Girls: Hill and Hill Photograph, the KSL Rewind of Skyline @ Brighton, and the Coaches Poll ranking the top 10 teams.
Welcome to this week's article covering high school girls lacrosse. In this edition, we'll explore the featured game highlighted by Hill and Hill Photograph, the KSL Rewind of Skyline at Brighton, and the Coaches Poll ranking the top 10 teams.
Starting this week, college updates will be posted exclusively on Tuesdays. With the continued growth of lacrosse in Utah, there's an abundance of exciting content that simply can't be contained within a single article.
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Hill and Hill Photograph: Highlighted Game of the week.
The Box Elder Bees faced off against the undefeated Woods Cross Wildcats in a highly anticipated matchup on April 11, 2024. Despite the cloudy and breezy conditions at Wildcat Stadium, both teams were eager to compete from the start. Box Elder quickly took the lead with an early goal from Ava Andreason, who went on to score a hat trick. Rylee Linton of Woods Cross responded with an impressive scoring streak, netting five consecutive goals, but Box Elder stayed competitive with goals from Madisyn Johnson and others.
The first half ended in a 6-6 tie after freshman Wildcat Lila Dunn broke Linton's streak. The second half continued to see back-and-forth action, with goals from Linton, Dunn, and Ella Mathews for the Wildcats, matched by Box Elder's Ava Andreason, Elle Anderson, and Brielle Braegger. In the final minutes, Box Elder's Allyssa Roberts narrowed the gap to 9-8, but Woods Cross managed to control the clock and secure two more goals, clinching an 11-9 victory and maintaining their undefeated season.
Despite the loss, the Box Elder Bees showcased strong offensive and defensive play, with goalie Kylie Jones and the defense limiting Woods Cross to one of their lowest scoring outputs of the season. However, they couldn't contain Linton, who finished with seven goals, along with Mathews and Dunn contributing to the Wildcats' success.
In conclusion from Head Coach McKenzie Christiansen, “our Wildcats experienced a bit of a slump during the game against Box Elder. We collectively recognized that it was not our finest performance of the season. We struggled to execute our passes effectively and maintain a steady defensive flow, which is uncharacteristic of our team. Despite these challenges, the ladies rallied together and secured the win. However, we are all eager to regroup and return to our usual form in the upcoming week. “
Girls KSL Game Recap - Skyline @ Brighton Bengals
It was a beautiful evening at Brighton’s stadium for a Region 6 battle, showcased on KSL Rewind, where the girls’ varsity Brighton Bengals hosted the Skyline Eagles on Friday (4/12). Both teams showcased collective prowess, leading to a final score of 11-7 in favor of the Brighton Bengals.
From the get-go, it was clear this wasn't going to be a one-person show. Brighton and Skyline showcased their depth, with a roster full of players ready to turn heads. Tied 2-2 after the first quarter, Brighton managed to pull ahead, leading 6-4 at the half. And just when you thought things couldn't get any more exciting, Brighton snagged and ended the third quarter 9-6 going into the fourth.
Brighton, riding high on a five-game winning streak, showed off some serious defense, while their attack moved with the speed and confidence without getting noticeably flustered. Brighton displayed impressive midfield double team defense, securing 19 ground balls, with notable offensive contributions from Isabelle Gurley (#4) and Charly Eichner (#14) each scoring 3 goals, supported by a diverse scoring effort from Caroline Lee (#15), Marley Rodney (#16), Avery Miller (#18), Sophie Nielsen (#20), and Alexandra Heugly (#23). Senior, Isabelle Gurley (#4), snagged the KSL Rewind Player of the Game due to her efforts of creating offensive opportunities, plus her remarkable defense of McMaster while owning her draw controls. Meanwhile, junior Annabelle Keefer (#13) guarded the net like it was her personal fortress, shutting down Skyline's attempts with the swagger of a seasoned pro being aggressive on the edges of the crease, playing with confidence.
On the flip side, Skyline brought their A-game too, with their only loss coming into the game against Park City and a recent win over Lone Peak. Junior, Sammy McMaster (#9), came into this game already having 27 goals this season, disrupted the midfield with her 2 CTs and 6 ground balls, displaying tactical patience on attack while waiting for the right opportunities to drive to goal. Despite facing a determined Brighton defense, players like senior Sage Roberts (#24) and sophomore Mette McNally (#19) showcased their offensive prowess, naming McNally the coaches’ Player of the Game. In goal, Natalie Niederhauser (#58) and Jade Sullivan (#59) exhibited commendable shot-stopping abilities, further contributing to Skyline's defensive resilience. While the outcome favored Brighton, the match served as a testament to the competitive vigor and depth of talent within Region 6 girls lacrosse.
