2023 Virginia Public GLax

[Coyote-K]

Love the top 15 rankings -- great analysis!

McLean might sneak in the Top 15 by the end of the year. They had a lot of younger players last year that got valuable field time and should inch up the ranking the next two years. Any other teams with potential on an upwards path?

[StackO]

I’m not an expert of Loudoun teams but watch out for Independence & Lightridge making moves to the top.

[VALaxer]

Love the top 15 rankings -- great analysis!

McLean might sneak in the Top 15 by the end of the year. They had a lot of younger players last year that got valuable field time and should inch up the ranking the next two years. Any other teams with potential on an upwards path?

The new coach at McLean has them going in the right direction. I agree they are on the rise. It's a tough region to breakthrough though.

[UnderArmourOdor]

Riverside left their Campus by the Potomac to venture down to "The Pat" at WT Woodson last night. Trouble brewing when the JV Rams had only one sub & were stampeded by the Cav 15-3. The Varsity at least had 7 subs. Lots of dropped passes & it got raggedy as everyone played for the Cavs (well 24 of 25 one held out for injury recovery) plus all three goalies split time. It ended 10-4 for the Cavs...decent weather for 3 March but no snack bar was a bummer!

[VAMomGlax2019]

Riverside left their Campus by the Potomac to venture down to "The Pat" at WT Woodson last night. Trouble brewing when the JV Rams had only one sub & were stampeded by the Cav 15-3. The Varsity at least had 7 subs. Lots of dropped passes & it got raggedy as everyone played for the Cavs (well 24 of 25 one held out for injury recovery) plus all three goalies split time. It ended 10-4 for the Cavs...decent weather for 3 March but no snack bar was a bummer!

It’s nice to have the season underway and we had a great evening for lax at The Pat. Hard to really take away much from this game as both teams emptied their benches. Riverside controlled the draw but the Cavs were able to take advantage of sloppy play and get their offense rolling. Expectedly turnovers ruled the evening as both teams went deep into their benches with 20+ girls from each team seeing the field. Nice to have the exhibition season underway and the chance to knock off some rust.

[Wg_olyr]

I’m not an expert of Loudoun teams but watch out for Independence & Lightridge making moves to the top.

I guess it has to happen sometime, but can Indy really win a state semi game against Riverside to battle the two-time state champs down south? I thought L Valley was making a move in 4A?

[StackO]

I think Coach Dana is slowly gaining an edge on Coach Cash. Especially since merge in offseason with Pride program.

[VAMomGlax2019]

I think Coach Dana is slowly gaining an edge on Coach Cash. Especially since merge in offseason with Pride program.

As far as I know the better Riverside players have not played for their coach’s club in the past. Does she even have s local club team? In Loudoun teams usually go on a few year run before things shift to a new school. Riverside just had a longer stint than previous schools. Like many Loudoun girls programs they will struggle to field a JV team this season. There’s just not enough girls playing the sport and competing with soccer makes things even tougher for smaller schools. They’ve produced some great D1 talent over the years and have been fun to watch. That district has some solid college commits to very good D1 programs, but no one team will have a dominant lineup from top to bottom. Independence will have the most experienced team of upperclassmen and will be the favorite. Dominion will be the next top Loudoun program to struggle as this will be their last strong year. Other programs will undoubtedly take the torch that was past before them from both of these traditional lacrosse powerhouses.

[StackO]

Ash has been great for the sport and was/is director of 3D lax.

[Wg_olyr]

Looks like the Potomac School showed their depth and strength with two lopsided wins vs Oakton and Dominion. The third game had Dominion over Oakton 12-6.

[Wg_olyr]

Ash has been great for the sport and was/is director of 3D lax.

Agree

[Captain BBY]

With rosters set and the VHSL scrimmage window about to open, the ol’ Buckster figured now was as good a time as any to debut my top 15 for Class 6 heading into the ’23 season and a comment or two on each. I think Dominion is still the Titan of Class 4, but there are some sleeping giants that are slowly closing the gap. In Class 5, we are likely living in Douglas Freeman’s world for another year as they look to keep the trophy down I-95 (gas is cheaper this year, so it costs them less…), but Class 6 is where the action is, as I think things could be as open as they have been in years.

