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Every Tuesday during the high school lacrosse season, USA Lacrosse updates Regional Top 10 and National Top 25 rankings to reflect the results of the previous week.
Below are the final Nike/USA Lacrosse High School Boys’ Regional Top 10s of the 2023 season.
1. St. Anthony’s (N.Y.), 12-1
A senior-laden squad led by North Carolina commit Owen Duffy captured a fourth straight CHSAA state title. It’s hard for most programs to replace 16 Division I players who played a pivotal role. But this is not most programs. Look to guys like Luke Breslin, a junior attack committed to Lehigh, junior midfielder Kyle Bilello (Brown) and defender Tommy Snyder (Virginia) to take over the mantle next year. Previous: 1
2. Brunswick (Conn.), 13-4
Hunter Spiess, a Princeton-bound pole, and midfielder Tomas Delgado, a Duke commit, garnered All-American honors for Brunswick (Conn.) this spring. They are part of a stacked senior class that includes midfielder Leo Hoffman (Penn), FOGO Andrew Greenspan (Notre Dame) and attackman Jackson Wolfram (Brown). Back for the Bruins next year are a host of talented juniors, including goalie Tucker Williams (Brown) and defender Luke Hublitz (Virginia). Previous: 2
3. Manhasset (N.Y.), 21-1
Cal Girard was one of the best faceoff specialists in the country, a two-time All-American and New York State champion. He’s off to Duke and it’s especially difficult to replace a game-changer like that. Liam Connor (Colgate) and Jack Petersen (Harvard) were also named All-Americans for Manhasset, who will lean on rising junior Danny Kolin on attack, rising seniors Mike Mondiello and Patrick Arnold in the midfield and rising senior Jack Mulholland on defense next year. Previous: 3
4. Chaminade (N.Y.), 10-4
After a spectacular sophomore season, Connor Kuttin appears ready to take over as the alpha male of the Chaminade (N.Y.) attack next season following the graduation of Gavin Creo, the Richmond commit. Quinn Ball will be a three-year starter at the faceoff X and he’ll just be a junior, and North Carolina commit Benjamin Fox will again anchor the defense as a senior. Previous: 4
5. Garden City (N.Y.), 18-4
It will be hard to replace impactful seniors like Jack Archer (Lehigh) and All-Americans Stevie Finnell (Duke) and Cole Webber (Virginia) who were instrumental in a second straight New York State Class B title. The Trojans, though, have solid returning players in rising seniors Matt Kephart, a defender committed to Princeton, attackman Andrew Ottomanelli, the Kraus twins — Carson and Cooper, and midfielder Aidan Considine (Lehigh). Previous: 5
6. Staples (Conn.), 17-5
After having never won a CIAC title, Staples (Conn.) now has back-to-back Class L championships. Attackman Tyler Clark (Army), midfielder Ben Burmeister and defender Mike Nealon all earned All-American honors, but only Burmeister, the Notre Dame commit, returns next year for the Wreckers. Previous: 6
7. Baldwinsville (N.Y.), 19-2
Put some respect on the Bees! It’s two New York State Class A titles in a row for Baldwinsville (N.Y.) and by going to Long Island to knock off Long Island teams both times proves it’s one of the best in the Northeast region. The Bees lose attackman Keegan Lynch (Fairfield), LSM Brayden Penafeather-Stevenson (Richmond) and midfielder Carson Dyl (Fairfield) to graduation, but with Siena commit Athony Nicolucci and Binghamton-bound Greg Marinelli anchoring the defense next year, it would be wise not to sleep on the Bees in 2024. Previous: 7
8. Cheshire (Conn.), 19-3
Matt Jeffery played a starring role in the Rams first CIAC championship since 2010, scoring six goals in the Class M final. The rising senior midfielder was named an All-American and the state Player of the Year. The Notre Dame commit will be one of the region’s best players next year. He’ll join rising junior attackman Sean Grevelding, rising senior defender Lucas Chymbor and rising senior faceoff specialist Ryan Grove as the leaders next spring. Previous: 8
9. Farmingdale (N.Y.), 18-4