No. 1 Olympus - Climbing to first in weekly Coaches’ Poll, and 4th in the 5A Region 6 rankings, the lady Olympus Titans are starting this week with a 5-1 record. In their latest game against Alta, they showcased their talents on the field with a 19-4 victory. Junior Sarah Anné (#12) owned 7 draw controls and senior goalie, Sydney Rossi (#0), with 5 saves. Hannah Nelson’s (#4) 4 goals and Hazel Baker’s (#5) 5 goals, the Titans were lighting up the scoreboard, proving they're a powerhouse on the field. In addition, junior Masami Goodick (#8) scored 4 goals, while junior Sarah Anné (#12) came with 5 goals and 3 assists. Look to watch the Olympus Titans play as a unit today 4/15 at their away non-region game against Wasatch at 6pm
No. 2 Park City - Park City's girls' lacrosse team, under Coach Mikki Clayton, has surged to second place in the coaches' poll and holds a flawless 2-0 region record, putting them first in the 5A Region 6. With an overall 6-1 record, they've excelled in recent games, including a 23-0 win over East and a 22-4 victory against Skyline. Standout performances from players like Rogan Crawford (#24), Megan Magee (#5), and Charlie Iacobello (#6), while Shiva Minter (#7) and Maddie McHenry (#40) were named players of the game. Additionally, their recent 21-10 win against the Miramonte Matadors on Saturday in California further solidifies their prowess on the field. Their next game will be in the sunny state of California today at 6pm against the Carondelet Cougars.
Park City Miners with the Miramonte Matadors in California.
No. 3 Mountain Ridge - Mountain Ridge has been holding steady in position three since week 2 of the Coaches’ Poll, proving they're a force to be reckoned with under the guidance of Coach Angie Maughan. With an impressive 8-2 record and a perfect 4-0 record in the 6A Region 2, they're showing no signs of slowing down. In their games last week, they had a 20-7 away victory against Corner Canyon on Tuesday with 7 players contributing goals and a total of 8 assists highlighting their collaborative approach. Olivia Cannon (#25) and captain Taya Chalk (#57) led the offensive charge with five goals each, while captain Kalli Guymon (#11) added four, solidifying their dominance on both ends of the field.
Their defense was relentless, forcing 19 turnovers, led by Brielle Fabert (#24) with 5. Cannon was named game MVP due to her impressive contribution of 5 goals, 2 assists, 3 ground balls and 1 caused turnover. Coach Maugh expresses how they “played well as a team and have belief in many different players being able to contribute in their specific roles each game…[they] are working hard to each excel in their roles and have a true teamwork mentality”.
On Thursday, the Sentinels found themselves in a 20-0 shutout against Copper Hills, where Mountain Ridge displayed offensive efficiency with 12 assisted goals and solid defensive play, allowing only two shots on goal and causing 10 turnovers. Strong efforts on the draw by Chalk and Guymon led to extensive offensive possession. Eleven different players contributed to the Sentinels' goals and had 33 team ground ball pickups, supported by Kylee Taylor's (#19) defensive prowess and quick high lacrosse IQ decisions moving the ball down the field, while Bella Christensen (#22) and Jaycee Ostler (#3) contributed two goals each. Named MVP of the game, Coach Maughan explains how Clark “looked to find the open players on offense and was able to secure 8 assists…she also scored 2 goals and [had] 3 ground balls”.
Looking to watch the lady Sentinels turn it up on the field? Their next game is away against Riverton on Tuesday (4/16) at 5:30pm.
No. 4 Woods Cross - The Wildcats hold their 4th position this week for the Coaches’ Poll while continuing their undefeated season landing themselves 1st in the 5A Region 5 standings going into this next week. Woods Cross started this week playing away against Northridge on Tuesday, pulling out an 18-5 win, and ended the week with a 11-9 win against the Box Elder Bees at home on Friday. Junior Rylee Linton (#16) commanded the Wildcat attack with 5 consecutive goals against the Bees, until freshman Lila Dunn (#45) and captain Ella Mathews (#2) were able to get the back of the goal, too. Up next, the lady Woods Cross Wildcats play at Bonneville on Wednesday (4/17) at 5:30pm.
