Names You Need to Know for Each Team in High School Girls' Top 25

We unveiled the USA Lacrosse High School Girls’ Preseason National Top 25 on Wednesday. Now let’s take a deeper dive on each of the teams that are nationally ranked going into the 2025 season.

1. St. Anthony's (N.Y.)
2024 record: 19-0

The Friars are coming off a magical undefeated season and graduated a generational talent in Tess Calabria. But St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) isn’t ready to give up their spot atop the mountain. Julia May O’Connor (Syracuse) is the anchor defensively, Molly Hiney (Johns Hopkins) will be instrumental on both sides of the ball with her athleticism and composure, while Katherine Rathjen (Florida State) and Emma Speed (Florida) led the line offensively. And juniors Anna Christie (Northwestern) and Cameron Pupke (Princeton) will also play key roles.

2. St. Paul's (Md.)
2024 record: 16-5

The Gators came on strong to win their third IAAM title in four years. Goalie Susan Radebaugh (Florida) is the biggest loss for a team that has a lot of its stars back. Marleigh O'Day (Clemson), Riley Vasile (USC), Caroline Hoskins (Florida), Sofia Herrera (Maryland) and Maggie Porter (Penn State) are seniors with big-time winning experience. Defenders Lilly Schwing (Boston College) and Colleen Lorden (Florida) give St. Paul’s solid defense in front of the new goalie, either Kylee Keenan (Charlotte) or Liv Moag (Pittsburgh). If their trend continues, the Gators will be tough to beat in May.

3. Maryvale (Md.)
2024 record: 16-3

Maryvale last won the IAAM in 2002, but they are a definite threat this year with all but two starters back from a team that lost just two games and beat St. Paul’s in the regular season. The Lions have serious star power with the top goalie in the country, senior Tessa DeLuca (Clemson), and the No. 1 junior in the country, attacker Cayden Reese (Maryland). Fellow junior Emma Mohn (Yale) is another of the 24 players that return with experience and the drive to bring Maryvale a title.

4. Episcopal (Pa.)
2024 record: 21-2

The Churchwomen have a senior class that has been contributing for three years already. Maura Irish (Notre Dame), Boston College commits Grace Holland and Quinn Whitaker, Avery Le (Penn), Kate Dente (Princeton), and Brynn Kehl (Bryant) bring great leadership. Juniors Sofia Gagliardi (Penn State), Caitlin McCarthy (Duke) and Teagan Cook (Georgetown) are strong parts of the loaded roster. Agnes Irwin (Pa.) has been a thorn in their side, but Episcopal has the talent to beat anyone.

5. McDonogh (Md.)
2024 record: 17-2

The Eagles lost six starters, including top midfielder Kate Levy (UNC) along with Remi Schaller (Michigan) and Amanda Lawson (Stanford), but have strength back on the defensive end led by Kit Laake (Maryland), Mckenzie Brown (Northwestern) and goalie Reagan O’Donovan (Syracuse). McDonogh will look to push the ball in transition. Newcomer Ava Fossati (Boston College) should help shore up the midfield.

6. New Canaan (Conn.)
2024 record: 21-1-1

New Canaan (Conn.) should again be a favorite to win a ninth state championship in program history. Ceci Patterson (Notre Dame), who made 12 saves in last year’s CIAC Class LL championship game, returns. Addie Crowley (USC) anchors the defense, Sydney Patten (UPenn) and Maddie Tully (Cornell) will lead in the midfield and Emma Row (Columbia) will lead the attack line for the Rams.

7. Darien (Conn.)
2024 record: 16-5-1

Can the Blue Wave make it 21 state championships? We’re not about to count them out. There’s a stellar defense featuring Isabel Alini (Colgate), Summer Glenday (USC), Quinn Kennedy (Richmond), Lyle Brown (Marist) and Sophie Haas (Tufts). Back on offense are Anna Von Kennel (Florida), Annabell Adams (Virginia), and Hope Hapgood (Dartmouth).

8. Good Counsel (Md.)
2024 record: 21-0

Hannah Rudolph (Northwestern) and Hailey Heubner (Stony Brook) are huge graduation losses, and Carys Volley (Denver) won’t return to full go until April, and so the midfield is a question mark as they head into a front-loaded schedule with Notre Dame (Md.), Maryvale (Md.), Agnes Irwin (Pa.), Episcopal (Pa.) and Georgetown Visitation (D.C.) all on tap in March. The Falcons will lean on Dani Serrano (Marquette), Ava Grandi (High Point), Annabelle Walsh (Denver), Lucy Beucher (Monmouth), Addison DelGandio (Rider), Julia Girard (Bryant), Liz Stogner (Mount St. Mary's) and Ava Panetti (Campbell). GC shouldn’t have any issues winning a fourth straight WCAC crown, but another undefeated season would be astounding.