The Dalers fell just short of a second New York State Class A title in program history, losing to Baldwinsville (N.Y.) in the final. But it was a banner year for Syracuse-bound goalie Michael Ippoliti and rising senior attackman Brendan O’Keefe (Albany), who both earned All-American honors. O’Keefe should again lead the attack, while rising senior Jimmy Caputo will take over in the cage for a program that has developed solid goaltenders throughout the years. Previous: 9
10. Victor (N.Y.), 19-3
Victor (N.Y.) also battled to the last day of the season in New York State, losing to Garden City (N.Y.) 9-8 in the Class B final. Thomas Gravino, a Maryland-bound midfielder earned All-American honors for a second time, and faceoff specialist Sam Ricci (Cornell) was also named an All-American, among the team’s 11 college-bound seniors. The 2024 Blue Devils should be paced by rising seniors Jack Herendeen, an attackman committed to Cornell, midfielder Tanner Radogna, a Stony Brook commit, and defender Cameron Ryan, a Syracuse commit. Previous: 10
— Dylan Butler
1. Lawrenceville (N.J.), 19-1
The Big Red capped a memorable season by rallying to win the National Prep Lacrosse Championships, 14-13, over defending champion Brunswick (Conn.) in double overtime. They lost only one game this season, in their second game of the year on the road at Boys’ Latin (Md.). Lawrenceville had six players with at least 28 goals and four players had 26 or more assists. Hunter Chauvette (82 points), Chris Matia (79 points), Chuck Rawson (61 points) and DJ Clark (58 points) led the balanced attack. Robert Simone won 59 percent of his faceoffs and Timmy Piacentini stopped 59 percent between the pipes. Matia (Providence), Piacentini (Cornell) and Connor Gately (Yale) return to lead the team. Previous: 1
2. McDonogh (Md.), 17-1
The Eagles bolted out to an 8-0 lead on their way to a 14-5 MIAA A Conference title win over Calvert Hall (Md.) to become just the third team in league history to repeat as champions. Brendan Millon scored five goals in the title game, Ben Firlie and Luke Miller each had hat tricks, McCabe Millon dished out a trio of assists, and Aidan Seibel made seven saves in front of a rock solid defense led by AJ Marsh. The Eagles’ only loss this year came at Loyola-Blakefield (Md.) in overtime as they lived up to lofty expectations. McDonogh has to replace some of the best to ever suit up at their positions in McCabe Millon (Virginia), Zach Hayashi (Navy), Mac Christmas (Duke) and Marsh (Navy). Previous: 2
3. Georgetown Prep (Md.), 16-2
The Hoyas won their final 13 games to complete an unbeaten run through the IAC. Georgetown claimed the IAC championship with a 14-9 win over Landon (Md.) in the tournament final. Nate Kabiri (Princeton) scored 42 goals and had 38 assists this year and was named the prestigious C. Markland Kelly Award winner as the top player in Maryland. Fellow senior Colin Burns (Princeton) finished with 37 goals and 36 assists, and Owen Horning (Georgetown) scored 38 goals and dished out 11 assists while Larry Horning (Georgetown) put up 25 goals and 16 assists. Only Owen Horning returns of that group. Previous: 3
4. St. John’s (D.C.), 15-3
The Cadets repeated as WCAC champions with a 9-5 win over Paul VI (Va.). It was the eighth straight win for St. John’s, which burst out to a 5-1 lead and never gave up the lead. St. John’s had significant wins over Boys’ Latin (Md.), Gonzaga (D.C.) and Bullis (Md.) during the regular season. St. John’s has all but four seniors expected back from among its starters. Caleb Fyock (Ohio State) and Jackie Weller (Michigan) will graduate, but attacker Ryan Duenkel (Virginia) is set to return. Previous: 4
5. Haverford (Pa.), 17-3
Haverford was the only team to beat St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) this year and also beat national No. 4 Georgetown. The Fords fell to Malvern (Pa.) 9-5 in the Inter-Ac Tournament championship after beating them twice earlier. Haverford earned the regular-season crown and the top seed with an undefeated Inter-Ac season. Ryan DiRocco (Army) posted 89 points to lead the Haverford offense. His brother, Aydan DiRocco (Navy), had 58 points, and Brady O’Kane (Delaware) finished with 50 points. The Fords graduate five starters including Ryan DiRocco, Brendan Leary (Penn State) and Colin Zeller (Rutgers), but played much of the year without Wills Burt (Virginia). Previous: 5
