MIDWEST TOP 10
1. Loyola Academy (Ill.), 22-4
Roughly a week after edging rival New Trier for the sectional championship, the Ramblers topped another longtime rival, Hinsdale Central (Ill.), for the state title. Loyola Academy did so with remarkable balance as six different players poured in multiple goals, a fitting end to a season in which six players finished between 33 and 65 goals: Eileen Dooley (65), Riley Jenkins (52), Grace Dwyer (51), Emma Burke (49), Mia Chupaila (34) and Jocelyn Park (33). Previous: 1
2. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 21-3
Last year, the Golden Bears won their first 22 games, mostly by large margins, before falling in the state title game. This season, Upper Arlington endured a few regular-season losses and plenty of challenging competition in the postseason, including a one-goal win to return to state. Ultimately, the Golden Bears passed every test down the stretch, including a 14-10 state title game victory over Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), led by six goals from Ohio State commit Kampbell Stone and four goals and two assists from Lilly Stelzer. Previous: 2
3. New Trier (Ill.), 18-5
Regardless of their sectional title game loss, the Trevians were clearly one of the most impressive teams in the Midwest. All five of their losses came to elite teams, with two to Loyola Academy (Ill.) and one apiece to Georgetown Visitation (D.C.), New Albany (Ohio) and Paul VI (Va.), and all of those came by three goals or fewer. Addie Shevitz led New Trier in goals (67) and points (90) while Kennedy Meier and Claire Ratke tallied 62 points apiece. Previous: 3
4. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 21-3
The Patriots gave Upper Arlington a battle in the state championship game. While the Golden Bears ultimately won the title, the Patriots proved themselves among the state’s best teams throughout the season. Liberty’s highlights included senior Makena Harrington (91 goals, 26 assists) and junior Isabelle Pohmer (86 goals, 23 assists) both topping 100 points. Previous: 4
5. Lakeville South (Minn.), 15-0
Outside of a one-goal win at Prior Lake (Minn.), the Cougars have been dominant in every game they’ve played, including the Section 1 championship against Farmington. In that 20-3 Lakeville South win, Gabby Bouman (4 goals, 3 assists), Emily Moes (7 goals, 1 assist) and Sivanna O’Brien (4 goals, 1 assist) each had hat tricks within the first 11 minutes. Previous: 5
6. Sacred Heart Academy (Ky.), 23-5
Elizabeth Mueller, who had a critical hat trick in the state semifinals against Kentucky Country Day, finished the season with a team-leading 58 goals. Six different players added between 31 and 38 goals for the state champion Valkyries: Rosie Cobler (38 goals), Emerson Holthouser (35 goals), Molly Allen (35 goals, 37 assists), Evelyn Wickson (34 goals), Kiley Christensen (34 goals) and Kaelin Truman (31 goals, 18 assists). Previous: 6
7. Guerin Catholic (Ind.), 16-2
For the second straight season, Guerin Catholic topped Carmel in the state championship game with the Golden Eagles now winning three of their last four contests against the Greyhounds. Down 2-0 and 4-1 in the first half, Guerin Catholic rallied, helped by five goals from Caitlin Carter. Clare Alic and Alex Soucie also tallied hat tricks for the Golden Eagles. Previous: 7
8. New Albany (Ohio), 16-6
The Eagles got back to the Region 1 title game with a two-goal victory over Medina before falling to Olentangy Liberty in the championship. That snapped a remarkable string of six straight regional titles for New Albany. Still, the Eagles’ 2023 campaign had plenty of highlights, including wins over Hinsdale Central (Ill.), New Trier (Ill.) and Upper Arlington (Ohio). Previous: 8
9. Hinsdale Central (Ill.), 21-5
For the second straight season, the Red Devils fell in the state title game, this time to Loyola Academy. Hinsdale Central now has to say goodbye to a very talented senior class highlighted by three first team all-state standouts in M Angie Conley (78 goals, 66 assists, 144 points), D Fran Gick (30 caused turnovers) and A Reese Napier (84 goals, 37 assists, 121 points). Previous: 9
10. Dublin Coffman (Ohio), 18-3
The Rocks had a great season with two of their losses coming against one of the Midwest’s best, Upper Arlington, and the third coming in overtime against Liberty, which has been one of the Buckeye State’s best stories in 2023. Kate Tyack (78 goals, 26 assists) surpassed the 100-point mark for Dublin Coffman while Bailey Morris also topped 70 goals and led the Rocks with 44 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Previous: 10
— Jonah Rosenblum