Spring 2025: IAAM Lacrosse Preview
By Nelson Coffin
nelson@iaamsports.com
A CONFERENCE
Archbishop Spalding has already made a statement in season-opening 9-8 victory over reigning champ St. Paul’s School for Girls — which was No. 2 in national preseason rankings by both Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine .
“It was a good bar to set for what we can do,” Spalding coach Tara Shea said. “We showed that we can play against anybody.”
The Cavaliers will feature a strong attack featuring Isabella Ostrowski (Army West Point), who led Spalding with three goals against St. Paul’s, and junior Eleanor Roberts, who scored twice.
The midfield boasts Notre Dame-bound senior midfielder Maeve Cavanaugh and sophomore midfielders Makenna Salta and Sam Collins, a trio who accounted for four goals, a pair of assists and eight draw controls against the Gators.
Senior defender Ella Doerschner (High Point) steadies the defense in front of junior Virginia commit Ella Davis (9 saves against SPSG) in the goal.
A blend of young and veteran performers will guide Bryn Mawr this spring, with seniors Libby Speicher (A/M), Cam Kauffman (M, James Madison University) and Lulu Thapa (D, Villanova University) providing stability for juniors Gracyn Lambert (M, University of Virginia) and Zoe Herkalo, (G, Gettysburg College).
Sophomores Payton Van Zile (D) and Georgia Brown (A) will also be major contributors.
“We have a really dedicated and hard-working team this season, led by seven seniors,” coach Molly Wolf said. “The team is growing to become one cohesive unit, and everyone has been stepping up to fill roles and be impact players on the field. They might not be favorites on paper or in the rankings, but we are ready to show the league what Bryn Mawr lacrosse is all about!”
Severn returns a slew of standouts this spring, including senior team captains Bronwyn Bolton (M/D, Stanford University) Sally Reed (M, Colgate University) and McKenna Keefer (D, Dickinson College).
Senior defender Mary Pavon (St. Bonaventure) will also be part of a backline stationed in front of junior goalies Olivia Cochran (Navy) and Cari Davis (Ohio State).
Staunch juniors Antonia Huber (M, Army West Point), Suzy Urban (M) and Peach Wellschlager (A) will also play key roles for the Admirals along with sophomore newcomers Carys McKenzie (M), Kelsey Pozdol A) and Morgan Anderson G).
Look for freshmen midfielders Eleanor Beard and Brynn Houghton to make their mark as well.
Coach Kathy Rudkin said that the Admirals “head into this season with a fresh outlook and excitement for what this team can do. We return perhaps one of the most talented and experienced teams in my time as head coach and I am optimistic that we can be an extremely competitive force in the toughest conference in the country. We return 12 veteran players with plenty of varsity experience, and we have some newcomers we believe will make an impact for us as well. We are very experienced on the defensive end of the field and have great goalies, two of which are bringing their talents to the Division I level in college. Our coaching staff has great synchrony this season and we have been working hard to prep the team for what will be an awesome and challenging season.”
Maryvale will bank on its depth and talent to contend for its first title since claiming the 2002 A Conference crown.
However, coach Brian Reese cautions that the Lions “are still working on getting all the talent on the same page. We have experience and young talent across the board and hope to improve each day to be as strong as we can be at the end of the year.”
Senior goalie Tessa DeLuca (Clemson University), junior attackers Cayden Reese; (University of Maryland) and Emma Mohn (Yale University) and sophomore defender Kendall Carfine will anchor their respective positions for the Lions.
Defense will be the strong suit for coach Mac Ford at Notre Dame Prep, which returns all but one starter from last year’s squad.
Senior Ella Cox (Ohio State) anchors the backline while former defender Addie Carey (University of Southern California) moves to enhance the midfield unit for her senior campaign.
Senior Lily Peek (James Madison University) paces the attack for the Blazers.
“Our offense is young and unproven, but they are getting better every day,” Ford said.
Although she’s the only new coach in the A Conference after taking over the reins at Roland Park Country School, Annika Meyer is steeped in A Conference tradition.
A defensive standout on Notre Dame Prep’s 2018 championship team that snapped McDonogh’s 198-game winning streak, Meyer also played for four years at Johns Hopkins University and also logged a solo season at Virginia.