9. St. Anne's-Belfield (Va.)
2024 record: 22-1

Could they be better this year than last year’s breakout season? Possibly if their newcomers can fit right in. STAB lost seven starters, but added seven transfers, including Blair Fox (UVA), Kelsey Kirkheide (Navy), Allison Hankins (Syracuse) and Madison Vandross (Pitt). They’ll add to the returning mix that includes midfielder Lee Kestner (Michigan), attack Raleigh Foster (UVA), attack Stuart King (UVA), defender Ashton Kilfoil (UNC) and goalie Hadley Booth (FSU). An early test against McDonogh will show a lot.

10. Stone Ridge (Md.)
2024 record: 16-4

The Gators lost only four games last year, and an early season win over St. Paul’s was a highlight. Stone Ridge graduated six starters, but has one of the most dynamic attackers in the country, Sophia Stoltz (UNC), along with defender Logan May (Villanova), sophomore attack Chloe Cassidy, midfielder Allison Haag (Yale), defender Izzy Bernasek (Notre Dame), sophomore midfielder Birdie McKay and goalie Emerson Cullinan (Holy Cross) to rely on. The team plays fast and aggressive and again challenges itself with a top schedule.

11. Noble & Greenough (Mass.)
2024 record: 18-1

The Bulldogs are looking to make it four Independent School League titles in a row and will led by a strong senior core, which includes nine impact players. Among them are Caroline McCullough (Duke), Hadley Laughlin (Notre Dame), Rory Taylor (Boston College), Emerson Midura (Harvard) and Ava Newman (Notre Dame).

12. Sayville (N.Y.)
2024 record: 21-0

Last year was just perfect as the Golden Flashes went undefeated and won a first-ever New York State title. There are ample reasons to believe Sayville (N.Y.) should again be a strong contender, with eight starters returning, including goalie Julia Lilienthal (Vanderbilt), defender Lucy Livingston (USF), midfielder Sophia Buffardi (Michigan), Sofia Cangelosi and Olivia Desimone (Florida State) and attackers Dylan McNamara and Abby Galaris (Wesleyan). Morgan Farrell (Johns Hopkins) transferred back and Carly Cangelosi (Rutgers) and Julianna Montalto (Arizona State) return from ACL injuries.

13. Agnes Irwin (Pa.)
2024 record: 15-5

Agnes Irwin has a talented senior class led by Caroline Chisolm (Boston College), Mairyn Dwyer (UNC), Rowan Lawrence (Denver), Catie Holmes (Maryland) and Emma Tayloe (Navy). They will help soften the loss of five graduates. The Owls had a pair of huge regular-season wins over Episcopal (Pa.) that they hope to duplicate in what’s become a terrific matchup. They just hope to get off to a faster start after going .500 through six games last year.

14. Archbishop Spalding (Md.)
2024 record: 12-5

Spalding graduated a big scorer in Gabby Greene (Florida), but has a balanced group that gives them a lot of scoring options. Midfielder Maeve Cavanaugh (Notre Dame) and defender Ella Doerschner (High Point) are senior leaders, and attack Ella Jane Ostrowski (Army) and goalie Ella Davis (UVA) are standout juniors. A large sophomore class will contribute as well for the Cavaliers.

15. Sacred Heart Greenwich (Conn.)
2024 record: 15-3

The coaching staff is playing musical chairs, with Sharon Robinson moving to assistant coach, Jackie Goldmann now head coach, and Stephanie Serino associate head coach. What doesn’t change is how strong the Tigers will be. Back are midfielders Charley Bacigalupo (Notre Dame), Daphne Fallon (Georgetown), Georgia Lillis (Stanford), and Ryan Hodge, as well as defenders Maddy Hartnett (Furman), Casey Smith (Boston College), Torin Witek (Syracuse) and Mackenna Kelly (Richmond) to go along with returning goalies Addy Flinchbaugh and Olivia Franco.

16. American Heritage-Delray (Fla.)
2024 record: 22-1

The Stallions lost South Region Player of the Year Victoria Tomonto (Penn State), along with Brooke Goldstein (Clemson) and Caroline Byrd (Michigan) to the collegiate ranks, but the team has reloaded with juniors Ashley Egbert (Maryland), Lily Svirsky (Columbia) and Hali Horvath (Penn State) expected to play key roles this season.

