Lethal Lefty Madison Taylor Continues Special Year

HONG KONG, China — Madison Taylor clutched a red, fluffy, dragon-inspired bobblehead as she smiled and answered every question asked of the media eager to speak with her at the Hong Kong Football Club Stadium.

Drenched in sweat after another humid day, Taylor stood with her U.S. Women’s U20 and Northwestern coach, Kelly Amonte Hiller — a former player well accustomed to the attention that comes with being a star lacrosse player — fresh off earning Player of the Match honors and being awarded the cultural gift.

“It’s really unique, honestly,” she said about the dragon bobblehead. “I don’t know where I’ll put it yet. Maybe I’ll bring it to school. I’ll let you know.”

After the college season that Taylor finished over Memorial Day weekend — one in which she dropped 83 goals and 33 assists and finished as a Tewaaraton Award finalist — the rising junior is starting to get used to the awards and the attention that comes with them.

Taylor’s special year continued with the trip to Hong Kong for the World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship, and she’s continued her goal-scoring ways through two games. She dropped nine points on five goals and four assists to lead the United States to the 28-4 victory over Puerto Rico in the second of four pool-play matches on Saturday.

The same play seemed to be on repeat. Taylor caught passes from teammates in transition, dodged her way into space and faced a decision. She chose to unleash her left-handed shot — one of the best in college lacrosse — five times, and she dished it to another teammate as part of a dizzying passing display from the U.S.

Amonte Hiller credited the selflessness of her offense, on a day when the ball moved too quickly for the Puerto Rico defense, for the efficient afternoon that helped the U.S. move to 2-0 in pool play.

“Our offense did a great job today of moving the ball around, but also finishing the opportunities we had,” she said. “I was proud of the way that we stayed discipline throughout the game. The kids that we picked, they like each other, they play for each other, they have great chemistry. There’s no ego; whoever’s open is the one that will get the opportunity.”

Fortunately for the United States, Taylor has found ways to get open and finish the chances she creates. She has 12 goals on 15 shots — all with her lethal left hand — and is second in the competition in points (behind teammate Emma LoPinto).

“We always know where each other is on the field, and it makes the game so much easier,” Taylor said. “It helps when I dodge, the people around me are helping create that space for me to work. I’ve done that shot a million shots, and it’s just in the back of my head at this point.”

There is truth to the fact that the members of the U.S. U20 offense have clicked as if they’d been playing together for years. Taylor and Madison Alaimo, a standout as a freshman at Virginia last spring, suited up for Wantagh (N.Y.) for two seasons before the former headed to Northwestern.

Together, Taylor and Alaimo helped raise the Wantagh program to new heights, appearing in the Nassau County title game multiple times. Less than three years later, they’re working in tandem across the world — connecting five times so far for goals.

“Playing with Maddie in high school has definitely been helpful,” Taylor said. “We’ve picked up right where we left off, and we have chemistry maybe more so than players who have yet to play with her.”

When Taylor isn’t receiving passes from Alaimo, she’s getting pinpoint feeds from LoPinto, her former high school rival. Opponents on the basketball court and the lacrosse field during their high school careers, Taylor is relishing the opportunity to play with LoPinto.

The tournament’s two leading scorers, each of whom wanted to emulate the other, connected twice in the victory over Puerto Rico.

“Two of the best players in the NCAA on one team in Emma and Madison, and then you add in Madison Alaimo, and it’s just a really cool dynamic that they have,” Amonte Hiller said. “All the other players that come in and out, it’s a dynamic group.”

LoPinto isn’t the only member of the Boston College national championship team to enjoy playing with Taylor for the first time. Lydia Colasante and Shea Baker both spent time defending Taylor in two games this season. The happiest Eagles player, though, might be All-American goalie Shea Dolce.

“When Madison gets her hands free, it’s almost always going in the back of the net,” Dolce said. “Her shot is probably top three types of shots I’ve seen. A lot of people can shoot a lefty sweep, but when she has a stick in her hand, she’s almost automatic. Now being able to watch it from the other side, I’m happy and constantly in awe of her shot.”

Taylor’s left-handed shot has developed into one of the most dangerous tools in the game, and it could prove vital if the U.S. hopes to repeat as gold medalists in Hong Kong. For now, she said she’s enjoying a lacrosse memory of a lifetime.

In Thursday’s opening ceremonies, Taylor carried the United States flag out to the field at Mong Kok Stadium. Twelve goals and two wins later, she stills lists that moment as the highlight of her journey to Hong Kong.

“Easily, that was the best moment,” she said. “That was surreal. Just seeing the way people ran up to us, some were almost in tears. It makes you be grateful for where you are and what we’re doing. Getting to walk out with the flag has been something I’ll remember forever.”