Introducing the 2022 Standard-Times Girls Lacrosse Super Team and All-Stars
Here's a look at the top boys lacrosse players on the SouthCoast in 2022.
SUPER TEAM
Nora Blanchard, New Bedford, Senior
Blanchard filled a big hole for the Whalers by taking over the center position. “We tasked her with taking on a bigger role for us with the graduation of Raquel (Reis) and she did that,” said New Bedford head coach John Mosher. “She came up big in big games for us.” In addition to taking most of the draws, the Southeast Conference All-Star also scored 42 goals and “never came off the field.” Blanchard, a four-year starter, served as a team captain.
Neely Francis, Fairhaven, Senior
Francis was a playmaker on offense and was instrumental in helping the Blue Devils win eight of their last nine games to qualify for the playoffs. The two-year varsity player notched 37 goals and handed out 14 assists to earn South Coast Conference All-Star honors. “Her desire to score, her determination and her competitiveness,” said Fairhaven head coach Scott Francis of what made her stand out. “She has arguably the hardest shot on the team. Getting to the net was key. Her defensive ride was outstanding throughout the year. She caused a lot of turnovers.”
Riley Levrault, Apponequet, Senior
A three-sport athlete, Levrault developed into quite the competitor and used that to her advantage on the lacrosse field to help the Lakers finish second in the South Coast Conference. The SCC All-Star not only had 67 goals and 21 assists, she was strong on the draw and came up with ground balls in the open field. “Her skills and her speed were good, but she was such a competitor,” said Apponequet head coach Cindy Cuthbertson of her senior midfielder. “I had her on the circle and she would somehow always come up with the ball. She would dig so hard. We depended on her a lot for ball control.” Levrault will play field hockey next year at Wheaton College.
Ellie Maxwell, Old Rochester, Senior
A senior transfer, Maxwell made a big impact on Old Rochester’s defense and became a vocal leader in front of a young goalie. “She caused a lot of turnovers and was strong for us on defense,” said Old Rochester head coach Scott Tavares. “We only have her for one year so she’s a one-hit wonder.” With Maxwell’s help, the South Coast Conference champion Bulldogs allowed an average of 7.1 goals per game during the regular season and gave up double digits in scoring just four times in 20 outings. Maxwell, who plays club lacrosse, was named an SCC All-Star.
Abby Pitts, Old Colony, Sophomore
Pitts followed up a solid freshman year with a breakout sophomore campaign in which she scored 79 goals to top 100 for her young career. She also had 17 assists, won 38 draw controls, caused 27 turnovers and had 42 ground balls in addition to shooting 60.3% to be named the Mayflower Athletic Conference MVP. “She’s a remarkable kid,” said Old Colony head coach Sam Botelho. “Her lacrosse knowledge. She knows not only how to score, but she also knows where to be next and she puts herself in position. Her movement and her quickness, the way she can get through a defense not only as a cutter but with the ball. She doesn’t play like she’s 15.” Pitts became the first Old Colony girls lacrosse player and first from the MAC to make the Eastern Mass. Girls Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Star Honorable Mention.
Kelly Quinlan, Old Rochester, Sophomore
Quinlan emerged as another scoring option for the Bulldogs as they won the South Coast Conference championship. The sophomore midfielder finished with 77 goals, earning SCC All-Star honors. “For a sophomore, that's a really good season,” said Old Rochester head coach Scott Tavares, adding that she’s over 100 for her career already. “She's the next big thing for us. She’s already establishing herself. She’s got great stick skills. She’s not the fastest player, but she’s one of these kids that plays year round and has a better stick and game sense than most girls than we play.”
Tatum Reis, New Bedford, Junior
Reis proved to be an outstanding two-way player as a junior midfielder. Not only did she lead the Whalers in scoring with 45 goals, she also guarded the opposition’s top offensive player on a regular basis. “She led us goals this year and she was vital to us defensively as well because whenever we played the best teams, we tasked her with guarding their best players,” said New Bedford head coach John Mosher. “She’s a phenomenal athlete and great kid and a very good lacrosse player.” Reis, who also plays field hockey and basketball, is a two-time Southeast Conference All-Star and a two-time Super Teamer for lacrosse.
Molly Rioux, Dartmouth, Senior
Rioux was a wall in her second year in net for Dartmouth, stopping nearly 200 shots, helping her team wrap up the Southeast Conference title and make history with its first-ever appearance in the Div. 2 Elite 8. “She competes really hard and gives 100% all of the time,” said Dartmouth head coach Nicole Simas. “She was huge for us this year. She sees the field really well and she communicates with her defense very well. She made huge saves for us, especially in the postseason.” In an overtime playoff win over Burlington, Rioux made a save on an eight-meter shot with just a few minutes left in regulation. Rioux is an SEC All-Star and team captain.
Meredith Sylvia, Dartmouth, Senior
Sylvia was an impact player at midfield, helping Dartmouth win the Southeast Conference championship and make a historic run to the Div. 2 Elite 8. The SEC All-Star finished with 75 goals and 34 assists. She assisted the game-winning shot by Sorelle Lawton in an overtime playoff win over Burlington in the Sweet 16. “She has great field vision. Every time she gets the ball, she knows what to do with it,” said Dartmouth head coach Nicole Simas. “It was definitely a breakout year for her. She does both sides of the field really well starting with the draw. When our backs are against the wall, we want the ball in her stick to facilitate or score. She always does the right things.”
