West Islip Nationally Ranked Ahead of Public School Showdown with Sayville

Here comes West Islip (N.Y.).

The Lions are off to a 9-0 start and have played just one game decided by fewer than five goals, a one-goal win over Harborfields (N.Y.). They debut at No. 4 in the latest USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls’ National Top 25, presented by CWENCH Hydration. 

West Islip is part of one of two incredible top-10 matchups featured this week. The Lions host No. 2 Sayville (N.Y.) in a battle of unbeatens.

No. 3 Conestoga (Pa.) meets No. 10 Springfield-Delco (Pa.) in another. It’s a rematch of last year’s state semifinal. Stoga fought to a one-goal win over private Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) last week. Springfield has played only one game decided by fewer than six goals. If the Pioneers do get by them, they turn right around to face a West Chester Henderson (Pa.) team that lost its first game last week.

Other notable developments:

— No. 1 Darien (Conn.) fought off Maryland private school power St. Paul’s (Md.) for a one-goal win to stay perfect. The Blue Wave face traditionally tough Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.) this week. BBP also gets Sayville. 

— Last week’s top-10 matchup went to Garden City (N.Y.), which reinforced its ranking with a two-goal win over Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.). Garden City faces Suffern (N.Y.) in another meeting of highly ranked programs.

— New No. 5 Manchester Valley (Md.) continues to stack up wins. They are perfect through 10 games which runs the program’s win streak to 29 straight games coming off last year’s undefeated season. There’s no end in sight for the Mavericks, who have outscored teams, 160-46. 

— Unbeaten Northport (N.Y.) has yet to play a game decided by fewer than nine goals, but Wilton (Conn.) and Ward Melville (N.Y.) should prove more challenging.

— Ridgewood’s (N.J.) first loss came to red-hot private school Sacred Heart Greenwich (Conn.). They’ve got another streaking team today when they play at Westfield (N.J.), which enters the rankings after recent wins over private Oak Knoll (N.J.) and Chatham (N.J.).

— The Maroons also face unbeaten Huntington (N.Y.) this week while Westfield will face Ward Melville, whose only loss came against New Canaan (Conn.).

— Marriotts Ridge (Md.) and Glenelg High (Md.) meet Thursday in another strong regional matchup with national impact. It will tell a lot about where both stand since they’ve had different results against some similar opponents.

— West Forsyth (Ga.) closed its regular season with a 22-3 win over North Gwinnett (Ga.) to finish 18-0. 

— Milton (Ga.) picked up a 20-6 win over South Forsyth (Ga.) to end the regular season 15-2.

— In the regional rankings, West Islip and New Canaan entered the Northeast Top 10, Westfield worked its way into the Mid-Atlantic Top 10, unbeaten East Grand Rapids (Mich.) made a significant jump in the Midwest Top and the West saw some juggling with San Ramon Valley (Calif.), unbeaten Del Oro (Calif.) and Grant (Ore.) all moving up. 

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

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas), Battlefield (Va.), Cape Henlopen (Del.), Century (Md.), Coronado (Calif.), Douglas Freeman (Va.), Downingtown West (Pa.), Eastport-South Manor (N.Y.), Haddonfield (N.J.), Huntington (N.Y.), Irondequoit (N.Y.), James Madison (Va.), Jamesville-DeWitt (N.Y.), Marple Newtown (Pa.), Mendham (N.J.), Mira Costa (Calif.), New Trier (Ill.), Ponte Vedra (Fla.), Rumson-Fair Haven (N.J.), Smithtown West (N.Y.), South Carroll (Md.), South Jefferson (N.Y.), Summit (N.J.), Upper Arlington (Ohio), Ward Melville (N.Y.), Westhampton (N.Y.), West Chester Henderson (Pa.), Westminster (Md.), Wilton (Conn.), Yorktown (Va.)

Northeast Top 10

1. Darien (Conn.), 7-0 (1)
2. Sayville (N.Y.), 9-0 (2)
3. West Islip (N.Y.), 9-0 (NR) 
4. Garden City (N.Y.), 8-2 (6) 
5. Northport (N.Y.), 8-0 (10) 
6. Suffern (N.Y.), 5-0 (7)
7. Manhasset (N.Y.), 8-1 (4)
8. Victor (N.Y.), 7-3 (9) 
9. Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), 6-2 (8) 
10. New Canaan (Conn.), 5-1 (NR)

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

1. Conestoga (Pa.), 13-0 (1)
2. Manchester Valley (Md.), 10-0 (3) 
3. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 12-0 (2) 
4. Ridgewood (N.J.), 8-1 (4)
5. Marriotts Ridge (Md.), 9-3 (6) 
6. Severna Park (Md.), 7-4 (7)
7. Moorestown (N.J.), 5-2 (8)
8. Glenelg High (Md.), 7-4 (9)
9. Broadneck (Md.), 7-4 (10)
10. Westfield (N.J.), 6-2 (NR) 

South Top 10

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

Midwest Top 10

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

West Top 10

1. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 12-1 (1)
2. Coronado (Calif.), 12-3 (2) 
3. Mira Costa (Calif.), 13-3 (4)
4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 11-3 (6)
5. Del Oro (Calif.), 16-0 (7)
6. Grant (Ore.), 8-1 (8)
7. Redwood (Calif.), 12-4 (3) 
8. Fairview (Colo.), 8-2 (5) 
9. West Linn (Ore.), 9-1 (10) 
10. Heritage (Colo.), 9-1 (9)