6. Malvern Prep (Pa.) 16-7
The Friars made a big jump to close the year on a high of avenging a pair of losses to Haverford (Pa.) with a 9-5 win for the Inter-Ac Tournament championship. Michael Ortlieb, a top 2025, scored four times and added an assist. Ennis Udo (Brown) scored a pair of goals and also had one assist. Chris Rabena had 13 saves in front of a defense that held Haverford to its lowest offensive output of the season. Malvern played one of the toughest schedules in the country and earned wins over Bullis (Md.), La Salle (Pa.), Calvert Hall (Md.), Delbarton (N.J.) and Seton Hall Prep (N.J.). They graduate AJ Nikolic (Cornell), Billy Irish (Lafayette), Roman Buono (Yale), Ryan Falkenstein (Maryland) and Patrick Keenan (Penn State). Previous: 6
7. Calvert Hall (Md.) 11-6
The Cardinals fell in the MIAA A Conference championship, 14-5, to McDonogh after a strong second half to their season. The Cardinals came on strong down the home stretch of the season with six straight wins after a regular-season loss to McDonogh. Shuey Kelly paced the attack with 71 points on 33 goals and 38 assists. Wyatt Hottle had 62 points (32G, 30A). Jackson Strickland won 67 percent of faceoffs. Bradley Johnson had 47 ground balls and regularly covered opponents’ top attacker. He anchored the defense along with Josh Hagy (41 GB). The Cardinals graduate nine senior starters including Kelly (Georgetown), Davis Provost (Penn), Nicholas Steele (High Point), Hunter Bowen (Yale), Strickland (Richmond) and Johnson (Marquette). Previous: 7
8. Boys’ Latin (Md.), 12-6
Boys’ Latin is the only team to beat Lawrenceville this year. That came early in the season. They went on to end the year in the MIAA A Conference semifinals. The fifth-seeded Lakers rallied from a 4-0 deficit to come all the way back to force overtime before falling to top-seeded McDonogh, 8-7. Jackson Walsh scored twice and assisted on a third goal. Dylan Cadigan made 10 saves, including several down the stretch of regulation. It’s the second year in a row that Boys’ Latin lost a semifinal one-goal heartbreaker to McDonogh. The loss was the fourth of the season by only one goal, including twice in overtime. The Lakers will have to replace Jacob Pacheco (Penn), Kyle Foster (Ohio State) and Walsh (Ohio State). Previous: 8
9. Loyola-Blakefield (Md.), 11-7
The Dons are the only team to beat McDonogh this season. The third-seeded Dons went on to fall to Calvert Hall, 11-8, in the MIAA A Conference semifinals despite holding early leads of 3-0 and 6-2. Mason Hill scored twice, and his second score pushed Loyola out to its four-goal advantage. Ty Bleach finished with a hat trick and Bennett Wright saved nine shots in goal for Loyola-Blakefield. It was the final game for coach Gene Ubriaco, who will be succeeded by Will Haus. He won’t have graduates Owen Dixon (North Carolina) or Matt Burnam (Towson), but there are some top tier returners back like Mason Cook (Loyola), Peter Laake (Maryland), Liam Powell (Delaware) and Dallas Mattheu (Yale). Previous: 9
10. St. Mary’s (Md.) 14-5
The fourth-seeded Saints fell to Boys’ Latin in the MIAA A Conference quarterfinals after beating the Lakers 10 days earlier in the regular season. St. Mary’s won five straight heading into the MIAA playoffs after losing four of six in midseason. St. Mary’s opened the season with strong non-conference wins over Georgetown Prep, Paul VI (Va.) and La Salle (Pa.) and they crushed Calvert Hall in their conference regular-season opener, 13-3. Navy commits Will Goers and Nick Golini graduate along with UMBC commits Jacob Adams, Dylan Sharpe and Justin Webber, midfielder (Gavin Burlace (Notre Dame), Erik Chick (Johns Hopkins) and Bobby Keane (High Point), defender Dillon Torggler (Penn State), and goalie Shea Kennedy (Hofstra). Previous: 10
— Justin Feil
1. Lake Mary (Fla.), 24-0
