USA Lacrosse High School Girls' Players of the Week

The USA Lacrosse Players of the Week recognize the most outstanding individual performances in high school girls’ lacrosse in each of the five regions — Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest and West — outlined in our high school coverage.

NORTHEAST

Chloe Humphrey, Darien (Conn.)

What better occasion than a meeting between two of the top teams in the country for Chloe Humphrey to prove she is the best player in the nation in the Class of 2023. That’s just what the Darien (Conn.) senior did, scoring seven goals and adding a pair of assists in the Blue Wave’s thrilling 13-12 win over St. Paul (Md.) at Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse headquarters Saturday. The North Carolina commit scored her first two goals in the opening two minutes to set the tone for Darien. Humphrey tied the score at nine as she hit the ground on a converted 8-meter attempt and then she set up Ryan Hapgood to put the Blue Wave in front, 12-11, with 8:07 remaining.

“Chloe was a machine, she set the tone early by scoring within the first minute and then continued to dominate,” Darien coach Lisa Lindley said. “She did everything — dodged and scored, fed, draw control and rode hard. Anyone who watched this game saw why Chloe is the No. 1 recruit in the nation. She is a phenomenal player and I have so much respect for her competitive drive and mental and physical toughness she exhibits.”

Also notable: Anastasia Byrnes, Byram Hills (N.Y.); Sara Flobeck, Mt. Sinai (N.Y.); MK Lescault, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (N.Y.); Maddie Lyle, Somers (N.Y.); Shea Panzik, Manhasset (N.Y.); Addie Pattillo, Wilton (Conn.)

— Dylan Butler

MID-ATLANTIC

Emma Penczek, Manchester Valley (Md.)

The Mavericks have bolted out to an unbeaten start, and the sophomore midfielder is one of the reasons. Penczek scored five times and won six draw controls to help Manchester Valley hand defending Class 2A champion Century (Md.) its first county loss in five years. It’s the Mavericks’ second win over a defending state champ this season in their 8-0 opening.

Neither the Mavericks nor her stopped there in a pair of wins at the Clash of the Counties Tournament, 18-6 over Catonsville (Md.) and 18-3 over South River (Md.). Penczek scored eight goals, dished out four assists and picked up 12 draw controls in the wins. She already has 50 draw controls this season along with 36 goals and 23 assists. She also eclipsed career marks last week of 100 goals, 150 points and 100 draw controls.

Also notable: Blair Byrne, Glenelg Country (Md.); Aditi Foster, Penn Charter (Pa.); Gabby LaVerghetta, Garrison Forest (Md.); Bridget Robinson, Archbishop Carroll (Pa.); Lily Spinner, Summit (N.J.)

— Justin Feil

SOUTH

Taylor Lapointe, Steinbrenner (Fla.)

Steinbrenner’s Taylor Lapointe is playing some of her best lacrosse of the season at the most critical time. Starting off playoff action, Lapointe scored nine goals last week, including six in a win over Mitchell (Fla.). She now has 41 goals and 18 assists for the season. Lapointe is slated to join Kelly Amonte Hiller’s vaunted Northwestern program.

Also notable: Grace Hoverman, Hockaday (Texas); Harper Jones, Anderson (Texas); Ella Pauley, Milton (Ga.); Sara Williams, All Saints Academy (Fla.)

— Justin Boggs

MIDWEST

Gianna Kurelko, Benet Academy (Ill.)

Kurelko had a huge weekend as the Redwings established themselves among the region’s best. She provided nearly half of her team’s scoring in a 13-10 win over Hersey (Ill.) with four goals and two assists, scored twice against one of the region’s top teams in New Trier (Ill.) and then had a role in the majority of her team’s points in an 11-9 win against Kentucky Country Day (Ky.) with two goals and four assists. And in that big-time win over one of the Bluegrass State’s best, Kurelko also had five draw controls and five ground balls.

Also notable: Maggie Graczyk, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.); Elizabeth Mueller, Sacred Heart Academy (Ky.); Addie Shevitz, New Trier (Ill.); Mary Velner, Edina (Minn.)

— Jonah Rosenblum

WEST

Kaley Kakac, Valor Christian (Colo.)

The senior midfielder and draw specialist scored the game-winner in double overtime to lift the Eagles to a 14-13 win over previously unbeaten St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.) on April 14, but that wasn’t her only significant contribution. She played an important role in giving Valor Christian possession, winning 19 draw controls on 26 attempts. The Eagles were down two players because of foul trouble when Kakac won the game on Eliza Osburn’s assist. Kakac, who is committed to Johns Hopkins University, finished with one goal and one assist.

Also notable: Cate Alexander, La Jolla (Calif.); Leslie Iorio, San Ramon Valley (Calif.); Maddy Jokerst, Regis Jesuit (Colo.); Zoe Martin, Colorado Academy (Colo.); Megan McDevitt, Grant (Ore.); Eliza Osburn, Valor Christian (Colo.); Camille Samarasinghe, Torrey Pines (Calif.); Ava Whitt, Cherry Creek (Colo.)

— Laurel Pfahler