2024 High School Girls’ Lacrosse Team-by-Team Preview
PAC Liberty
Boyertown
Head Coach: Pam Wernersbach, 20th season
2023 Record: 7-3 PAC Liberty, 10-3 PAC, 15-7 overall, PAC finalist, District 1-3A second round
Players to watch: Alina Friz, Sr.; Adison Harner, Sr.; Reagan Harner, Sr.; Hannah Ulrich, Sr.; Hannah Adamski, Jr.; Alex Bliss, Jr.; Peyton Shellaway, Jr.; Nicole Shimukonas, Jr.; Kamryn Pier, So.; Riley Pier, So.; Teagan Tyson, So.
Outlook: Boyertown graduated a sizable senior class, including All-Area first team attack Delaney Fox, in the offseason but have a healthy returning group led by midfielder Hannah Adamski (first team) and attack Alina Friz (second team). “The coaches are looking to capitalize on our players’ willingness to work hard and strive for constant improvement as students, athletes, and a lacrosse team,” Wernersbach said. “This group of athletes will support each other through the challenges that no doubt will come into play during the season as we seek to excel.”
Methacton
Head Coach: Laurie Markle, 16th season
Last year’s record: 6-4 PAC Liberty, 9-4 PAC, 12-8 overall, PAC semifinals, District 1-3A qualifier
Players to watch: Lily DeWan, Sr., mid; Giada Catoia, Sr., mid; Bella Catania, Jr., mid; Leah DeWan, So., mid; Brayden Williams, Sr., attack; Alexa Catoia, So.; def.
Outlook: The Warriors will be built around a group of multi-sport athletes but have a couple glaring holes with the graduation of All-Area first team picks Michelle Zhai (Academic All-American) and Megan Sanelli. Lily DeWan was All-Area second team on defense a year ago. “We have a young, inexperienced team with talent. We have to learn to work together as a team and we will be very competitive,” Markle said. “There will be a learning curve.”
Norristown
Head Coach: Annie Golphin, fourth season
Last year’s record: 0-10 PAC Liberty, 0-13 PAC, 1-15 overall
Players to watch: Alexander Carpenter, Jr., Brandis Baylor, Jr., Nadia Jackson, So., Kayla Rivera, So., Emma Mulligan, So., Jada Arrington, So., Avyana Baity, So., Danae Martin-Johnson, So.
Outlook: With a roster built around juniors and seniors, the Eagles are focused on development as players and as a team. “We are a young team so it’s extremely exciting to continue to watch them develop and improve overall as a team,” said coach Annie Golphin. “Overall, we want to continue to develop participation numbers and stick skills within the team.”
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Joe Youngblood, 1st season
Last year’s record: 10-0 PAC Liberty, 13-0 PAC, 27-1 overall, PAC champion, District 1-3A champion, PIAA 3A champion
Players to watch: Korrigan Sweeney, Sr., GK; Sierra Milano, Sr., attack; Ava Christoforou, Sr., def.; Brooke Cano, Sr., attack; Morgan Karas, Sr., Attack; Emery Horn, Sr., attack; Pippi Waldman, Jr., attack; Natalie Chin, Jr., midfield; Laina Grimm, Jr., midfield; Ashly White, Jr., defense; Keira Clemson, So., attack.
Outlook: It’s a new era in many ways for the Wildcats after the graduation of a transcendent 2024 class that led the program to PAC, district and PIAA championships, a group headlined by co-All-Area Players of the Year Gabbi Koury (Florida) and Alexa Vogelman (Syracuse). Head coach Dave Schlesinger also departed and former assistant Joe Youngblood is now leading the squad after the early-season resignation of Emily Considine. Despite all the turnover, there’s still plenty of top-end talent for OJR, namely All-Area first team returners Korrigan Sweeney and Ashly White, and attack Sierra Milano. A 2-2 start indicates life won’t be as easy as last year, but the Wildcats are still positioned toward the top of the PAC with postseason visions.
