Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
Den
The 2019 high school lacrosse season featured the resurgence of the McDonogh girls’ dynasty, the pining for a Culver-Calvert Hall boys’ showdown and wunderkind Brennan O’Neill’s coming of age in the CHSAA.
Recapping the spring:
Eagles Soar Once More
A year after seeing its national-record 198-game winning streak come to an end, McDonogh (Md.) is back on the top of the girls’ high school lacrosse world. The Eagles finish No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse National High School Girls’ Top 25.
Led by one of the program’s all-time greats, Taylor Cummings coached McDonogh to a perfect 21-0 record that included wins over some of the top programs from Florida (American Heritage Delray), New York (Manhasset) and Virginia (Bishop Ireton) in addition to its usual gauntlet of foes in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland that culminated with a 5-4 win over St. Paul’s in the IAAM final. … [READ MORE]
Jackie Wolak Named National Player of the Year
The Notre Dame-bound senior out of Ridgewood (N.J.) scored 79 goals to go with 42 assists, 135 draw controls, 50 caused turnovers and 106 ground balls. She finished her career, which included two seasons at Saddle River Day (N.J.), with 492 points and as the New Jersey Player of the Year.
We’ll one-up that. Wolak’s season-long dominance in all phases of the game has earned her Brine/US Lacrosse High School Girls’ National Player of the Year honors. … [READ MORE]
Culver Edges Calvert Hall for No. 1
Some seasons, No. 1 just isn’t so obvious. What would you give to see a Culver-Calvert Hall game for all the marbles right now?
Culver Academy (Ind.), whose season-ending 16-game winning streak included two victories over the Canadian powerhouse Hill Academy (Ont.) in addition to wins over nationally ranked Haverford School (Pa.) and Gonzaga (D.C.), finishes the 2019 season at No. 1 in the Nike/US Lacrosse High School Boys’ National Top 25. The Eagles’ sole defeat came back on March 25 at the hands of McDonogh (Md.), a 12-11 setback.
Calvert Hall (Md.), the first team ever to three-peat in the mighty MIAA, is No. 2. The Cardinals’ lone blemish was a loss to the aforementioned Hill Academy. They also topped a top-10 team in Malvern Prep (Pa.). … [READ MORE]
Brennan O’Neill Named National Player of the Year
St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) junior attackman Brennan O’Neill is in an unusual position. According to coach Keith Wieczorek, people are actively rooting for him to fail.
Since his seventh-grade season, O’Neill has been the focal point on the field. He led Long Island in points as an eighth-grader. He closed this past season with a spectacular seven-goal effort in a 14-13 win over rival Chaminade (N.Y.) in the CHSAA (Long Island/state) championship game. And now, he’s one of the most heralded and hyped recruits in prep lacrosse history.
O’Neill’s ability to shake off the pressure and rise to the occasion on the biggest stage made him the no-doubt choice for the Warrior/US Lacrosse High School Boys’ National Player of the Year. … [READ MORE]