Without further ado, my top 15 VHSL Class 6 teams for the preseason are:

1) Yorktown – I was torn on the defending champs debuting at the top spot, as I know they lost some key cogs, and not just to graduation. But the folks up in north Arlington reminded me that they were young across the board last year, and those girls are only going to get better. Oh yeah, their JV was pretty good too, and all those 8th graders are now varsity eligible. Add that Coach Tran is one of the best and I’m convinced enough to give them the benefit of the doubt.

2) Oakton – It’s now or never for the Cougars. The only team with 2 returning Class 6 all-staters in Yee-Jenkins and Basuel, this team is loaded to make a run. They should get over the Madison hump this year. Can they go all the way?

3) Woodson – The more things change, the more they stay the same. Cavs fans are saying Bill who? As Coach Schneider defended the Region title in his first year. Can he add a state banner in his second season? He’s got the returning talent led by one of the best middies in Cuviello to compete for it.

4) Robinson – Here to say “Not so fast, my friend…” to Woodson, as the Rams have the last 2 District titles in the Patriot and have their own returning all-stater in Checkosky. They did lose a lot to graduation and it will depend on how they reload to see if they can claim the elusive regional crown for Coach Prosser.

5) Battlefield – Maybe the most-debated team in the off-season on the interwebs. The state runners-up lost some key players to graduation including State POY Curtis, but they are expected to be right back there in June again and have some key cogs back. The question is whether their tougher schedule will have them better prepared. While few thought they were the true #2 team in the state at the end of last year, I think they have a shot to be the top dog at the end of this season in this wide open year.

6) Centreville – The Wildcats were derailed by some injuries early on last year, but almost knocked off Yorktown in the postseason and won at Battlefield late in the regular season. Return the all-state defender LaRuffa and would’ve likely had a 2nd with middie Wakefield if she was healthy all year; they could challenge for the top spot in a tough district and region this year.

7) Langley – How good have the Saxons been in the last decade? Ranking them #7 seems like a down year. Don’t forget that the Saxons defeated Yorktown twice last year, just not at the most important time. If they did, we would likely be viewing them a lot differently.

8) Madison – Coach Counts lost a lot to graduation from a team that was as good as anyone last year (2 of the 3 losses were to St Stephens and Belfield on the private side), so will have to go younger this year, but if anyone can have them ready to compete, she should.

9) Westfield – Quietly put together a top ten season with the computer numbers last year and are scheduled to return some of their top players, so 2023 may be the year that the dogs are let out once again.

10) Washington & Liberty – The Generals were toe-to-toe with Yorktown two years ago only to see their Arlington neighbors pull away last year. This year they want to remind the Patriots that objects in the rear-view mirror are closer than they appear.

11) West Potomac – Another new coach at WestPo this year as the Wolverines go the parent route after an off-season spent searching, but the new regime has a lot of talent coming back to work with.

12) West Springfield – Coach Puhlick also lost a lot to graduation, including the 2-time Patriot District POY, but he returns one of the best in all-stater GK Thaler and that will ensure the Spartans have a shot any time they take the field. The question will be if he can find the scoring to replace what he lost.

13) Freedom South Riding – The Eagles have had some growing pains in the rise up to Class 6, but they return their own all-stater with middie Koeneke as they look to grab the other ticket to the state tournament in Region B.

14) Justice – The Sheriffs of Buford T. Justice will look to return law and order to a wide open National District this year.

15) Lake Braddock – The Bruins are the latest team to try the Coach Chen sweepstakes. Even though his tenures have been short recently, his clubs have posted winning records. That means something’s gotta give as he tries his hand at Lake Badluck.

Also considered: Falls Church, South County, John Champe, South Lakes.

Great write up. Patiently waiting for the next update!

[StackO]

Battlefield 20 Riverside 8

[ExLax]

Appreciate the report! Outcome likely expected yet must play each game as scheduled.....