17. Victor (N.Y.)
2024 record: 19-3

Five starters are gone from the squad that won a third consecutive New York State Class B championship, but there is high-level talent returning for the Blue Devils, including Morgan Livingston (Arizona State), Maia Pronti (Georgetown), and Allie Pisano on attack, Julia Bruno (Pittsburgh) and Camryn Adrid (Princeton) in the midfield and Brin Gotham (Michigan) and Lila Kubrich (Yale) on defense.

18. Garden City (N.Y.)
2024 record: 17-2

The Trojans might be even better than last year when they went 17-2 and lost to West Islip (N.Y.) in the Long Island Class B championship. There’s a strong senior class back, led by attackers Kyle Finnell (Northeastern) and Arci Haffner (Holy Cross), midfielders Tori Ottomanelli (Harvard), Kathryn Monaco (Villanova), Meg Lynch (California) and Ellie Andersen (Cornell), who all started a year ago.

19. Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.)
2024 record: 16-3

Suffolk Class C might be the deepest conference in the Northeast, but the Phantoms have some horses to help navigate them to the top. They include Ava Meyn (Maryland), Aubrie Eisfeld (Clemson), Emma Shanahan (Quinnipiac), Kailey Bruckner (Towson) and Olivia Brady in midfield, Erika Kreuscher (Stony Brook) and Sara Richardt (Binghamton) on attack and Emma Brown (Stanford) and Shannon Carney (Binghamton) on defense.

20. Wilton (Conn.)
2024 record: 16-4

Wilton (Conn.) is relatively young and inexperienced but has a ton of promising young talent that will be battle-tested by a challenging schedule. Senior captains Abby Phelan (Lafayette) and Mia Sommer (Tufts) anchor the defense along with Erin Kelly (Bryant). Paige Leung, another captain, leads the midfield with Rose Bilella (Marquette) and Ally Phelan. Co-captain Georgia Polito returns on attack, and Sam McDonnell (Cornell) will be in goal.

21. Manchester Valley (Md.) 
2024 record: 17-1

The Mavericks return all but one starter from their one-loss team. And one of those starters back is Emma Penczek, a five-star player headed to Clemson. Sophie Baer (Jacksonville), Haylee Bittinger (Mount St. Mary’s) and sophomore Taylor Fique headline the rest of the veterans back. They will have battles with Century (Md.) and Severna Park (Md.) starred in the regular season.

22. Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.) 
2024 record: 17-4

The Seahawks return all but two starters from a squad that won the New York State Class D championship last season. Leading the charge is two-time All-American Maya Soskin (Florida) in goal, along with midfielders Ryan Reynolds (Maryland) and Maggie Spehr (Middlebury) and attacker Kelly Callaghan. The entire starting defense of Mackenzie McGraw, Rachel Louie (Rochester), Michelle Coles, and Zoe Soskin returns and after a solid freshman season, expectations are elevated for Olivia Mulada.

23. Georgetown Visitation (D.C.) 
2024 record: 15-6

The Cubs have the ability to contend with anyone. Midfielder Quinn Murray (Stanford) and defender Addy Collins (Virginia Tech) along with junior Kenzie Rassas (Notre Dame) pace the team that has two-thirds of its midfield and all three starting defenders back. Visi has experience and plays a schedule that will allow the team to showcase its skill.

24. Colorado Academy (Colo.) 
2024 record: 19-0

Colorado Academy won its ninth consecutive 5A CHSAA State Championship after a dominant 15-3 victory over Fairview (Colo). The Mustangs went undefeated, 19-0, in the 2024 season. Colorado Academy returns standouts Addy Westerberg (Arizona State), Alexa Lang (South Florida) and Addison Smith (Cornell) for their senior campaigns. Sydney Goodspeed and Harper Ezrine, another USF commit, are also returning as juniors and freshman Seven Greaves will be one to watch this season.

25. Rye (N.Y.) 
2024 record: 19-4

The Garnets return a bevy of athletic and hungry players who helped lead them to the New York State Class C championship game a year ago. Taylor Bainbridge (Washington and Lee), Cami Brooks, and Kathleen Denvir (Brown) anchor the defense, Katherine Ebeling (Columbia) returns in goal, and Caroline Doyle (Duke), Mary Sack (UPenn), and Lucy Wyckoff (Skidmore) lead the charge in the midfield for a Rye (N.Y.) squad looking to take one step further this year.