Led by dynamic junior Cayden Harshbarger, the Rams claimed their first-ever state title this year en route to a perfect season. Lake Mary’s season was highlighted by its championship win over St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) and a March 27 victory over Lake Highland Prep (Fla.). Lake Mary is slated to return nearly its entire roster, including leading scorer Mitchell Campbell and Aaron Tichonoff. Previous: 1
2. St. Andrew’s (Fla.), 19-3
The Scots claimed their third state championship in a row in Florida’s top division, defeating Bolles (Fla.) 9-8. Top wins for St. Andrew’s included contests against Groton School (Mass.) and Lake Highland Prep (Fla.). Senior Jack Schulte, who is headed to Air Force, scored a team-leading 59 goals. St. Andrew’s also loses goalie Gunnar Schwarz to Navy. Freshman Nick Testa had a team-leading 75 assists. Top defender Dominick Deering is also set to return. Previous: 2
3. Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.), 19-5
The Crusaders regained their state championship crown after losing it in 2022 to Middle Creek (N.C.). One year after the Mustangs knocked out Cardinal Gibbons in the semifinals, the Crusaders got their revenge in a thrilling overtime semifinal with an 11-10 victory before toppling Charlotte Catholic (N.C.) 12-10. Senior Ayden Turner had a team-leading 109 points before heading to Washington and Lee. Cardinal Gibbons also loses top defender Kieran Gaertner before he heads to Monmouth. Brady Greco, the team’s faceoff specialist and second-leading scorer, is set to return. Previous: 3
4. Highland Park (Texas), 20-4
The Fighting Scots took control in its state championship, defeating The Woodlands (Texas) 14-10. Highland Park’s season was highlighted by a semifinal win over Episcopal School of Dallas 11-10. Highland Park also picked up a big regular season win over Dallas Jesuit (Texas). Highland Park loses several Division I prospects, including goalie Ben Abel (Loyola) and faceoff specialist Frank Mousa (Quinnipiac). Previous: 4
5. Bolles (Fla.), 22-3
The Bulldogs had their perfect record against in-state competition spoiled in the state title game by losing to St. Andrew’s (Fla.) 9-8. Bolles posted solid wins over Lucy Beckham (S.C.) and Jesuit (Fla.). Junior High Point commitment Gavin Boree had a team-leading 83 goals while junior Jacksonville recruit Daylin John-Hill had 155 points. Bolles loses one of its top scorers in midfielder Spencer Surface, who heads to Washington and Lee next year. Bolles also will miss Caleb Coleman as he heads to Vermont. Previous: 5
6. Roswell (Ga.), 20-3
The Hornets won their first state championship in eight years by defeating Allatoona (Ga.) 17-10. Roswell’s season was highlighted with a win over Blessed Trinity (Ga.). Roswell loses two of its top scorers in Hill Plunkett, who heads to Army, and Alex Lobel, who will go to Michigan. Previous: 6
7. Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), 15-4
The Highlanders made it to the semifinals of the state playoffs, but lost to eventual state champions St. Andrew’s (Fla.). The Highlanders’ season was highlighted by wins over St. Edward (Fla.) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.). Junior Rutgers recruit Owen Lenox had a team-leading 47 goals. Lake Highland Prep returns six of their top seven goal scorers next year and goalie Ryan Magee. Previous: 7
8. The Woodlands (Texas), 18-4
The Highlanders held a 9-6 lead in the third quarter of the state championship versus Highland Park (Texas), but were unable to hold the lead, falling 14-10. The Woodlands’ season was highlighted by a regular season win over Episcopal School of Dallas (Texas). The Woodlands loses goalie Christian Clinton and midfielder Jack O’Rourke. Previous: 8
9. Middle Creek (N.C.), 22-2
A year after ending Cardinal Gibbons’ season en route to a state championship, Cardinal Gibbons ended the Mustangs’ season in the state semifinals. Middle Creek lost the season finale 11-10 in overtime. Middle Creek loses its top scorer James Cardillo, who scored 103 points, to Washington and Lee. Collin Patrick heads to Marist after a 72-point season. Jayce Konowitz returns after an 89-point campaign. Previous: 9
10. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), 17-4
The Raiders lost to unbeaten Lake Mary (Fla.) in the state championship. The Raiders earned a spot in the championship after defeating Winter Park (Fla.) 16-5. The future is bright at Aquinas as two of its leading scorers, James Finch and Benjamin Kupstas, are underclassmen. Its defense will lose some talent, however, as Bobby Windesheim heads to Iona and Adam Nigrelli goes to North Carolina. Previous: 10
— Justin Boggs
1. Culver Academy (Ind.), 17-3
The Eagles capped their impressive 2023 campaign by winning the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Association title (over Western Reserve Academy in overtime) and earning runner-up honors at the National Prep Lacrosse Championship (falling to The Hill Academy). Culver’s impressive season included wins over Boys’ Latin (Md.), Gonzaga (D.C.) and Kiski Academy (Pa.), as well as a series of dominant victories over its Midwest foes. Previous: 1
2. Brother Rice (Mich.) 20-2
The Warriors avenged last year’s state championship game loss with a 14-11 victory over Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.), one of just two teams to beat Brother Rice during the regular season, to secure the 27th state title in program history. Lehigh commit Hunter Polonkey notched four goals and three assists in the title game to finish the season with 87 points (55 goals, 32 assists) despite missing eight games due to injury. Previous: 2
3. Dublin Jerome (Ohio), 22-1
The Celtics capped the year with Marek Tzagournis scoring five goals in their 12-10 state title game win over St. Xavier. It was a fitting end to the season for Tzagournis, who finished the year with 77 goals and 84 assists and his career with a state-record 447 points. As for Dublin Jerome, in addition to its title, its resume includes victories over two of Florida’s top teams, Bolles and Ponte Vedra, and a perfect record against Buckeye State competition. Previous: 3
4. Wheaton Academy (Ill.) 23-1
Having started their program just a decade ago, the Warriors earned their first state title with a decisive victory over St. Viator, led by six goals from Aiden Weisenborn and four goals and three assists from Noah Miller. Wheaton Academy’s season included wins over top teams in Indiana (Carmel) and Wisconsin (Middleton, Mukwonago and Oregon) with its lone loss coming to IMG Academy (Fla.). Previous: 4
5. Detroit Catholic Central (Mich.), 19-3
The Shamrocks finished as the state runner-up after dropping a back-and-forth championship game against longtime Mitten State powerhouse Brother Rice. Jack Cyrek had a hat trick against the Warriors, capping a season in which he tallied 76 goals, 48 assists, won 71 percent of his faceoffs and earned Michigan Mr. Lacrosse honors. Previous: 5
6. Hartland (Mich.), 19-3
The 2022 state champion didn’t go down without a fight, rallying time and time again in the state semifinals, including a Mason Payter hat trick, against Detroit Catholic Central before falling 10-9. Senior Evan Busby, a Dartmouth commit, won 78.4 percent of his faceoffs (331 of 422) and tallied 151 ground balls while junior Drew Lockwood added 125 points and 75 ground balls. Previous: 6
7. St. Xavier (Ohio), 18-6
The young Bombers impressed all season, including sophomores accounting for seven of their eight goals in an overtime state semifinal win over Upper Arlington (Ohio). St. Xavier ultimately finished as the Division I runner-up with a resume that includes two victories over the Golden Bears as well as wins over one of Indiana’s best teams (Cathedral) and two of Tennessee’s best (Montgomery Bell Academy and Ravenwood). Previous: 7
8. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 20-3
Outside of two losses to St. Xavier, the Golden Bears’ only other defeat all season came against Mitten State powerhouse Brother Rice. With wins against Mars Area (Pa.), New Canaan (Conn.), Salesianum School (Del.) and Trinity Louisville (Ky.), Upper Arlington still has one of the region’s most impressive resumes. Previous: 8