Now, she’s raring to go with a new challenge with the Reds.
“What you can expect to see out of RPCS lacrosse (are) some new faces, some old faces, lots of youth, a new fast-paced look for the Reds,” she said. “(We are) young and hungry to make a splash in the IAAM!”
To that end, Roland Park will be paced by juniors Isabel Insley (A, Princeton University), Grace Holthaus (A, Bucknell University) and Reagan Ramsey (M, Hopkins) with sophomore midfielder Callista Connor also a key contributor.
Last year’s runner-up, McDonogh, is ranked No. 1 by the Baltimore Sun with good reason.
Coach Megan Nicotra’s defense, featuring senior Northwestern commit Mckenzie Brown and junior Kit Laake (Maryland) and adept at causing mayhem in front of stellar junior goalie Reagan O’Donovan (Syracuse), should have conference rivals on edge with their ability to keep even the most prolific offensives in check.
Senior Payton Magday (University of North Carolina) and juniors Ava Fossati (Boston College), Ayiana Rippon (Clemson) and Reed Pinkin will lead an Eagles’ offense that produced a whopping 20 goals in their season opener before topping IMG Academy (Fla.), 11-7, last weekend. McDonogh edged St. Anne’s-Belfield, 9-8, two days later.
Nicotra said that she is well aware of the parity in the A Conference.
“Our conference is super strong this year and we look forward to a challenging schedule, great competition, and fighting for a championship in May,” she said.
Last spring, St. Paul’s School for Girls suffered as many conference losses (3) during the regular season as it did the previous three campaigns combined — and still captured its third championship in the last four years.
Coach Mary Gagnon and defensive coordinator Melissa Diepold are experts at bringing the best out of their players as the season progresses.
That’s why, although Gators have already dropped a season-opening 9-8 decision to Spalding, SPGG is likely to be in the thick of things when the playoffs begin in May.
With senior attackers Marleigh O’Day (Clemson) and Maggie Porter (Penn State) going to the goal, the Gators will threaten rival defenses
Seniors Caroline Hoskins (Florida) and Rileigh Vasile (Southern California) make for a potent midfield that seeks to ignite transition opportunities created by senior Sofia Herrera (Maryland).
John Carroll is looking to build on a successful campaign from last year when the Patriots advanced to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs after beating eventual champ St. Paul’s during the regular season.
“With key returners and fresh talent coming in, expectations are set, and there’s a renewed sense of determination in the air within the team and we are excited,” coach Laura Seifert said.
Senior midfielder Grace Marchetti (32 goals and 7 assists), senior attacker Annie Minoglio (31 and 7, Towson University) and junior attacker/midfielder Pieper McCue (Ohio State), who racked up a team-best 150 draw controls with 32 goals and 12 assists, spearhead an offense that is primed for action.
Colorado Academy transfer Alexa Lang will play in the goal for her senior season in Bel Air after posting a stellar 56.1% save percentage and a 4.6 goals-against rate for her former team last spring.
“There is no question the top teams in the IAAM like McDonogh, St. Paul’s, Spalding, and Maryvale have talent, great coaching, and a determination to win,” Seifert said. “This year our team has a great foundation built around returning players who gained valuable experience in the last two playoff seasons. The senior class, in particular, is stacked with leadership and skill. We expect our returners to play pivotal roles, both on and off the field, ensuring that the younger players step up and continue the momentum allowing us to continue to compete with the best of the best of our conference.”
Garrison Forest will be in a rebuilding mode this season, according to athletic director/interim coach Jessy Morgan.
The Grizzlies will be led by senior attacker Julia Cornblatt and her twin, Lauren, running in the midfield. Both of them are committed to Salisbury University.
Senior Brooke Talbott will head the defensive.
Look for junior Ellie Heidmann to make her presence felt on the attack with Cornblatt and Charli Newmarch, a freshman transfer from Australia.
Freshmen midfielders Vanessa and Veronica Gray, also twins, will add to the youth movement.
“I definitely think that we are going to progress throughout the season,” Morgan said. “And we will have lots of opportunities for new players.”