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Rae Waite, 1st season
Last year’s record: 2-8 PAC Liberty, 5-8 PAC, 6-12 overall
Players to watch: Leah Pfeiffer, Sr., attack; Holli Nuss, So., attack; Sydney McMonagle, Sr., midfield; Grace Shaffner, Sr., attack; Julia Foley, Jr., midfield; Charlotte Foster, So., goalie.
Outlook: There’s a new name as head coach for PV, but she’s anything but new to the program. A 2014 Perk Valley grad, Rae Waite has been a varsity assistant since 2019 following her college career at Slippery Rock. The Vikings return leading scorers Leah Pfeiffer and Holli Nuss, both all-PAC players in 2023, as was senior midfielder Sydney McMonagle. At 2-3 in the early going with a win over Methacton, PV looks a good bet to challenge for a district playoff place.
Spring-Ford
Head Coach: Kelly Macnamera, 1st season
Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC Liberty, 8-5 PAC, 8-10 overall
Players to watch: Lindsay Evak, Sr.; Hailey Mozi, Sr.; Lexi Sowers, Sr.; Ilyana Jones, Sr.; Gianna DiBattista, Sr.; Riley Czapor, Jr.; Lily Fazio, Jr.; Kristina Cirino, Jr.; Morgan Evak, So.; Megan Ruckman, So.
Outlook: Spring-Ford returns four of its five players who earned All-Area recognition last year, all four playing their final high school seasons before playing in college: Hailey Mozi (Drexel) , Lindsay Evak (Fairleigh Dickinson), Lexi Sowers (Wagner), Ilyana Jones (Virginia St.). There’s a new coaching staff headed by Kelly Macnamera, a North Penn grad who played at IUP. “We have a talented group of returners and newcomers in our program this year. With multiple committed juniors and seniors, we are continuing to build upon the successes from last season,” said assistant coach Grace Cobaugh. “The team has been working hard in the offseason and have been committed to making each other better each day. We are continuing to grow as a team under new leadership and are excited for what’s to come!”
PAC Frontier
Phoenixville
Head coach: Aamina Thornton, 16th season
Last year’s record: 9-1 PAC Frontier, 10-3 PAC, 11-8 overall
Players to watch: Kylie Joyce, Sr.; Ava Siaton, Sr.; Mackenzie Hickey, Sr.; Maggie Rost, Jr.; Natalie Murray, Jr.; Amelia St. Hilaire, Jr.; Danielle Eliasson, Jr.; Ava Demutis, Jr.; Erin Reedy, Jr.; Bridget Kelly, Jr.; Natalie Illingworth, Jr.; Claire New, Jr.; Samantha Schwartz, So.; Addison Graver, So.; Audrey Burke, So.; Avah Breisblatt, Fr.; Adeline Peterson, Fr.
Outlook: Phoenixville positioned itself atop the Frontier the past two seasons and will go again with a squad heavy on juniors, including returning All-Area players Danielle Eliasson and Erin Reedy. The Phantoms will need to replace the scoring of Jamie Michaud, All-Area second team in 2023 now playing at Ursinus.
Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Erik Fritzinger, 3rd season
Last year’s record: 6-4 PAC Frontier, 7-6 PAC, 11-9 overall, District 1-2A second round
Players to watch: McKayla Elison, Sr., goalie; Jill Cobaugh, Sr., midfield; Elena Colliouri, Sr., midfield; Ava Zepp, Sr., attack; Kristen Ebner, Sr., defense; Tess Riley, Sr., defense.
Outlook: PJP got above .500 and won a district playoff game a year ago with a roster very short on seniors. The Golden Panthers benefit from that success and a lot of continuity as it looks to keep climbing in the PAC Frontier. University of Tampa commit Jill Cobaugh heads a sizable senior class for PJP. “We have a great group of seniors that provide leadership and underclassmen that want to learn and improve,” coach Fritzinger said. “We define success by controlling our attitude and enthusiasm and love for one another each day.”