9. Rockhurst Jesuit (Mo.), 18-0
The Hawklets ended an undefeated season as Lacrosse Association of KC champions. Junior Luke McNamara hit the century mark in goals (103) in just 18 games while fellow juniors Jack Bichelmeyer, Colin Komenda and Croix Snow each topped 50 points. Senior Henry Kemp (84 ground balls, 139 faceoffs) and freshman Gentry Curtis (68 ground balls, 120 faceoffs) were critical in earning possession and junior keeper Matt Koehler saved more than two-thirds of the shots he faced. Previous: 9
10. St. Viator (Ill.), 23-2
While St. Viator’s first state title game appearance quickly went in Wheaton Academy’s direction, the Lions relished the best season in their history. Nicky Pastore had a hat trick in the state title game while Cade Faulkner had three assists for St. Viator. Pastore also had seven of the Lions’ 13 goals to ensure that their first state semifinal was a success as St. Viator beat Lake Forest by nine (with Faulkner adding three goals and three assists). Previous: T10
— Jonah Rosenblum
1. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.), 22-4
The Wildcats repeated as CIF Central Coast Section champions this season, claiming the title with an 11-4 win over Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.) in a rematch of last year’s final as St. Ignatius Prep completed a three-game season sweep of the Gators. The Wildcats had just one in-region loss, a 6-5 defeat at the hands of Corona del Mar (Calif.), and the three other ones were against Mid-Atlantic powers. Their dominance was a credit to how balanced the squad was. St. Ignatius was led by 18 seniors, including college-bound players like Tristan Ghosh (Yale), Jack Porter (Drexel) and Bruno Chapman (Loyola), but they had several standout underclassmen that were regular contributors and will be ready to carry the torch. Previous: 1
2. Mountain Vista (Colo.), 16-3
The fifth-seeded Golden Eagles avenged a regular-season loss to No. 2-seeded Valor Christian (Colo.) to claim their second state title in three years. Mountain Vista had dropped a 10-4 loss to Valor on April 28 and got off to a slow start in the Class 5A final May 22, but the Golden Eagles rallied for a 10-8 win. Mountain Vista had lost to Arapahoe in last year’s final but won the 2021 championship, also against Valor Christian. MVHS was led by Ethan Pearson, who had 49 goals and 30 assists and is headed to Towson, and Riley Jenkins, a two-way midfielder who had 33 goals and 32 assists and is off to Canisius in the fall. Previous: 2
3. Valor Christian (Colo.), 17-2
The Eagles’ remarkable season ended in a disappointing 10-8 loss to Mountain Vista in the Class 5A final, after they had gotten through with just one narrow loss to Cherry Creek back in March. Valor had won 12 straight games going into the championship and its resumé included three out-of-state wins, including a notable 11-6 victory over Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.). Baden Brown led the team with 52 goals and 41 assists, while Liam Goodwin added 38 goals and 14 assists, and the good news is they are both back next year – as will several other key contributors like faceoff specialist Harry Luong (67.3 percent), goalie Buck Cunningham (5.1 goals against average) and all of their main goal scorers. Previous: 3
4. Torrey Pines (Calif.), 17-4
The Falcons were tested by a traditionally strong schedule full of out-of-state competition, and it paid off once again for a fifth straight CIF San Diego Open title. They beat Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) in the final after avenging a regular-season loss to La Costa Canyon (Calif.) in the semifinals. Torrey Pines had notable wins over Texas state champion Highland Park and perennial power Dallas Jesuit, as well as Arapahoe (Colo.) right after a three-game losing streak that included a triple-overtime defeat against St. Ignatius Prep. All of its losses were by two goals or less. Senior Jacob Mendez (Westminster) led the scoring with 45 goals and 48 assists, while junior Blake Washburn added 46 goals and 32 assists. A stout defense was led by All-American junior goalie Andrew Cook (Hopkins), senior short-stick defensive midfielder Ben Trask, junior S.J. Dohrenwend and sophomore Joey Levenberg. Previous: 4
