Girls lacrosse preview, players to watch: A loaded Div. 2 race awaits

Realignment may have brought a fundamental shift in power in Massachusetts girls lacrosse.

With Westwood, Reading, and Western Mass. power Longmeadow all dropping down from D1 to D2, the latter bracket may be where it’s at when tournament time comes around.

“We are looking forward to the competition that we face this year,” Westwood coach Margot Spatola said. “We face, our nonleague games are a mix of Division 1 and Division 2, and we’re looking forward to those challenges and seeing what this year brings.”

The team everyone is joining in D2 is last year’s champion, Notre Dame Academy of Hingham. The Cougars were the unquestioned best team in the state last spring, and typically reload despite heavy graduation losses.

“Last year’s class was so special, every single pair of shoes is going to be big to fill,” NDA coach Meredith McGinnis said.

Players to watch for the Cougars include midfielder Emma Connerty (committed to North Carolina), midfielder Jane Hilsabeck (Clemson), attack Siobhan Colin (Middlebury), attack Aubrey McMahon (Colgate), and defender Caroline Haggerty (Dartmouth).

“I have so much respect (for Westwood), obviously, right, I’m an alum,” McGinnis said. “There’s so much history with Westwood. Any team that we come up against, or that has such a tradition of success, and the quality of their program, we would love the opportunity to play. Same with Longmeadow. Longmeadow is now in Division 2. They’re a storied program, rich in tradition and success, coming out of the Western part of the state. Any team that constantly battles and is so well coached is a team we want to play.”

Westwood took an early loss to Medfield, but is as steady as anyone.

“We lost six contributors to graduation,” Spatola said. “While we do have kids who will be back again next year, we have some holes to fill that that we’re working on. So far, everyone’s working hard, and trying to get better every day. So, it’s nice.”

Players to watch from the Wolverines include midfielders Caroline Nozzolillo (Brown), Charlotte DeMaio (Quinnipiac), and Emilie DeMaio, defenders Hillary Noble (Skidmore) and Ava Kelly, and goalie Kathryn Donnellan.

Walpole will be a factor behind midfielders Caitlyn Naughton (UMass) and Grace and Emily Hagan. Reading made the Final Four in D1 last year and returns Bentley-bound Autumn Mathews and Caroline Jadul. Duxbury returns Maggie Slimbagh. Hannah Coleman (Lindenwood) is back for Masconomet.

D1 brings back its champion in Lincoln-Sudbury. All-American midfielder Harper Friedholm (Cornell) is back, along with Lydie Canavan (Dickinson), Lydia Mossi (Dickinson), and Ella Ryan.

Franklin should contend behind Katie Ryan and Emily Carney. Kaitlyn Uller (Davidson) is a special player for Wellesley, along with Eliza Chapman, McKay Pratt, Caleigh Renzella, Emily Munchak, and Bryce Lane. Nicolette Licare (URI) and Kierstyn Zinter (Tampa) lead Central Catholic.

D3 returns state champ Newburyport, who is led by Lilly Pons (Furman), Olivia McDonald (Colgate), and Kate Keller (Northwestern).

Wayland was a D2 state finalist with Lily and Jill Mele, Jane Tardif, Finley Knapp, and Lily Cerne. Dover-Sherborn was a D4 finalist and returns Avery O’Connell, Kelly Devine, Molly Malloy, and Chloe Penn

Foxboro will be a factor with Val Beigel, Mary Collins, Ella Campbell, and Audrey Campbell. Medfield is dangerous, with Kelly Blake (Boston College), one of the top players in the state,  Alex Proefrock, Izzy Kittredge, Mary Panciocco, Kendall Herrick, Katelyn Nicotera, and Maeve Kelly.

Ipswich, the defending D4 state champ, returns Halle Greenleaf, Estelle Gromko, Ella Stein, Morgan Sexton, Lucy Winthrop, and Allie Wile.

D3 finalist Norwell has Danielle and Charlise Cox, Holly Panttila, Caroline Burtch, and Charlotte Pithie. Another South Shore program to watch is Cohasset, with Laney Larsen, Reese Hansen, Libby Schiffmann, Avery Regan, and Kylie Newman.

Manchester-Essex returns Ella Chafe, Mechi O’Neil, Brigid Carovillano, Charlotte Crocker, Sylvie McCavanagh, and Abby Kent.

Weston will also contend behind Lily Kacycenski and Neta Leschly.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Taija Bell (Chelmsford)

Kelly Blake (Medfield)

Siobhan Colin (Notre Dame Academy)

Emma Connerty (Notre Dame Academy)

Charlise Cox (Norwell)

Danielle Cox (Norwell)

Willow Cyr (Concord-Carlisle)

Charlotte DeMaio (Westwood)

Emilie DeMaio (Westwood)

Meg Doyle (Weymouth)

Harper Friedholm (Lincoln-Sudbury)

Emilie Hagan (Walpole)

Grace Hagan (Walpole)

Reese Hansen (Cohasset)

Jane Hilsabeck (Notre Dame Academy)

Caroline Jadul (Reading)

Lily Kacycenski (Weston)

Nicolette Licare (Central Catholic)

Brooke Lomasney (Peabody)

Bailey Lower (Nantucket)

Grace Maroney (Hingham)

Autumn Mathews (Reading)

Karleigh Mutch (Concord-Carlisle)

Caitlyn Naughton (Walpole)

Caroline Nozzolillo (Westwood)

Lily Pons (Newburyport)

Katie Ryan (Franklin)

Lily Schmalz (Needham)

Maggie Simbagh (Duxbury)

Devan Spinale (Canton)

Kaitlyn Uller (Wellesley)

Kierstyn Zinter (Central Catholic)

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/gv1mCSw