[UnderArmourOdor]

Like many Loudoun girls programs they [Riverside] will struggle to field a JV team this season. There’s just not enough girls playing the sport and competing with soccer makes things even tougher for smaller schools.

I'm sure if they had to do it again, ADs would resist the shortsighted soccer fanatics who couldn't get the Stadiums or crowds on Friday Nights back in the 1980s due to football & seeing the empty stadiums in the Spring stupidly moved to a Spring Season not knowing Lax was coming ten years later. I still remember my daughter playing for BRYC's top-club team and the players were asked to be the ball-girls for one of the late 1990s Woodson powerhouse teams. I did the head count & the BRYC parents doubled the crowd attending to 38...AND THIS WAS A PLAYOFF GAME! A night later 300 paid for a Boys Lacrosse Game on a Friday Night...Dagger!

I thought player numbers would be back this year as it looks like still some small squads mainly JVs...powerhouses like Robo, West Spring & WTW still get 24 on VAR, Warhawks just 21 with 4 Frosh as many as their JR class #s?!?! Cougs have 23 on VAR as do the Bruins. Chantilly 18 VAR/18 JV is still struggling even Langley only has 19 on VAR but I'm sure the Privates took some. Biggest Squad I've seen is SoCo that has 28 on VAR (5 Frosh) & 24 on JV but Trouble Brewing, 8...eight...EIGHT are JRs with only 2 Frosh on JV, I believe that is over twice as many Frosh on VAR as on JV making 7 total in the entire program!

[VALaxer]

After months of waiting, real games are finally here! Here is a look at first couple weeks of schedules for some of the top teams (Borrowing from BuckyLou). A lot of big games early in the year. Things should start to shake themselves out in the next 14 days. Let the games begin

Yorktown: 3/14 vs SSSAS, 3/17 vs Robinson, 3/20 @ Battlefield, 3/24 @ Centreville

Oakton: 3/14 @Langley, 3/16 @Bullis, 3/21 vs Woodson, 3/25 @ South County (SoCo tourney)

Woodson: 3/14 vs Chantilly, 3/17 vs West Springfield, 3/21 @ Oakton, 3/25 vs Langley

Robinson: 3/14 vs Madison, 3/17@Yorktown, 3/20 vs South County, 3/25 vs Battlefield

Battlefield: 3/13 vs Freedom SR, 3/20 vs Yorktown, 3/25 vs Robinson

Centreville: 3/14 @Lake Braddock, 3/18 vs Falls Church, vs Annandale (Annandale tourney), 3/24 vs Yorktown

Madison: 3/14 @Robinson, 3/24 vs Potomac

Langley: 3/14 vs Oakton, 3/17 @Westfield, 3/25 @Woodson

Westfield: 3/14 vs Fairfax, 3/17 vs Langley, 3/18 vs Lake Braddock, vs West Springfield (Annandale tourney), 3/24 @Herndon, 3/25 vs Forest Park, vs Marshall (Annandale tourney)

W&L: 3/14 vs West Springfield, 3/17 @TJST, 3/22@Wakefield, 3/23 vs O'Connell, 3/25 vs Justice, Chantilly, Lake Braddock (Annandale tourney)

WestPo: 3/14 vs Marshall, 3/2 4@Hayfield, 3/25 vs Justice, vs South Lakes (Annandale tourney)

West Springfield: 3/14 @ W&L, 3/17 @Woodson, 3/18 vs Maret, vs Westfield (Annandale tourney), 3/24 vs TJST, 3/25 vs Falls Church

Freedom South Riding: 3/13 @ Battlefield, 3/14 vs Briar Woods, 3/17 vs Woodgrove, 3/20 @Patriot, 3/22 @Potomac Falls

Justice: 3/17 vs Wakefield, 3/25 vs W&L, West Potomac, South Lakes (Annandale tourney)

Lake Braddock: 3/14 vs Centreville, 3/18 vs Marshall, vs Westfield (Annandale tourney), 3/25 vs Wakefield, vs W&L, vs Chantilly (Annandale tourney).

