10. WESTWOOD CARDINALS

The Cardinals went 18–4 last year and won their section before ultimately losing to the group one Cinderella Mountain Lakes. Westwood is going to have a much tougher schedule, which will help their team gain even more confidence, one of the reasons why they are in the Top 10. Kiera Dunn scored 80 points collecting 45 goals and 40 assists as a middie. Sophia Piccinch is also a great attacker, scoring 38 goals last year. Julia Sisti will also have a huge year as the star goaltender for Westwood.

9. RIDGEWOOD MAROONS

What a year for Ridgewood last year, there were a lot of accomplishments. They won the Bergen County Tournament over a very successful Northern Highlands team and the Group 4 State Championship. They will lose a good amount of goal-scorers, which is why they are not as high on this list, but they are still going to be a top team to watch out for. Replacing Lindsey Devir, is Kiera Schwartz. Schwartz scored 70 points last year and was also instrumental in faceoffs for Ridgewood. The most underrated piece on this team that will change their offense and how they can replicate last year is Samantha LaBier. She did not score a lot last year, but she collected 31 ground balls and took 21 draws. This is influential because it changes possession and she can control the ball from midfield which frees up the attackers for Ridgewood.

8. ALLENTOWN REDBIRDS

This team is by far who I believe to be the surprise team of the state. This is another program that has been building of experience with with great offense, and they seem to have found their window. Allentown won 22 games last year and only lost one game in the regular season. The two losses were in the Mercer County championship and the South Group 2 final to Haddonfield. They have brought a ton of offensive chess pieces back. Delaney Nolan, who finished third in all goals scored last year as a sophomore with 99, is coming back with a vengeance. Mya Lourenco had an even more impressive 132 points last season and is a great mid for Allentown. Miranda Riccardi also is a great defender who had 30 ground balls, and an unbelievable 45 draws controlled as a defender. Megan Conroy had 130 saves as a freshman. This Allentown team, which is ranked as the third-best public school in the state, really is going to make some noise.

7. RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN BULLDOGS

The defending Group 1 champions have been one of the southern superpowers for a while in New Jersey. Last season was a culmination with their title win over surprise contender Mountain Lakes, which made the clock strike 12 on Cinderella. The Bulldogs still bring back a very good amount of pieces. Abby Boyle had 46 goals and 42 assists which mounted to 88 points last year and she is coming back. Rachel James, who can shift from defender and mid had a whopping 65 goals last year as well and she is entering her third year with Rumson-Fair Haven. The Bulldogs play a challenging schedule that’ll give everyone experience and will gear them up well for the playoffs.

6. SUMMIT HILLTOPPERS

The number one public school in the state copies RFH with being a traditional superpower this time in the north. Summit is defending their ascent of the group to the summit of New Jersey girls lacrosse. They went 20–2 last year, one of those being a loss in the Union County Tournament to Oak Knoll, a team in the top five of the state. The Hilltoppers rolled all the way to a championship over Haddonfield and are looking for more history this year. Kate Riley and Lauren Riley combined for 88 points and the sisters will fill the net for Summit. Anya Wardle is an attacker who is extremely talented at setting up plays toward the goal with a crazy 69 assists. Elizabeth Walsh really got on fire between the crease last year and will be a huge factor in goal for the Hilltoppers.