Pottsgrove
Head Coach: Brandy Scherer, 1st season
Last year’s record: 2-8 PAC Frontier, 2-11 PAC, 3-15 overall
Players to watch: Christine Hires, Jr, midfield; Abby Young, Sr, offense; Hannah Kumpf, Sr, offense; Emily Sorg, Sr, midfielder; Josie Wyatt, freshman; Vivian Kyler, freshman; Gianna Rytel, freshman; Maddie Miller, freshman, Natalie Latimer, freshman
Outlook: After 17 seasons at Pottstown, Brandy Scherer moved uptown to Pottsgrove and began anew with a largely new-look Falcons unit. “Being my first year with the Falcons, we will continue to focus on the success they have had over the years,” Scherer said. “Only returning four starters from last year, we will see a lot of freshmen getting varsity playing time. The goal is to grow and learn each day.”
Pottstown
Head coach: Stephanie Konnick, first season
Last year’s record: 0-10 PAC Frontier, 1-12 PAC, 3-15 overall
Players to watch: Brynn McClune, Sr.
Outlook: The Trojans have a new head coach in Stephanie Konnick, a Pottstown grad who went on to play in college at East Stroudsburg. Wins have been in short supply in recent years for the Trojans so incremental growth will be the goal for the current squad.
Upper Merion
Head Coach: Angie Yanocha, 19th season
Last year’s record: 8-2 PAC Frontier, 8-5 PAC, 11-8 overall, District 1-3A qualifier
Players to watch: Olivia Smith, Sr., Attack; Sam Walmsley, Sr., Mid.; Grace Solley, Sr., defense; Addie Eaton, Sr., defense; Elisa Dougherty, Jr., midfield; Anaya Onwubuariri, Jr., goalie.
Outlook: Upper Merion earned a place in districts a year ago and will target the same postseason qualification this spring with a balanced roster that will challenge for best in the Frontier. “We have some talented players returning, but we are also young at the same time, having graduated several key seniors last year,” said coach Angie Yanocha. “Right now we are working on team chemistry and that will come with time. We have a hard-working group with good attitudes and are looking to return to district playoffs again this year.”
Upper Perkiomen
Head Coach: Catie Sobotor, 6th season
Last year’s record: 5-5 PAC Frontier, 5-8 PAC, 9-10 overall, District 1-2A qualifier
Players to watch: Abby Davidheiser, Sr.; Maggie Milkowich, Sr.; Taylor Bieler, Sr.; Abby Orsini, Sr.; Mia Schneider, Sr.; Marianne Uber, Jr.; Maguire Simms, Jr.; Ava Senseny, Soph.; Giana Kozminski, Soph.; Mia Ulmer, Soph.; Ruby Howard, Fr.; Olivia Keyser, Fr.
Outlook: Upper Perk has a healthy returning corps with three All-PAC players from last year in Abby Davidheiser, Taylor Bieler and Maggie Milkowich. The Tribe will be targeting a winning record and return to the district playoffs. “This year, we have a veteran group of returning players that we are looking to take on a bigger role this year. We are bringing back a lot of our starting line up and see a lot of players stepping up to fill voids especially on the offensive end,” said coach Catie Sobotor. “We will also be leaning on some younger players to contribute and step up in some spots throughout the year. Overall, I’m excited to see how we can continue to improve and work towards our goals this season.”
OTHERS
Perkiomen School
Head coach: Nicole Meehan, 3rd season
Last year’s record: Participated in Penn Jersey Championship game & 1st Round of PAISSA
Players to watch: Lilly Gunder, Jr., GK; Delaney Ickes, Fr., midfield; Caroline Mellon, Jr., midfield; Taylor Fiorini, Sr., attack; Taylor Fields, Jr., attack; Payton Dotson, Soph., defense.
Outlook: “With the addition of our new talent to the team, we are looking forward to competing for our conference championship as well as aiming to win a first round PAISAA game,” coach Nicole Meehan said.