[Robolobo]

After months of waiting, real games are finally here! Here is a look at first couple weeks of schedules for some of the top teams (Borrowing from BuckyLou). A lot of big games early in the year. Things should start to shake themselves out in the next 14 days. Let the games begin

Yorktown: 3/14 vs SSSAS, 3/17 vs Robinson, 3/20 @ Battlefield, 3/24 @ Centreville

Oakton: 3/14 @Langley, 3/16 @Bullis, 3/21 vs Woodson, 3/25 @ South County (SoCo tourney)

Woodson: 3/14 vs Chantilly, 3/17 vs West Springfield, 3/21 @ Oakton, 3/25 vs Langley

Robinson: 3/14 vs Madison, 3/17@Yorktown, 3/20 vs South County, 3/25 vs Battlefield

Battlefield: 3/13 vs Freedom SR, 3/20 vs Yorktown, 3/25 vs Robinson

Centreville: 3/14 @Lake Braddock, 3/18 vs Falls Church, vs Annandale (Annandale tourney), 3/24 vs Yorktown

Madison: 3/14 @Robinson, 3/24 vs Potomac

Langley: 3/14 vs Oakton, 3/17 @Westfield, 3/25 @Woodson

Westfield: 3/14 vs Fairfax, 3/17 vs Langley, 3/18 vs Lake Braddock, vs West Springfield (Annandale tourney), 3/24 @Herndon, 3/25 vs Forest Park, vs Marshall (Annandale tourney)

W&L: 3/14 vs West Springfield, 3/17 @TJST, 3/22@Wakefield, 3/23 vs O'Connell, 3/25 vs Justice, Chantilly, Lake Braddock (Annandale tourney)

WestPo: 3/14 vs Marshall, 3/2 4@Hayfield, 3/25 vs Justice, vs South Lakes (Annandale tourney)

West Springfield: 3/14 @ W&L, 3/17 @Woodson, 3/18 vs Maret, vs Westfield (Annandale tourney), 3/24 vs TJST, 3/25 vs Falls Church

Freedom South Riding: 3/13 @ Battlefield, 3/14 vs Briar Woods, 3/17 vs Woodgrove, 3/20 @Patriot, 3/22 @Potomac Falls

Justice: 3/17 vs Wakefield, 3/25 vs W&L, West Potomac, South Lakes (Annandale tourney)

Lake Braddock: 3/14 vs Centreville, 3/18 vs Marshall, vs Westfield (Annandale tourney), 3/25 vs Wakefield, vs W&L, vs Chantilly (Annandale tourney).

Haven't seen anything anywhere, so I will take a shot for Monday/Tuesday games:

SSSAS (-12) over Yorktown (o/u 24)
Oakton (-4) over Langley (o/u 20)
Woodson (-11) over Chantilly (o/u 15)
Robo-Madison - ain't gonna list it
Battlefield (-10) over FSR (o/u 20)
C'Ville (-7) over Lake Braddock (o/u 21)
Westfield (-7) over Fairfax (o/u 17)
W&L (pick 'em) vs W. Springfield (o/u 14)
West Potomac (-10) over Marshall (o/u 22)
Justice (-15) over Wakefield (o/u 17)

Thoughts?

* All lines for entertainment purposes only. If you really want to bet on HS GLax, I urge you to get help...

[Coyote-K]

I am pretty high on Westfield and will take them by 10+ goals -- assuming they are full strength and no injuries.

[Captain BBY]

I am pretty high on Westfield and will take them by 10+ goals -- assuming they are full strength and no injuries.

They have talented players but the early season scrimmage results show they may not be as strong as thought to be.

[Coyote-K]

I am pretty high on Westfield and will take them by 10+ goals -- assuming they are full strength and no injuries.

They have talented players but the early season scrimmage results show they may not be as strong as thought to be.

Good point! Didn't realize they lost 12-15 to Patriot in a scrimmage. Any idea how their matchup against Battlefield was?