5. De La Salle (Calif.), 21-3
The Spartans repeated as CIF North Coast champions, beating Redwood (Calif.), 13-10, in the final May 11 after topping Vista del Lago (Calif.) in the semifinals. De La Salle had notable wins over Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.) and Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.), and its lone on-field losses were against St. Ignatius and Mater Dei (Calif.), in overtime. Henry Benner, a junior, led the team with 72 goals and 19 assists, while senior Carson Fialho added 45 goals and 33 assists. Junior faceoff specialist Jackson Barth (63.4 percent) is set to return next year along with Benner and a number of other starters. Previous: 5
6. Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.), 18-6
After coming up short in the CIF Southern Section final last year, the Knights completed their “unfinished business” this time. They avenged last year’s championship defeat against Corona del Mar (Calif.) in the semifinals, after also losing to CdM earlier this season, and then went on to win the title by edging Loyola-Los Angeles (Calif.), 9-8, in the final on Bode Jefferson’s winner. Foothill was paced offensively by seniors Luke Fox (69 goals, 53 assists) and Jackson Hines (61 goals, 28 assists), but the next seven leading scorers are set to return next year, along with sophomore faceoff specialist Isaiah Chavez (62.2 percent). Previous: 6
7. Loyola-Los Angeles (Calif.), 18-6
The Cubs fell short in the CIF Southern Section championship, ending a seven-game winning streak that began with a notable overtime win over Corona del Mar and included a 12-2 win over Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.) in the semifinals. All of Loyola’s losses were by four goals or less – three of them by one goal. Loyola was led by six seniors, but with so many underclassmen set to return next year, the Cubs should be poised for another run. Previous: 7
8. Jesuit Portland (Ore.), 18-3
The Crusaders capped off a perfect season against in-state competition with a 10-4 win over West Linn (Ore.) to claim their second straight Oregon High School Lacrosse Association state title. Jesuit’s three losses were against St. Ignatius (by three) and Texas state semifinalist Westlake and runner-up The Woodlands. Nine seniors led the team, including standout Jack Duncan-Bloom, but Yale-bound junior Christian Buck is among those who will be back to help Jesuit try for a three-peat. Previous: 8
9. Regis Jesuit (Colo.), 15-3
The Raiders beat Kent Denver (Colo.) 7-4 in the quarterfinals of the CHSAA Class 5A tournament on May 17 but came up short against Valor Christian for a second time this season in the next round. Their only other loss was against Denver South (Colo.) in the opener. Regis had a notable win over Corona del Mar (Calif.) in mid-March and also had beaten fellow semifinalist Cherry Creek (Colo.) and Mountain Vista. Regis was best known for its defense, which allowed just 5.9 goals per game, but a balanced attack will lose its top three scorers with Ethan Hughes (31 goals, 9 assists), Fletcher Sullivan (30 goals, 9 assists) and Mattie Cain (22 goals, 11 assists) graduating. Previous: 9
10. Mater Dei (Calif.), 18-3
Another strong season ended early when the Monarchs fell to Foothill in the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals. The Monarchs’ other losses were to previously-ranked Legend (Colo.) and unranked Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.), but they had previously beaten Foothill during the regular season and also had wins over CdM and De LaSalle. Mater Dei loses two of its top three scorers – Tristan Jewell (43 goals, 11 assists) and Reece Lepham (31 goals, 9 assists) – to graduation along with 13 other seniors, but the Monarchs replaced a strong group from the Class of 2022 and will hope to reload again in 2024. Previous: 10
— Laurel Pfahler
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