Maddie Wright, Old Rochester, Senior
No one could put the ball in the net like Wright did this spring as the senior midfielder scored an eye-popping 147 goals to help the Bulldogs win the South Coast Conference championship. She also had over 50 assists for nearly 200 points. “It’s ridiculous,” said Old Rochester head coach Scott Tavares. “She’s 255 goals for her career and she lost a whole season for COVID.” Wright also filled a major void by taking the draw. “Toward the end of the year, she was dominant for us on the draw,” said Tavares, noting that she worked with a draw specialist on her own. “She dominated down the stretch.” Wright, the 2021 Standard-Times Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year, is a two-time SCC MVP. Wright, who will play lacrosse next year at Bentley University, also was a standout in soccer and basketball at Old Rochester.
ALL-STAR TEAM
Emerson Bourgault, Fairhaven, Senior
Bourgault was a playmaker on both sides of the field, earning South Coast Conference All-Star honors as a senior midfielder. In addition to playing strong defense, she scored 21 goals and dished out 18 assists. “She was just strong all-around,” said Fairhaven head coach Scott Francis. “She really took on this year dishing out the ball and making good passes.”
Caroline Brogioli, Old Rochester, Freshman
Brogioli made quite the debut for the South Coast Conference champion Bulldogs as she started every game as a freshman midfielder and finished the season with 17 goals and 23 assists.
Ava Crane, Dartmouth, Junior
Crane made major contributions from the midfield, helping Dartmouth wrap up the Southeast Conference championship and reach the Div. 2 Elite 8 for the first time in school history. “She would never come off that field,” said Dartmouth head coach Nicole Simas. “She did it all for us. Her stick skills are really good. She’s awesome off the draw. She had some big moments in the playoffs and loves to compete.”
Kara Ferreira, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior
A three-year player, Ferreira made major contributions at midfield and her absence was felt when she wasn’t on the field. “She was just really good in the midfield,” said GNB Voc-Tech head coach Adeline Bellesheim. “She was the most important on the field, always working in transition.” Ferreira, who missed six games, took most of the draws for Voc-Tech.
Carlie Francis, Fairhaven, Freshman
Francis played beyond her years as a freshman attack. She led the Blue Devils with 45 goals and was instrumental in the team winning eight of its last nine games to qualify for the playoffs. The South Coast Conference All-Star also had four assists. “Her speed made her stand out,” said Fairhaven head coach Scott Francis. “She led the team with the best shooting percentage and had an accurate shot.”
Kennedy Franklin, New Bedford, Senior
A three-sport standout, Franklin capped off her high school career with a strong spring season. The Southeast Conference All-Star notched 27 goals in addition to scooping up ground balls right and left, and fighting for possession on the circle. “Kennedy just did everything so well for us,” said New Bedford head coach John Mosher. “Her athleticism is second to none. She was so vital for us in so many roles.” Franklin was a four-year varsity starter and also played basketball and field hockey at New Bedford.
Leah Katz, Bishop Stang, Senior
Katz played a big role in helping the Spartans capture their first win in three years and make the playoffs with strong power rankings against tough competition in the Catholic Central League. A senior attack, Katz notched a team-high 33 goals and handed out seven assists to be named a CCL All-Star. “She’s got great height and she can crease roll,” said Bishop Stang head coach Alison Caito-Galligan. “That’s her gift.”
Emilia Keane, Apponequet, Junior
In addition to taking the draw, Keane proved to be a threat on offense by scoring 59 goals, which was third on the team. She also handed out 21 assists and was named a South Coast Conference All-Star for her contributions. “She had a very good shot,” said Apponequet head coach Cindy Cuthbertson. “She helped us on attack and defense. We counted on her a lot."
Hannah Sullivan, Dartmouth, Senior
Sullivan did a little bit of everything for Dartmouth and did it well helping the team win the Southeast Conference championship and reach the Div. 2 Elite 8 for the first time in school history. The SEC All-Star played the entire field. “She’s a versatile player,” said Dartmouth head coach Nicole Simas. “She would start on defense, go up to attack and then play midfield. She did everything we needed her to do.”
Abby Vincent, Apponequet, Senior
Vincent notched a team-high 69 goals as the Lakers finished second in the South Coast Conference behind Old Rochester. The senior attack also had 17 assists for a total of 86 points, earning SCC All-Star honors. “Abby has an unbelievable shot,” said Apponequet head coach Cindy Cuthbertson. “She did a really good job as a playmaker and passer.”
HONORABLE MENTION
Abby Menendez, Apponequet, Junior; Hannah Procaccini, Apponequet, Junior; Sierra DaRosa, Bishop Stang, Senior; Teal Galligan, Bishop Stang, Sophomore; Ellie Jones, Bishop Stang, Freshman; Hannah Lafrance, Bishop Stang, Senior; Ava Meehan, Bishop Stang, Junior; Jill Sferrazza, Bishop Stang, Senior; Katherine Cheesebro, Dartmouth, Freshman; Leah Choubah, Dartmouth, Senior; Eleanora Cote, Dartmouth, Senior; Grace Haskell, Dartmouth, Sophomore; Katie Lamothe, Dartmouth, Senior; Sydney Burke, Fairhaven, Junior; Ella Costa, GNB Voc-Tech, Freshman; Casalice Dias, GNB Voc-Tech, Sophomore; Alannah Paiva, GNB Voc-Tech, Senior; Hannah Blanchard, New Bedford, Freshman; Vanessa Bucha, New Bedford, Junior; Calista Pacheco, New Bedford, Senior; Tari Pereira, New Bedford, Senior; Lexi Thompson, New Bedford, Sophomore; Emma Canastra, Old Colony, Junior; Logan Crook, Old Colony, Freshman; Kathleen Simoes, Old Colony, Junior; Rosemary Lally, Old Rochester, Junior; Emma Welter, Old Rochester, Junior; Tessa Winslow, Old Rochester, Freshman.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2022 Standard-Times Girls Lacrosse Super Team and All-Stars
