There is no shortage of impressive winning streaks throughout the country as we get set to start another week of girls lacrosse action.
Seventh-ranked Vero Beach (Fla.) is front and center in this category, having compiled 55 consecutive victories. If the Fighting Indians get four more, they'll win yet another FHSAA title in the Sunshine State. Last season they edged Lake Brantley for the state playoff championship, 10-9.
For second-ranked McDonogh (Md.), it's 43 and counting. Last week they scored a season-high 23 goals in improving to 11-0 this spring.
All the way up the East Coast, Londonderry (N.H.) has won 41 in a row. That streak should be put to the test this week with three games in five days, including one interstate contest against formidable Duxbury (Mass.).
Jamie Leone of No. 4 Farmingdale.
File photo by Jane Haslam.
No. 1 Garden City (N.Y.) has come out on top in 35 games in a row. The defending NYSPHSAA Class B champs have taken out opponents from three different New York sections this season, as well as No. 6 and CHSAA member St. Anthony's in double overtime.
Alta (Utah), at No. 17, has won 38 in a row, and No. 18 Medina (Ohio) has won 25 games consecutively.
In all, teams from 11 different states make up this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 20 National Girls Lacrosse rankings, with teams from New Hampshire and Georgia appearing for the first time. Teams from five different states comprise the Top 10.
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 20 NATIONAL GIRLS LACROSSE RANKINGS1. Garden City (N.Y.), 8-0: Caroline Tarzian has 14 assists on the season. (Last week's ranking: No. 1)
2. McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.), 11-0: The Eagles have scored 15 or more goals in eight of their last nine games. (Last week's ranking: No. 2)
3. Ridgewood (N.J.), 8-0: Sally Jentis and
Kelci Smesko each had six goals in a 19-13 win over previously ranked Yorktown (N.Y.). (Last week's ranking: No. 3)
4. Farmingdale (N.Y.), 7-1: Senior attack
Jamie Leone has 45 points for the Dalers. (Last week's ranking: No. 4)
5. New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 11-0: A 23-0 win against Highland Park (Ill.) last week was actually the second highest total for goals in a game this season for the Trevians, who beat Evanston Township 25-1 in their second game. (Last week's ranking: No. 5)
6. St. Anthony's (Melville, N.Y.), 7-1: Christine Schreiber had six goals and a pair of assists in a 24-12 win over Sacred Heart. (Last week's ranking: No. 6)
7. Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Fla.), 18-0: The Fighting Indians beat second-year program Jensen Beach 24-1 to win their seventh straight District 9 title. (Last week's ranking: No. 7)
8. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 14-1: The Falcons beat a pair of New York teams – Brighton and Northport – last week. (Last week's ranking: No. 9)
9. West Genesee (Camillus, N.Y.), 7-0: Melanie Murphy and
Kara Dattellas each had four goals and
Katey Hart had three goals and four assists in a 25-3 win over Auburn (N.Y.). (Last week's ranking: No. 15)
10. Fox Lane (Bedford, N.Y.), 9-0: Sammy Jo Tracy had three goals and an assist as the Foxes edged then 20th-ranked Lakeland/Panas 10-9. (Last week's ranking: No. 14)
11. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Alexandria, Va.), 18-2: A 9-6 win over Episcopal (Pa.) was the Saints' seventh straight victory. (Last week's ranking: No. 16)
12. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), 9-1: The Patriots' loss was a 10-9 decision to No. 7 Vero Beach (Fla.). (Last week's ranking: No. 18)
13. Northport (N.Y.), 7-1: An 18-13 setback to Good Counsel (Md.) was the Tigers' first loss of the season, dropping them just a bit. (Last week's ranking: No. 8)
14. Wantagh (N.Y.), 8-1: The Warriors lost for the first time this season, falling to Farmingdale 14-10. (Last week's ranking: No. 12)
15. West Morris Mendham (Mendham, N.J.), 8-1: An 11-10 setback to No. 9 West Genesee (N.Y.) is the lone blemish on Mendham's record. (Last week's ranking: Not ranked)
16. Westwood (Mass.), 7-0: The Wolverines await a key game this week against a Duxbury (Mass.) team coming off a win over then-No. 11 Westborough. (Last week's ranking: No. 19)
17. Alta (Sandy, Utah), 10-0: The defending state champ Hawks have won 38 straight. (Last week's ranking: No. 17)
18. Medina (Ohio), 4-0: The Battling Bees have now won 25 straight. (Last week's ranking: No. 13)
19. Milton (Ga.), 13-1: An early season loss to Vero Beach (Fla.) is the Eagles' only defeat. (Last week's ranking: Not ranked)
20. Londonderry (N.H.), 4-0: The Lancers, who have won 41 straight, will play three games in five days this week. (Last week's ranking: Not ranked)
Dropped out: Greenwich (Conn.), No. 10; Westborough (Mass.), No. 11; Lakeland/Panas (N.Y.), No. 20.
Joe Lombardi writes the "Lax with Joe" blog at LaxLessons.com and is an analyst for the MSG Varsity Television Network. He is also the primary author of the new edition of "Lacrosse for Dummies," which was released last year. He may be reached at joe@laxlessons.com
