MISSOURI STATE HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION DIVISION I

The Team to Beat: MICDS

The Rams had their run of five straight state championships ended by Nerinx Hall in last year’s state semifinals, but this year’s team returns starters throughout the lineup and has a strong core of seniors and juniors.

MICDS will have to overcome some adversity, however, because head coach Meghan DiGiulio is pregnant and due to give birth right smack in the middle of the season. When she goes on maternity leave, assistant coach Lynn Mittler will take over the team.

DiGiulio and Mittler will look to several experienced players to lead MICDS back to the state championship game. Senior defender Cate Levis, senior attack Ellie Thiemann, senior goalie Lizzy Berkzigler, senior defender Liesel von Gontard, junior middie Hannah Thiemann and junior middie Allison Weisenfels will comprise the heart of the squad.

Contenders: Lafayette, Nerinx Hall, St. Joseph’s Academy, John Burroughs, Ursuline Academy

Nerinx Hall is fast becoming the bridesmaid of Missouri girls lacrosse. The Markers have reached the state championship game three straight seasons, only to lose to John Burroughs last year and to MICDS in 2008 and 2007. This year, Nerinx Hall returns its go-to clutch player, junior middie Emily Behr, who scored the game-winning goal in the waning moments of the Markers’ thrilling semifinal victory over MICDS last season. Senior middie Lauren Boland is another player who will be critical to Nerinx Hall’s success. Senior defender Patty Aquino, senior middie Molly Karl and junior attack Troy Cragen will also be key contributors.

Lafayette returns about half its starting lineup from last year’s team that advanced to the state semifinals and beat MICDS in the third-place game. The Lancers, who will attempt to overturn years of history and win one for the public schools, will be led by the state’s most consistent finisher in senior middie Hillary Lawless. Joining Lawless will be junior goalie Courtney Baker, junior middie Hannah Hayes and twin senior defenders Emily Zalaski and Kelsey Zalaski.

St. Joseph’s Academy will have a young team intent on erasing the memory of last year’s uncharacteristic losing season. The Angels return just three seniors, but they have a lot of talent among their ranks of juniors and sophomores. Senior attack Stephanie Senseman, senior middie Missy Grelly, junior middie Amanda Hoffmeyer and sophomore attack Tori Lage should have St. Joseph’s Academy in the hunt.

It has been a difficult offseason for John Burroughs, which has suffered one setback after another since winning its first state championship. Junior middie Emily Valli, who was named WSL’s Missouri Girls Player of the Year last season, tore an anterior cruciate ligament in one of her knees during field hockey season and won’t join the team until April at the earliest.

Assistant coach Megan O’Malley, a former Virginia standout who head coach Peter Tasker credited as being a crucial element to last year’s success, has left the program. And, the status of sophomore middie Charlotte Martin is in doubt because she might decide to play soccer instead of lacrosse this spring, although she still hasn’t made up her mind. It will be up to senior attack Rebecca Malzahn to carry on.

This could be a rebuilding year for Ursuline Academy, which graduated 14 seniors off last year’s state quarterfinalist team. The Bears, however, always put a competitive squad on the field, and this season will likely be no different. Ursuline Academy will be led by senior middie Lindsay Brown.

Sleeper: Webster Groves

The Statesmen graduated just one senior and return 10 starters from their 2009 squad, which was the most successful team in school history. Webster Groves also anticipates a record turnout for tryouts this spring, meaning it should have added depth. The Statesmen do have a much tougher schedule this year, but behind senior middie Cassie Rizzo, junior attack Katie Heidinger, junior middie Brittany Dioneda and senior goalie Casi Wicks, this team just may be able to handle it.

Top Players: Patty Aquino, Def., Nerinx Hall; Courtney Baker, G, Lafayette; Emily Behr, MF, Nerinx Hall; Lizzy Berkzigler, G, MICDS; Lauren Boland, MF, Nerinx Hall; Lindsay Brown, MF, Ursuline Academy; Troy Cragen, Att., Nerinx Hall; Brittany Dioneda, MF, Webster Groves; Jessica Englebrecht, MF, Kirkwood; Missy Grelly, MF, St. Joseph’s Academy; Hannah Hayes, MF, Lafayette; Katie Heidinger, Att., Webster Groves; Amanda Hoffmeyer, MF, St. Joseph’s Academy; Molly Karl, MF, Nerinx Hall; Tori Lage, Att., St. Joseph’s Academy; Ellen Lampe, Att., Cor Jesu Academy; Hillary Lawless, MF, Lafayette; Cate Levis, Def., MICDS; Rebecca Malzahn, Att., John Burroughs; Charlotte Martin, MF, John Burroughs; Haley Martin, MF, Cor Jesu Academy; Nicole Mueller, G, Cor Jesu Academy; Cassie Rizzo, MF, Webster Groves; Natalie Schuchardt, MF, Parkway South; Stephanie Senseman, Att., St. Joseph’s Academy; Jordan Schott, Att., John Burroughs; Annie Spewak, Att., Parkway West; Grace Stansbury, G, Parkway West; Ellie Thiemann, Att., MICDS; Tara Twyman, MF, Parkway West; Emily Valli, MF, John Burroughs; Casi Wicks, G, Webster Groves; Jen Woodard, Def., Parkway South; Emily Zaleski, Def., Lafayette; Kelsey Zaleski, Def., Lafayette.

Preseason Top 10: 1. MICDS, 2. Nerinx Hall, 3. Lafayette, 4. St. Joseph’s Academy, 5. John Burroughs, 6. Ursuline Academy, 7. Webster Groves, 8. Villa Duchesne, 9. Cor Jesu Academy, 10. Parkway West.

Notes: Cor Jesu Academy brings back half its starting lineup and nine varsity players after it graduated nine from last year’s team. Junior attack Ellen Lampe, junior middie Haley Martin and senior goalie Nicole Mueller are three players to watch....Parkway West will have a new head coach and a young team after Sarah Moulder stepped down in the offseason. Senior goalie Grace Stansbury, and senior middie Tara Twyman are the Longhorns’ top returning players, and Parkway West should also get a big boost from incoming freshman Annie Spewak....This may be a rebuilding year for Parkway South, which graduated 10 seniors and brings back four starters. Senior middie Natalie Schuchardt and junior defender Jen Woodard are the Patriots’ top two players.