The US 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
Claire Maloney, New Canaan (Conn.)
It’s been a long wait, made even longer by a quarantine that delayed the start of the 2021 season, but Maloney more than made up for lost time with a sterling performance in a 7-5 win over rival and nationally ranked Darien. The junior Brown commit, in her first varsity start, made 10 saves to hand the Blue Wave a rare in-state defeat. She split time with senior captain Shea Hobbs on Saturday and made five saves in an 15-8 win over Greenwich (Conn.).
“Claire is a standout on and off the field,” New Canaan coach Kristin Woods said. “She is hardworking, driven and focused to make an impact in every game. Her dedication to improving every day is evident in her outstanding play this season.”
Also notable: Shea Dolce, Darien (Conn.); Ryan Hapgood, Darien (Conn.); Izzy Casucci, St. Joseph (Conn.); Braeden LeBeau, North Branford (Conn.)
— Dylan Butler
MID-ATLANTIC
Christina Gagnon, St. Paul’s (Md.)
Gagnon was huge in the circle and on offense as St. Paul’s became the first IAAM team since 2008 to knock off former No. 1 McDonogh (Md.) in a regular-season game. The USC-bound senior scored five goals and had three assists in a 16-9 win over the previously unbeaten Eagles on Wednesday. There was no letdown against a solid Bryn Mawr (Md.) team, as Gagnon tallied three goals and one assist in a 15-10 win on Saturday to keep the Gators perfect this year and in first place in the IAAM going into the final week of the regular season.
Also notable: Allison Baldwin, Georgetown Visitation (D.C.); Rachel Clark, Conestoga (Pa.); Lindsey Devir, Ridgewood (N.J.); Cate Gallagher, Chatham (N.J.); Nancy Holleran, Notre Dame (Md.); Dylan Silar, Moorestown (N.J.)
— Justin Feil
SOUTH
Josie Ward, Franklin (Tenn.)
Vanderbilt recruit Josie Ward has played at a high level throughout the season, scoring 141 points in 15 games played. Ward has seven goals in three straight contests and has converted on more than 75 percent of her shots. She had seven-goal, three-assist games against both Ensworth (Tenn.) and Page (Tenn.) last week.
Also notable: Maddie Dora, Milton (Ga.); Brooke Goldstein, American Heritage-Delray (Florida); Sofia Guttmann, St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida)
— Justin Boggs
Nike/US Lacrosse High School Rankings
National Boys' Top 25 | National Girls' Top 25
Northeast Boys' Top 10 | Northeast Girls' Top 10
Mid-Atlantic Boys' Top 10 | Mid-Atlantic Girls' Top 10
South Boys' Top 10 | South Girls' Top 10
Midwest Boys' Top 10 | Midwest Girls' Top 10
West Boys' Top 10 | West Girls' Top 10
MIDWEST
Josie Lillquist, Eden Prairie (Minn.)
So far, so good for the Eagles junior, as she tallied seven goals and two assists in a 15-2 victory over Hopkins (Minn.) on Thursday, which marked Eden Prairie’s second win of the season. Lillquist was equally effective in the Eagles’ first game, notching eight goals and three assists against St. Michael-Albertville (Minn.). That puts her at 15 goals, five assists and 20 points through just two games.
Also notable: Ellie Lazzaretto, Loyola Academy (Ill.), Kampbell Stone, Upper Arlington (Ohio); Katie Rodriguez, Rockford (Mich.); Angie Conley, Hinsdale Central (Ill.)
— Jonah Rosenblum
WEST
Elena Torres, Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.)
The junior Drexel commit helped Foothill into the West Top 10 this week, leading the Knights’ attack in a 19-8 win over former No. 9 Newbury Park (Calif.) on Saturday. Torres finished with six goals and one assist, as the Knights capitalized on 58 percent of their 33 shots on goal. She has 22 goals and four assists through five games.
Also notable: Alannah Scott, San Ramon Valley (Calif.); Celeste Murphy, Amador Valley (Calif.)
— Laurel Pfahler