No. 5 Bingham - Bingham is making waves, climbing up one position this week in the coaches’ poll! Under the guidance of Coach Courtney McCabe, they've elevated to second in the 6A Region 2 standings with a solid 6-3 record. Last week they took home a 13-9 victory over Riverton on Tuesday, with junior Norah Davis (#5) controlling the draws, the team securing 31 ground balls, 6 caused turnovers and having 6 of their goals come from assists. Senior Morgan Edman (#89) was named MVP due to her performance in goal with a 57% save rate and showcased fantastic leadership on the Miners’ defense. They ended the week with an 18-5 win over Corner Canyon on Thursday, where players like Aspen Little (#1) came out with 7 of the 18 goals and Sophie Grizzle (#27) dominated with 1 ground ball and 1 caused turnover. Senior Sophie Curtis (#12) was named coaches’ MVP due to her 5 goals and being a huge asset in the midfield, both with draw controls and contesting 50/50s. With their next game at home against Herriman on the horizon, Bingham is gearing up to continue their winning streak on Tuesday (4/16) at 5:30pm.
No. 6 Riverton - Riverton's girls are making moves and shaking up the competition moving up a position from last week! With Coach Joey Dorton leading the way, they are now sitting with an impressive 6-1 overall record. Despite a tough loss to Bingham on Tuesday, where they showcased their strength in the midfield and on attack, they bounced back with a commanding 12-7 win over Herriman on Thursday. Britney Davenport (#24) was nominated as MVP for the Bingham game due to her 9 ground balls, 1 assist, 4 draw controls and killer defense. Rachel Strong (#50) earned MVP honors for the Herriman game with 9 saves and holding the energy up on defense to lead them to a win. Riverton gears up for their Mountain Ridge game on Tuesday at 5:30pm.
No. 7 Brighton - Brighton girls’ lacrosse may have slipped a couple of spots in the coaches' poll, but they're still kicking it with Coach Melissa Nash leading the charge. With a solid 5-2 record overall and a flawless 2-0 record in the region, they're proving they mean business. Their recent 22-0 victory over West on Wednesday showcased their depth, with an impressive 18 players hitting the scoreboard, including goalie Annabelle "Abe" Keefer (#13), who pulled off some field magic. Player of the game honors went to junior Avery Miller (#18), not just for her on-field performance (1 assist, 9 draw controls) but also for her positive spirit, hustle and love of the game. Coach Nash reflects on this fun game against West, expressing “This game was about way more than lacrosse. We are so grateful to the West Panthers…watch-out for their goalie, she is amazing! The best part of this game was the half-time dance party with West and Brighton girls. This was a game to remind players, coaches and parents that lacrosse is more than just wins and losses.” The lady Bengals ended their week taking a win into the weekend against Skyline at home on Friday (KSL Rewind). Brighton is gearing up for their next challenge against Olympus, ready to keep the good times rolling, under away lights on Wednesday at 7:30pm.
Brighton Bengals’ game against the West Panthers on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Jake Johanson Photo
No. 8 Fremont - The Fremont Silverwolves’ are forging ahead, under the guidance of Coach Seth Jones, securing a solid 7-2 record and elevated themselves in the weekly coaches' poll by one position. Despite a tough loss to Farmington under home lights on Tuesday (7-5), where goals came from players like Azlyn Williams (#12) and Raina Button (#1), they bounced back with a triumphant 9-6 win against Davis Friday on away turf, led by senior McKaylee Sargent (#33) and Jensie Jeffries (#9) with their offensive successes and goalie MacKenzie Souza (#30) defending the goal with ease. With their next game against Weber at home on Tuesday, the Silverwolves are ready to show off their team skills.
No. 9 Herriman - With an overall season record of 4-4, the lady Mustangs are steadily making strides in the rankings, moving up a position in this week’s Coaches’ Poll, fueled by their recent performances on the field. Under the guidance of Coach Audree Erekson on Tuesday, Herriman showcased their abilities and prowess with a win against the Copper Hill Grizzlies under away lights, ending the game at 13-5. Herriman ended the week with a defeat on Thursday to Riverton at home (12-7). Looking ahead, they have an upcoming away region game against the Bingham Miners on Tuesday at 5:30pm.
No. 10 Farmington - Farmington's girls, led by Coach Chris MacAulay, has a solid 6-3 record, with an impressive 3-0 region record in 6A Region 1. Standout performances in recent victories against Fremont (7-5), Weber (11-2), and Waterford (16-9) have showcased the talent of players like juniors Alexandra MacAulay (#27), Hailey Larsen (#24), and Kate Carter (#9). As they prepare for their next game against Syracuse at home, Farmington aims to solidify their position as a competitive force in the league.
Interest in play? Fill out and share the following link with your network of players and their parents: Girls Box Interest Form.
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