Manchester Valley (Md.) a Force in Public High School Girls' Top 25

The season is only a couple of weeks old, and the publics have thrilled with must-see matchups that are molding the USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls' National Top 25.

Nos. 1 and 2 New Canaan (Conn.) and Darien (Conn.) open this week, and No. 3 Manchester Valley (Md.) will face some tougher challenges ahead, but they have looked unstoppable while outscoring their first three opponents a combined, 63-10.

Maria Bragg had a hat trick as No. 4 Severna Park (Md.) fought off Glenelg High (Md.) for a 6-5 win, and No. 8 Downingtown West (Pa.) defeated its toughest opponent yet, stopping perennial state contender Manheim Township (Pa.) 14-11 on Tuesday to improve to 6-0.

High-level Mid-Atlantic matchups prompted adjustments to their rankings. Moorestown (N.J.) picked up a win over nearby Haddonfield (N.J.) in the season opener, but then Haddonfield bounced back with a crucial interstate win over Springfield-Delco (Pa.). Springfield knocked off district rival Radnor (Pa.).

Cape Henlopen (Del.) displaced Broadneck (Md.) with a convincing win to join Haddonfield as new teams in the Mid-Atlantic and national rankings. Lake Mary (Fla.) and unbeaten Chapel Hill (N.C.) are newcomers to the South Region. Jackson (Ohio) enters the Midwest Top 10 with three early wins, while Bainbridge Island (Wash.) continues its climb in the West Region.

Midwest frontrunner New Trier (Ill.) faces a huge challenge from Loyola Academy (Ill.) for in-state and region bragging rights. The top two teams in the West – Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.) and Mira Costa (Calif.) — are both unbeaten and face off Saturday.

The USA Lacrosse Public High School Girls' National Top 25 and Regional Top 10 lists can also be found here in our rankings hub. Scroll below for this week's rankings, with each team's previous ranking denoted in parenthesis.

Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country, these rankings will be updated weekly on Thursdays.

National Top 25

1. New Canaan (Conn.), 0-0 (1)
2. Darien (Conn.), 0-0 (2)
3. Manchester Valley (Md.), 3-0 (3)
4. Severna Park (Md.), 5-0 (4)
5. Sayville (N.Y.), 1-0 (5)
6. Summit (N.J.), 1-0 (6)
7. Victor (N.Y.), 0-0 (7)
8. Downingtown West (Pa.), 6-0 (8) 
9. Morristown (N.J.), 1-0 (10) 
10. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.), 2-0 (13)
11. Moorestown (N.J.), 2-0 (14) 
12. Garden City (N.Y.), 1-1 (9) 
13. Haddonfield (N.J.), 2-1 (NR)
14. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 5-1 (15)
15. Cambridge (Ga.), 10-2 (16)
16. Milton (Ga.), 11-1 (17)
17. Cape Henlopen (Del.), 3-0 (NR)
18. Radnor (Pa.), 4-1 (12)
19. Wilton (Conn.), 0-0 (19)
20. Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), 1-0 (20)
21. Broadneck (Md.), 4-1 (11) 
22. Rye (N.Y.), 3-0 (21) 
23. Chatham (N.J.), 2-0 (22) 
24. Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.), 1-0 (23) 
25. Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.), 12-0 (24)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Anderson (Texas), Century (Md.), Conestoga (Pa.), Del Oro (Calif.), Fairport (N.Y.), Fairview (Colo.), Garnet Valley (Pa.), Glenelg High (Md.), Greenwich (Conn.), Lake Mary (Fla.), Liberty (Md.), Manheim Township (Pa.), Mira Costa (Calif.), New Trier (Ill.), Nyack (N.Y.), Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), Plant (Fla.), Pleasant Valley (Pa.), Ridgewood (N.J.), South Carroll (Md.), South Jefferson (N.Y.), Upper Arlington (Ohio), West Genesee (N.Y.), Yorktown (Va.)

Northeast Top 10

1. New Canaan (Conn.), 0-0 (1)
2. Darien (Conn.), 0-0 (2)
3. Sayville (N.Y.), 1-0 (3)
4. Victor (N.Y.), 0-0 (4)
5. Bayport-Bluepoint (N.Y.), 2-0 (6) 
6. Garden City (N.Y.), 1-1 (5)
7. Wilton (Conn.), 0-0 (7)
8. Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), 1-0 (8)
9. Rye (N.Y.), 3-0 (9)
10. Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.), 1-0 (10)

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

1. Manchester Valley (Md.), 3-0 (1)
2. Severna Park (Md.), 5-0 (2)
3. Summit (N.J.), 1-0 (3)
4. Downingtown West (Pa.), 6-0 (4)
5. Morristown (N.J.), 1-0 (5)
6. Moorestown (N.J.), 2-0 (8) 
7. Haddonfield (N.J.), 2-1 (NR) 
8. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 5-1 (9)
9. Cape Henlopen (Del.), 3-0 (NR)
10. Radnor (Pa.), 4-1 (7)

South Top 10

1. Cambridge (Ga.), 10-2 (1)
2. Milton (Ga.), 11-1 (2)
3. Anderson (Texas), 7-0 (3)
4. Plant (Fla.), 13-0 (4)
5. Lake Mary (Fla.), 11-2 (NR) 
6. West Forsyth (Ga.), 10-2 (5)
7. Vero Beach (Fla.), 13-3 (7)
8. Chapel Hill (N.C.), 10-0 (NR) 
9. Hagerty (Fla.), 12-5 (8) 
10. Frisco (Texas), 6-1 (9)

Midwest Top 10

1. New Trier (Ill.), 2-2 (1)
2. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 3-1 (2)
3. Hinsdale Central (Ill.), 5-0 (3)
4. Carmel (Ind.), 5-1 (4)
5. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 4-1 (5)
6. Lakeville South (Minn.), 0-0 (7) 
7. Hudson (Ohio), 1-0 (8)
8. East Grand Rapids (Mich.), 3-0 (9)
9. Brighton (Mich.), 2-0 (10)
10. Jackson (Ohio), 3-2 (NR)

West Top 10

1. Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.), 12-0 (1)
2. Mira Costa (Calif.), 12-0 (2)
3. Del Oro (Calif.), 10-1 (3)
4. Oak Ridge (Calif.), 10-2 (4)
5. Marlborough (Calif.), 9-2 (5)
6. San Ramon Valley (Calif.), 7-2 (6)
7. Bainbridge Island (Wash.), 7-0 (9) 
8. Fairview (Colo.), 5-1 (7) 
9. ThunderRidge (Colo.), 4-1 (8)
10. Chandler (Ariz.), 5-1 (10)