1. American Heritage Delray (Fla.), 7-0
The top-ranked Stallions are off to a dominating start to the season, only allowing 21 goals through seven contests. Last week, American Heritage notched 20-1 victories over Jupiter (Fla.) and Pompano Beach (Fla.). North Carolina recruit Caitlyn Wurzburger, one of the top players in the South, scored seven goals in a Feb. 29 win over rival Bishop Moore (Fla.). Previous: 1
2. Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), 5-0
The Highlanders have overpowered competition, allowing just 12 goals in five games behind stellar performances by goalie Regan Alexander (Ohio State). LHP is coming off a 15-1 win over the IMG Academy (Fla.) on Friday, but its most notable win of the year was an 18-10 victory over Lassiter (Ga.) on Feb. 22. Junior Olivia Adamson (Syracuse) has led the team with 21 goals, 12 assists and 15 draw controls. Previous: 2
3. Milton (Ga.), 3-0
The Eagles are coming off a bye week after winning a trio of contests. Milton last played on Feb. 27, defeating one of its top in-state rivals, Walton, 24-11. USC commit Maddie Dora scored six times, while Lauren Noonan, Marleigh Sanders and Skylar Carrasquillo each contributed four goals to the victory. Previous: 3
4. Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) 1-0
The Crusaders opened the season last week with a 9-8 win over Norfolk Academy (Va.). Cardinal Gibbons’ season picks up in earnest this week with three matches, starting with a contest against Sanderson (N.C.) on Tuesday. Previous: 5
5. Weddington (N.C), 2-0
The Warriors got things going with a 21-7 win over Norfolk Academy (Va.) on Friday, as Kendal Williams scored 11 times. The next day, Jordyn Case’s four-goal effort helped Weddington squeeze past St. Anne’s-Belfield (Va.), 8-7. Previous: 6
6. Ravenwood (Tenn.), 2-0
The Raptors began the season by walloping Page (Tenn.), 19-3, on March 4. Ravenwood then blanked Kettle Moraine (Tenn.), 24-0, on Saturday after amassing a 16-goal halftime lead. Previous: 7
7. Episcopal Dallas (Texas), 4-1
The Eagles had a promising start to the season, with an early-season 15-5 victory over Westlake (Texas) on Feb. 29 as Catherine Blaylock tallied six goals. Episcopal Dallas was then tripped up by Highland Park (Texas), 11-9, but the Eagles recovered to defeat Vandergrift (Texas) on Saturday. Previous: 4
8. Kinkaid (Texas), 2-0
The Falcons kicked off the season with a 19-3 win over Kingwood (Texas) on March 3, followed by a 22-6 win over St. Agnes Academy (Texas) on Thursday. Regan Arkless, who is UC Davis bound, has led the Falcons’ offense with nine goals and five assists. Oregon recruit Nakeeya McCardell has piloted Kinkaid’s midfield and won 11 draw controls last week. Previous: 10
9. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), 6-0
The Raiders are off to an undefeated start through six contests. They defeated South Plantation (Fla.) 19-6 and Hagerty (Fla.) 14-6 last week. St. Thomas has a talented senior class with three players headed to Division I next year. Previous: NR
10. Pine Crest (Fla.), 6-1
The Panthers have won four contests in a row, including a 9-8 upset over Bishop Moore (Fla.) on Saturday and a 23-6 win over Cardinal Gibbons (Fla.) on Thursday. Pine Crest’s only loss of the season was against highly-ranked American Heritage-Delray (Fla.). Bucknell recruit Taylor McClain leads the team with 15 goals and 16 assists, while sophomore Chelsea Thompson, junior Alexis Logan and freshman Alexandra Gladding have led the defensive end and transition game. Previous: NR
— Justin Boggs
1. New Trier (Ill.)
Last season: 21-1-2
Replacing Player of the Year Lucy Murray will not be easy, but the defending state champion Trevians have plenty in the cupboard, including All-American midfielders Charley Meier and Claudia Shevitz. Junior midfielder Emma Huber did a magnificent job face-guarding Hinsdale Central’s Jenna Collignon in last year’s state title game and could be a big impact player this year.
2. Loyola Academy (Ill.)
Last season: 25-2
The Ramblers were stunned in a sectional final loss to New Trier, but don’t count them out. With All-Americans Audrey Brett and Annabelle Burke returning, not to mention Maley Starr, the Ramblers should be a factor. In fact, the team returns five of seven first team all-state athletes from last year.
3. Upper Arlington (Ohio)
Last season: 20-2-2
The defending state champs return a Player of the Year candidate in senior midfielder Ellena Schildmeyer, an All-American who tallied 153 draw controls in 2019. While the Golden Bears lose last year’s leading scorer, Sophie Ballou, they return their next three leading scorers in Schildmeyer (52 goals), Camryn Callaghan (44) and Annie Hargraves (39).
4. Rockford (Mich.)
Last season: 13-5-2
The Rams demonstrated their iron-clad grip on Michigan lacrosse in last year’s state title game, breaking open a 4-2 game with four straight goals and later running away with nine straight scores. They return an All-American midfielder in Sydney Zimmerman, who led the team in goals and draw controls last season.
5. Hinsdale Central (Ill.)
Last season: 20-5
The Red Devils suffered some devastating injuries last season, including to Alaina Hamood (Penn State) and Madeline Pisani, but they still were able to make the state title game. With Hamood and Pisani back healthy, as well as Jessica Joy and standout scorer Jenna Collignon returning, expect Hinsdale Central to be a force. Collignon established herself as a scoring threat with a seven-goal performance against the Ramblers.
