (Pa.) comprise three-quarters of the Pennsylvania District 1 AAA semifinalists. Henderson and Springfield-Delco face off in one semifinal today while ‘Stoga gets upset-minded Avon Grove (Pa.), the 20th seed that has already taken out the No. 13, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds. Delco had the toughest of the quarterfinals, edging Bishop Shanahan (Pa.) by a goal.

Moorestown (N.J.) heads into a huge in-state matchup against private power Oak Knoll (N.J.) today. The Quakers’ only losses this year have come against private programs.

Other notable developments:

— No. 1 Darien (Conn.) rattled off two more wins, taking a pair of games by a combined 40-4 score.

— Several top New York teams are into their playoffs. Garden City (N.Y.) advanced to the Nassau County Section VIII Class B finals. They await the winner of Manhasset (N.Y.) and Long Beach (N.Y.).

— Northport (N.Y.) is the No. 3 seed in the Suffolk County Section XI Class A bracket. They face Sachem North (N.Y.) in the quarterfinals today. They could meet second-seeded Huntington (N.Y.) in the semifinals next, and No. 1 seed Ward Melville (N.Y.) is a possible championship opponent for the winner. 

— West Islip (N.Y.) is the No. 1 seed in the Suffolk County Section XI Class B tournament. They are awaiting a semifinal opponent after having a first-round bye. 

— Sayville (N.Y.) also is a No. 1 seed and awaiting a semifinal opponent in the Suffolk County Section XI Class C tournament.

— Penfield (N.Y.) is the top seed and hosts Greece (N.Y.) in the semifinals of the Section V Class A tournament on May 26. Penfield was a 10-8 winner over South Jefferson (N.Y.) in one of the best matchups of the week. It’s their 10th straight win to end the regular season. 

— Nyack (N.Y.) is the top seed for the Section 1 Class B tournament. They’ll host Harrison (N.Y.) on May 26 in the quarterfinals. Nyack handed Suffern (N.Y.) their second loss of the season this week in another top-flight matchup.

— Wilton (Conn.) defeated Staples (Conn.), 11-7. It’s the Warriors’ seventh win in their last eight games.

— Morristown (N.J.) heads into today’s regular-season finale with wins in 10 of their last 11 games. Their eight-game winning streak was finally snapped by the aforementioned Oak Knoll, 6-5, despite 11 saves from Brown commit Eloise Downes. They bounced back with an overtime win over Ridgewood (N.J.) on Caroline Condon’s game-winner. It’s Ridgewood’s only loss in their last nine games.

— Westfield (N.J.) squares off against Moorestown on May 26. It’s the end of a busy week that starts with Princeton (N.J.) today and Montgomery (N.J.) on Friday.

— In the regional updates, Nyack is new in the Northeast Top 10. Orono (Minn.) and Hudson (Wisc.) enter the Midwest Region rankings. Midwest Region frontrunner Upper Arlington (Ohio) has won 19 straight games since an opening-day loss to Milton. Colorado state champion Evergreen (Colo.) is new in the West Region rankings, and Coronado (Calif.) sealed the top spot with a head-to-head win over La Costa Canyon (Calif.) in their section championship.

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

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), Urbana (Md.), Victor (N.Y.), Westminster (Md.), Yorktown (N.Y.), Yorktown (Va.)

Northeast Top 10

1. Darien (Conn.), 16-0 (1)
2. Sayville (N.Y.), 16-0 (2)
3. Garden City (N.Y.), 16-2 (3) 
4. West Islip (N.Y.), 15-1 (4) 
5. Manhasset (N.Y.), 14-2 (5)
6. Northport (N.Y.), 14-2 (6) 
7. Huntington (N.Y.), 14-2 (7)
8. Wilton (Conn.), 11-5 (9)
9. Penfield (N.Y.), 13-3 (10)
10. Nyack (N.Y.), 12-4 (NR)

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

1. Conestoga (Pa.), 19-1 (1)
2. Manchester Valley (Md.), 18-0 (2) 
3. West Chester Henderson (Pa.), 19-1 (3)
4. Severna Park (Md.), 15-4 (5)
5. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 17-2 (4) 
6. Moorestown (N.J.), 12-3 (6) 
7. Morristown (N.J.), 14-5 (7)
8. Westfield (N.J.), 12-5 (8) 
9. Ridgewood (N.J.), 16-4 (9) 
10. Marriotts Ridge (Md.), 15-5 (10)

South Top 10

1. West Forsyth (Ga.), 22-0 (1)
2. Milton (Ga.), 19-2 (2)
3. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 17-3 (3)
4. Anderson (Texas), 13-1 (5) 
5. Lambert (Ga.), 18-3 (6)
6. Pinecrest (N.C.), 20-0 (7)
7. Cambridge (Ga.), 17-5 (4)
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), 19-1 (1) 
2. Hudson (Ohio), 17-0 (2) 
3. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 15-3 (3)
4. New Trier (Ill.), 15-5 (4) 
5. Mariemont (Ohio), 16-1 (6) 
6. Minnetonka (Minn.), 11-1 (9)
7. Eureka (Mo.), 16-1 (10) 
8. Barrington (Ill.), 18-2 (8)
9. Orono (Minn.), 11-1 (NR)
10. Hudson (Wisc.), 12-1 (NR)

West Top 10

1. Coronado (Calif.), 17-3 (1) 
2. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 16-3 (2)
3. Mira Costa (Calif.), 16-3 (3)
4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 15-4 (4)
5. Del Oro (Calif.), 20-0 (5)
6. Grant (Ore.), 17-1 (6)
7. Redwood (Calif.), 16-6 (7) 
8. West Linn (Ore.), 14-3 (8) 
9. Fairview (Colo.), 12-4 (9) 
10. Evergreen (Colo.), 10-8 (NR)