Here are 12 Greater Columbus high school girls lacrosse players to watch in 2024 season
If there was one thing of which Laura Sandbloom was certain in her first season as Upper Arlington girls lacrosse coach, it was where her players would fit in the lineup.
Surrounded by a veteran staff that includes longtime assistant Sue Stimmel, a former Ohio State head coach, and state championship players Samantha Arey and Megan Sengelmann, Sandbloom’s return to her alma mater was capped by the team’s first Division I state title since 2019.
This year, the staff’s task might be tougher, but the coaches are relishing every second of the challenge.
A roster headlined by four Division I signees, another two commits and a plethora of midfielders should give UA even more versatility as it pursues a 12th championship.
“We have a lot more depth (from) top to bottom,” Sandbloom said. “It just means we have versatile players. I love that. It’s challenging at times to figure out where (a given) girl is best-suited.”
Midfielders Lilly Boyle and Abbie Dunlap have signed with Louisville. Position mate Ava Stummer, who missed all of 2023 with an ACL injury, is headed to Penn State, and midfielder/defender Alex Burns has signed with Boston University.
Junior midfielder Brogan Wiles (Louisville) and junior attacker Bethany Smith (Maryland-Baltimore County) also have committed.
Boyle, who also plays attacker, scored 36 goals last year, best among returning players.
Senior Abby Black and freshman Tori Maurer are splitting time in goal.
“A lot of our young girls didn’t see a lot of playing time (last year), but we still worked really hard to develop them and they worked hard,” Sandbloom said. “They look mature on the field beyond their years.”
State runner-up Olentangy Liberty, which lost to UA 14-10 in the final, returns seven starters and four first-team all-state honorees in Tori Bachus (defender), Alayna Bogner (goalie), Corinna Hilmas (attacker) and Isabelle Pohmer (attacker). All are seniors with the exception of Hilmas, a junior.
She and Pohmer combined for 156 goals in 2023.
The rematch of the state final between the OCC-Central rivals is April 16 at UA.
Boys lacrosse: 12 central Ohio players to watch this spring
Division II champion Watterson graduated top scorer Meg Newcomb (81 goals, 44 assists) and has a new coach in four-year assistant Abbey Gay, who succeeded three-year head coach Eileen Barrett in the fall.
The Eagles still have experience to lean on, including attackers Sophia Monesi (76 goals, 17 assists) and Carly Henry (36 goals), draw specialist Avery McClain, defender Marie Rudzinski and three-year starting goalie Amelia Brown. All are among a class of 10 seniors.
“We still have a lot of that core group,” Gay said. “The defense is strong. We have some very strong low defenders (and) middies. Meg was a big part of our attack last year, but they’re working together and helping each other out.”
Here are 12 central Ohio girls lacrosse players to watch this spring:
Lilly Boyle, Upper Arlington
The senior midfielder, one of three Golden Bears who has signed with or committed to Louisville, is the top returning scorer from last year’s Division I state championship team (21-3) with 36 goals. Boyle also had seven assists, 36 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers and was named second-team all-OCC-Central and all-Region 3.
Marissa Dolciato, Worthington Kilbourne
The Cincinnati signee has a high bar to clear as a senior, if for no other reason than she’s set a lofty standard the past three seasons. A three-time OCC-Capital Player of the Year and last year’s Division I state Goalkeeper of the Year, Dolciato made 103 saves — 44.3% of the shots she faced — in leading Kilbourne (13-6) to a Region 3 quarterfinal.
Bridget Donnelly, Columbus School for Girls
A versatile junior midfielder who has committed to Oregon, Donnelly is poised for a big second half of her high school career after scoring 40 goals and controlling 27 draws as a sophomore. She earned second-team all-Region 7 as the Unicorns (14-5) improved by eight wins from 2022 and advanced to a regional semifinal. CSG returns all but one player from a season ago.
Carly Henry, Watterson
The senior attacker is one of 10 seniors and eight returning starters as the Eagles (19-3) launch defense of their first Division II state championship. Henry was third on the team in goals (36) and fourth in assists (12) and points (48) and occasionally took draws.
Leela Henry, Pickerington Central
A junior midfielder and three-year starter, Henry led the Tigers (11-8) with 57 goals in 2023 and was second in assists (20). Henry already is approaching 100 career goals. She earned second-team all-OCC-Ohio last spring and was honorable mention all-Region 3. With six starters and 14 letterwinners back, Central started this season 4-0 and outscored its opponents 50-18.
Corinna Hilmas, Olentangy Liberty
The junior attacker had 70 goals last spring, becoming one of the Patriots’ most dependable offensive producers during their run to the Division I state final. Hilmas was named Region 1 Attacker of the Year and first-team all-state.
Sophia Monesi, Watterson
A senior attacker, Monesi is the defending Division II state champions’ top returning scorer after amassing 76 goals and 17 assists a year ago. Monesi, who had 17 goals combined her freshman and sophomore years, earned first-team all-Region 7 and second-team all-state.
Maddy Paz, New Albany
The senior midfielder again should be one of the Eagles’ top scorers as they seek a return to the Division I state final and a second title in three seasons. Paz, who scored the championship-winning goal as a sophomore and committed to Ohio State in September 2022, was named OCC-Ohio Player of the Year, first-team all-Region 1 and second-team all-state.
Isabelle Pohmer, Olentangy Liberty
The senior midfielder was second on the Patriots (21-3) in goals with 86 a year ago, behind only current Florida player Makena Harrington’s 91. Pohmer, who has signed with Lafayette, also had a team-leading 133 draw controls and contributed defensively. She was named first-team all-region and all-state.
Sophia Schwab, Dublin Scioto
The senior attacker is arguably the best player in Scioto history, coming off a program-record 103 goals as a junior. Schwab, who has signed with Detroit Mercy, entered this season with 215 career goals and 84 assists. She is a three-time first-team all-OCC-Capital honoree and two-time first-team all-Region 3 selection.
Ava Stummer, Upper Arlington
The senior midfielder is playing high school lacrosse for the first time since her sophomore season, having missed last year with an ACL injury. Stummer, who has signed with Penn State, had 23 draw controls, 12 ground balls and seven goals in 2022 and played a key role for a defense that allowed only 4.5 goals per game.
Caroline Weber, Big Walnut
A senior goalie who has signed with Findlay, Weber became the career saves leader in the Ohio High School Athletic Association-sanctioned era (since 2017) on March 19. Weber has 558 saves, two ahead of Solon’s Katie Luciano (2017-19). Her 203 saves as a sophomore rank seventh in OHSAA records, and her 21 stops in a 2022 game against Hilliard Davidson rank third.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio girls lacrosse: 12 players to watch this spring
