MID-ATLANTIC TOP 10
1. McDonogh (Md.), 20-1
Taylor Cummings has stepped down as Eagles head coach after the top seed McDonogh captured their first IAAM A Conference championship since 2019 with a 13-8 win over second-seeded St. Paul’s (Md.). Unbeaten this season in the toughest conference in the country, McDonogh’s only loss this year came at the hands of non-conference foe Georgetown Visitation (D.C.) in the first half of the season. They then streaked to the title. They outscored their final eight opponents by 9.6 goals per game. Previous: 1
2. St. Paul’s (Md.), 18-3
After a decisive 16-4 win over third-seeded Maryvale (Md.), the two-time defending champion Gators fell to McDonogh in the championship game. St. Paul’s jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the final. The Gators lost twice to McDonogh and dropped a narrow decision to national No. 1 Darien (Conn.) that was the marquee matchup in a challenging non-conference schedule. They won seven straight before falling in the title game. Natalie Shurtleff (58 goals, 17 assists, 68 draw controls), Lauren Steer (43G, 32A, 28 ground balls) and Frannie Hahn (48G, 52A) led the Gators all year. Returning to lead next year after the loss of five senior starters will be defender Kira Balis (Clemson) and goalie Susan Radabaugh (Syracuse). Previous: 2
3. Maryvale (Md.), 16-3
The third-seeded Lions lost in the IAAM A Conference semifinals, their deepest run since reaching the title game in 2012. Maryvale fell to St. Paul’s, 16-4, after rattling off 10 straight wins. Maryvale took a big step forward this year with a pair of one-goal losses to McDonogh and St. Paul’s being the only marks against them in the regular season as they enjoyed a breakthrough season. Maryvale thrived with a balanced attack with five players with 25 goals or more led by Cayden Reese’s 34 goals. Sam Paradise (33 goals, 56 draw controls), Noel Cumberland (27 goals, 35 DC) and Abby Francioli (54% save rate) were named all-league from a team that had nine senior starters. Previous: 3
4. Archbishop Carroll (Pa.), 19-1
The District 12 representative Patriots will open defense of their AA state title on June 6 against District 1 third-place finisher Upper Moreland (Pa.). Carroll hasn’t played since winning its 22nd straight Philadelphia Catholic League title on May 19. Ava Bleckley (50 goals, 33 assists, 66 draw controls), Machaela Henry (37G, 21A, 67DC), Chloe Bleckley (42G, 16A, 45DC) and Bridget Robinson (90 saves, 56% save rate) lead a team with eight senior starters into states against a UM offense led by three players who hit 100 career goals – Annalise Messina, Pace-bound Reagan Cummins, and Olivia Meakim – as well as Bel Leiter while the defense in front of goalie Addi Hurley, who has more than 200 career saves, is led by Avery Adamski and Charlotte James. A win would put Carroll up against the Crestwood (Pa.)-Gwynedd Mercy (Pa.) winner in the state quarterfinals June 10. Previous: 4
5. Glenelg Country (Md.), 14-4
The fourth-seeded Dragons fell in the IAAM A Conference semifinals to McDonogh, 13-4, to close another strong season. The game marked the conclusion of Paige Walton’s 24-year coaching tenure with the Dragons, which she helped to steer out of the C Conference, through the B Conference and up to the A Conference in 2017. Glenelg won its first 10 games of the year while proving they could overcame losing a huge senior class that took them to the IAAM finals a year ago. Blair Byrne (86 points), Regan Byrne (58 points) and Maggie Flanagan (61 draw controls) helped lead the offense while the defense in front of breakout goalie Natalie Eastwood (56% save rate) was led by Ashley Dyer. Previous: 5
6. Archbishop Spalding (Md.), 12-5
The Cavaliers’ season ended with a heartbreaking 7-6 overtime loss to Glenelg Country in the IAAM A playoff quarterfinals on May 5. They had won six out of seven games coming into the contest. Spalding had a 13-2 edge in draws and grabbed an early 2-0 lead. Spalding graduates just two senior starters and will return the bulk of their roster led by Maeve Cavanagh, Gabby Greene and Maddie Wrenn as they look to climb in the toughest division in the country. Previous: 6
7. Owen J. Roberts (Pa.), 23-1
The Wildcats handled upset-minded Penncrest (Pa.) 14-7 to win the District 1 AAA championship, their first district title since 2002. Alexa Vogelman had six points on five goals and an assist while Gabbi Koury filled the stat sheet with a hat trick, assist, 10 draw controls, nine ground balls and four caused turnovers. At the other end, the group of Cailin Harrington, Rachel Sbei, Avery Wentzel and Ashly White limited the Penncrest offense. Korrigan Sweeney made 12 saves enabling Owen J. Roberts to pull away after leading 7-4 at halftime. Owen J. Roberts will host Downingtown East (Pa.) on June 7 in the first round of the AAA state tournament. The Wildcats are led by nine senior starters – Koury (Florida), Vogelman (Syracuse), Colby Wasson (Xavier), Sbei (Furman), Cailin Harrington (Villanova), Ava Clemson (Butler), Avery Wentzel (Duquesne), Kalli Mullen (Haverford) and Blakely Doyle (Liberty). Previous: 7
8. Summit (N.J.), 18-2
The Hilltoppers rolled into the North Jersey, Group 2 state tournament final that was scheduled for June 5 against Mendham (N.J.) with a pair of wins by a combined 36-6 score. Summit edged Mendham, 8-6, back on April 13. They stopped Pascack Valley (N.J.) 17-1 in the quarterfinals. The Hilltoppers bested Voorhees (N.J.) 19-5 in the semifinals with Lily Spinner and Anya Wardle each having seven points apiece and Molly Davies and Nell Ducey each scoring hat tricks. Lauren Riley won six draw controls. Spinner had six points, Wardle dished out five assists and Riley had four goals in the win over Pascack Valley. Previous: 8
9. Episcopal (Pa.), 16-3
The Churchwomen wrapped up their season with a 14-5 win over Germantown Academy (Pa.). Episcopal was undefeated in Inter-Ac play. Overall, they lost two of their first three games, a narrow one-goal loss to national No. 2 McDonogh (Md.) and then a tough one to Conestoga (Pa.). They went on a tear after that which included wins over eventual Delaware champion Tatnall (Del.) and ISLAA champion Stone Ridge (Md.), and two wins over PAISAA champion Agnes Irwin (Pa.). Their only loss in that period was to Summit. Lex Ventresca (46 goals, 40 assists) led the team in points, Maura Irish scored a team-leading 47 goals, Quinn Whitaker had 56 ground balls and 39 caused turnovers, and Grace McHugh recorded 28 goals, 23 draws, 40 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers. Draw specialist Syd Richter had 77 draws and 26 ground balls. McHugh (Syracuse), Whitaker, Irish, and Richter (Georgetown) will all be back for a team that graduates just three senior starters. Previous: 9
10. Manchester Valley (Md.), 19-0
Emma Penczek tied former Century (Md.) star Katie Schwarzmann’s state title game record with nine goals to lead the Mavericks to a 15-7 win over Middletown (Md.) for the Class 2A state championship. Manchester Valley finished as the only unbeaten public school in Maryland. Penczek finished her sophomore year with 93 goals, 43 assists, 129 draw controls and 37 caused turnovers. Senior midfielders Casey Meredith (78 points) and Erin Herrold (45 points, 61 DC). Haylee Bittinger (65 points) and Penczek will be back to help replace eight seniors, five of whom were starters. Previous: 10
— Justin Feil