6. Glenbrook South (Ill.)
Last season: 20-5
Goals shouldn’t be a problem for the Titans as they return a pair of first team all-state attackers in Meghan Bireley and Isabella Tiesi. Both were brilliant in Glenbrook South’s first win at state, combining for 11 goals in a 21-12 victory over St. Charles in the third-place game. The Titans gave the eventual state champion Trevians a scare in the state semifinals and should be a team to watch.
7. Prior Lake (Minn.)
Last season: 18-1
The Lakers are coming off a state title and the future remains bright considering Payton Bloedow, who had six goals and three assists in Prior Lake’s 17-12 state final win over Eden Prairie, is just a junior. She is one of the top returning players along with Josie Kropp and Mackenzie Salentre, who also were key contributors in the championship game.
8. New Albany (Ohio)
Last season: 19-4
The Eagles gave the Golden Bears a heck of a fight in last year’s state title game, but they have their work cut out for them trying to replace Emily Rezabek (Ohio State), Alyssa Kneedler and Chloe Platte, who all scored multiple goals against Upper Arlington. Rezabek was a force last season, scoring 90 goals.
9. Columbus DeSales (Ohio)
Last season: 21-1
The Stallions ended the season with 21 straight victories to win Ohio’s Division II title, but they face their share of challenges entering 2020. They need to replace Sophia Finotti and Grace Lensmire, who combined for nine goals in the state final, but it could be a chance for Liz Renken to shine. She had five goals in last year’s state semifinal.
10. Carmel (Ind.)
Last season: 17-3
Coming off back-to-back state titles (and five since 2011), the Greyhounds are here to stay. Among their young talent are Hannah Kim, who finished her sophomore season with 61 goals and 18 assists, and fellow junior Maddie McGarty, who had 37 goals and 29 assists in 2019.
— Jonah Rosenblum
1. Colorado Academy (Colo.), 0-0
The Mustangs open the season Friday at Mullen (Colo.) and then head to California for a pair of games next week as they put their 48-game unbeaten streak to the test. The winner of five straight state titles, Colorado Academy returns 10 starters, including senior attacker Ella Greene, junior midfielders Katharine Merrifield and Jessie Bakes, junior defender Maya Rutherford and senior goalie Ella Marks. Previous: 1
2. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 5-0
The Wolves picked up where they left off from an undefeated 2019 season in which they captured the North Coast Section Division I title. They are averaging 20.0 goals per game and they allowed seven goals or fewer in three of their first five games. Alannah Scott tallied four goals and one assist in a 17-7 win over Davis on Saturday, while Catie Grace Carrington had three goals and three assists. Previous: 2
3. Scripps Ranch (Calif.), 4-0
The defending San Diego Open Division champions are off to a good start, as each of their first four games were decided by 10 goals or more. Torrey Pines came the closest in a 14-4 loss. The Falcons play at Patrick Henry (Calif.) on Wednesday. Previous: 4
4. Cherry Creek (Colo.), 0-0
The Bruins open Thursday against Pine Creek (Colo.). They made it to their 22nd straight state final last year, but they will rely on a young core group this season as they seek their first title since 2014. Six starters return, including midfielder Morgan Haws, attacker Amelia McCarthy and defender Lizzy Zerr, and Cherry Creek will be known for its speed and creativity this season. Previous: 5
5. Regis Jesuit (Colo.), 0-0
The Raiders return eight starters from their state semifinalist squad that nearly upset Cherry Creek last year, and they should be back in the mix again in 2020. They get things started Thursday against Dakota Ridge. Four-year starter Bella Ames is back to lock down the defense, while Regis continues to boast a dominant mid-line led by third-year starters Cate Lord and Grace Weigand. Previous: 6
6. Mercer Island (Wash.), 0-0
The Islanders open their season at Lakeside on Tuesday. They have to replace three integral members of their backfield but return just about everyone else from their 2019 state championship lineup, including capable scoring threats in juniors Annabelle Gersch, Emma Brodsky and Hannah Tiscornia and senior Chloe Anbarcioglu. Previous: 7
7. Amador Valley (Calif.), 4-0
The Dons survived a close game against Redwood, coming out ahead with a 12-11 win on March 3, and then added an 11-7 win over California High on Friday. They return to action Tuesday at St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.). Previous: 8
8. La Jolla (Calif.), 2-0
The Vikings won three games in four days to open the season, including a 18-3 win over Canyon Crest Academy in which Terra Evans scored six goals and Stella Wineman added five. La Jolla plays Poway on Tuesday to open another three-game week. Previous: 9
9. Jesuit (Ore.), 0-0
The Crusaders remain the team to beat in Oregon after upsetting three-time defending champion Lake Oswego in the state final last year. Their title defense begins March 16 as Jesuit opens against Beaverton, but the big test against Lake Oswego is set for April 6. Previous: 10
10. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 2-0
The Mavericks are trying to bounce back from a 12-7 finish in 2019, and the schedule won’t do them any favors. They opened with a 14-11 win over Mater Dei on Feb. 27 and added a dominant victory over El Camino on Friday, but La Jolla will put them through a test Thursday. A date with nationally-ranked Bishop Ireton (Va.) lies ahead April 16. Previous: NR
— Laurel Pfahler