Welcome to Varsity Sports Network’s 2011 preseason Top 20 girls’ lacrosse poll. VSN ranks the top teams in the Baltimore region which covers public and private schools in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Harford County and Howard County.
1. McDonogh School (20-0 last season)
Player to watch: Jen Cook, Sr., Attack
The Draw: Defending national champions out for three-peat in IAAM A Conference with another loaded roster.
2. Notre Dame Prep (18-4)
Player to watch: Covie Stanwick, Sr., Attack
The Draw: Blazers once again the greatest threat to McDonogh’s reign, led by nation’s No. 1 recruit Stanwick.
3. John Carroll School (18-4)
Player to watch: Erica Bodt, Jr., Midfield
The Draw: Coach Krystin Porcella, who will lead U.S. National U-19 squad, has pieces in place at Bel Air powerhouse for a big spring.
4. South River (17-2)
Player to watch: Kelsea Donnelly, Sr., Goalie
The Draw: Seahawks seek repeat as Class 4A/3A state champions.
5. Winters Mill (18-1)
Player to watch: Erin McMunn, Sr., Attack
The Draw: McMunn, an U-19 national team member, will be the center of Falcons’ charge at another 2A/1A state crown.
6. Severna Park (16-1)
Player to watch: Kendyl Gardner, Sr., Attack
The Draw: Six college commits including Gardner (High Point) and Elizabeth Barranco (Loyola) look to get Falcons past South River and back atop Class 4A/3A state mountain
7. Bryn Mawr School (13-5)
Player to watch: Morgan Rubin, Sr., Midfield
The Draw: Mawrtians will again loom large in the IAAM A Conference title chase.
8. Broadneck (15-3)
Player to watch: Paige Duncan, Sr., Attack
The Draw: The Bruins will be in fierce battle with Severna Park and South River for survival in Anne Arundel County.
9. Century (17-2)
Player to watch: Alice Mercer, Jr., Midfield
The Draw: New coach in Becky Trumbo, but goal of another state Class 3A/2A title remains the same for Carroll County powerhouse.
10. St. Mary’s (13-6)
Player to watch: Dani Lazo, Sr., Midfield
The Draw: Despite personnel losses via graduation, Saints seek another deep postseason run in IAAM A.
11. Marriotts Ridge (16-2)
Player to watch: Alana Diffendal, Sr., Attack
The Draw: After a state Final Four berth in program’s second season, Marriottsville school’s thinking a state title in 2011.
12. Liberty (10-4)
Player to watch: Maggie McCormick, Jr., Midfield
The Draw: Lions set to challenge reigning state champs Winters Mill and Century in Carroll County.
13. C. Milton Wright (15-5)
Player to watch: Alyssa Blevins, Sr., Defense
The Draw: Led by Blevins, a U-19 National Team pick, Mustangs seek to erase bitter taste of Class 4A/3A finals loss last spring.
14. Glenelg (13-5)
Player to watch: Kayleigh Hinkle, Sr., Attack
The Draw: Gladiators would love to give coach Ginger Kincaid another state crown after she won first field hockey title this past fall.
15. Severn School (11-8)
Player to watch: Rachael Nock, Sr., Attack
The Draw: The Admirals will be a tough out in super-deep IAAM A.
16. Roland Park Country School (14-7)
Player to watch: Caroline Seats, Sr., Midfield
The Draw: The Reds will have one of the area’s elite performers in Seats, who’s headed to Georgetown.
17. North Harford (11-7)
Player to watch: Haley Ford, Jr., Midfield
The Draw: Hawks look to get back to Class 3A/2A state title game.
18. Hereford (11-7)
Player to watch: Megan Bell, Sr., Midfield
The Draw: Defending Baltimore County champs have significant firepower back from last spring’s 3A/2A North Region finalists.
19. Dulaney (10-8)
Player to watch: Kara Burke, Sr., Attack
The Draw: The Lions will again challenge for supremacy in Baltimore County.
20. St. Paul’s School (9-9)
Player to watch: Brooke Boyd, Jr., Midfield
The Draw: The Gators will be intriguing as Brooke Kuhl-McClelland, who led Mount Hebron to local and national prominence, has the coaching reigns.