B CONFERENCE
Mount de Sales Academy will rely on seniors Mackenzie Conley (University of Notre Dame), Caroline Spears (St. Joseph’s University) and Marissa Fink (Tusculum University) in a quest to claim the program’s first-ever lacrosse crown.
Juniors Grace Herman (Bryant University), Ella Powers (Mount St. Mary University) and Maddie Sabatelli will also help in the regard.
“We have strong leadership and a well-balanced team with young players who are stepping into big roles,” coach Amy Donahue said.
Coach Robin Cardin Lowe said that Park School is ready for the challenge of B Conference action this spring.
“We are still trying to figure ourselves out as we have some significant holes to fill with the graduation of five significant players,” Cardin Lowe said.
Senior Keenan Clark (Delaware State), who was second in total points to current Princeton player Cassandra Kitchen last year, will have help on the offensive end of the field by junior Julia Goldstein (Muhlenberg College).
Seniors Meredith White, blessed with “vision and endurance” and Lily Park, “whose ambidextrous skills create a multitude of opportunities” are midfield mainstays for the Bruins, the coach said.
Juniors Bronwyn Downs and Alanna Davis lead a solid defense, aided by “pesky and disciplined” sophomore Lilly Warren in front of senior Melanie Visioco in goal.
Although new to the position, the first-year netminder has taken to “it with ease and has impressed her teammates and coaches alike,” Cardin Lowe said.
A strong senior class will be the calling card for Indian Creek this spring.
Senior captains Abbey Bunker (Robert Morris University) and Naima Bead work with with classmates Sophia O’Connell to anchor the midfield while working in tandem with a stout defensive unit that includes seniors Maisie White (Wesleyan University soccer), Bella John and Jessica Sheppard.
“I anticipate a lot of success from sophomore Stephanie Bunker, both on the draw and attack,” ICS coach Jess Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson added that potential from freshmen players, like Mackenzie Johnson (M), Casey Roth (D/M) and Megan Bach (A), should bolster the Eagles.
“Overall, we have a strong schedule and we are looking to continue to build after graduating a lot of talented seniors from last season,” she concluded
C CONFERENCE
Coach Megan Morales will have a strong core of veteran players and an impressive group of freshmen at her disposal this season for Catholic High.
“(They are) ready to make an immediate impact,” she said, alluding to seniors Maura Barnes (Ave Maria University) and Rachel Roane (Neumann University, joining Gabrielle Caruso (Seton Hill University) on a stellar midfield unit. “Their ability to dominate in draw controls, create scoring opportunities, and distribute assists will be key to our offensive success.”
Morales is also excited to have freshman Rose Harris, who, the coach said, “brings exceptional skill to the team. She has an eye for the net and isn’t afraid to attack the cage.”
Senior defenders Mia Chrisakis, juniors Anna Grace Bankert and Penny Pittman and sophomore Addison Seifert are the Cubs’ top defenders.
“The coaching staff is focused on fine-tuning both ends of the field, as we gear up for conference play in the next few weeks,” Morales said.
Key School will “have a good group of returning players along with some new ones to balance out our team this year,” coach Mary Beth Simmons said.
She also noted that wins over Rockbridge Academy, Meade and Severn Run give the Obezags hope for a successful season.
“We have one returning senior who is one of our midfield anchors plus four strong returning juniors who are stepping up big on both sides of the field,” Simmons added. “We have quite a few strong freshmen, one of whom has been really dominating at the draw.”
A rebuilding effort is in progress at St. Vincent Pallotti.
First-year coach Beth Stoddard has no illusions about the challenges ahead for a team that boasts 15 players, not all of whom have ever played competitive lacrosse.
She is ready to move forward, leaning on senior captains Kat Jones (A) and Sara Keita (M) to help promising junior goalie Xenai Briggs and sophomore attacker Madison Dankwa settle in at their respective positions.
Stoddard knows the feeling of playing the sport for the first time, something she did at Pallotti when the lacrosse coach spotted her playing basketball and recruited her to play lax.
She eventually went on to play at Towson University until a knee injury shelved that idea.
Even so, Stoddard has finally built up the confidence to teach others how to play a sport she has grown to love.
She said that she “couldn’t pass up” the opportunity to coach her alma mater.
