Meet the 2023 Providence Journal All-State Girls Lacrosse Team
The Providence Journal is proud to announce the 2023 All-States Girls Lacrosse First and Second teams, presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. The Providence Journal has been naming All-State teams for more than 80 years to recognize and celebrate the top student-athletes across Rhode Island. The Journal Sports staff, with some help from the coaches associations, determine the first and second team members. The All-State teams are also posted on the High School Sports Awards page on providence journal.com/sports.
All first-team members were nominees for Player of the Year in that sport, and winners were announced at the High School Sports Awards show held last month at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, featuring former Patriots safety Devin McCourty.
In Girls Lacrosse , the Providence Journal Player of the Year is Kate Shields, from Bay View High School.
The 2023 Providence Journal All-State Girls Lacrosse First Team
Clara Drinkwater
North Kingstown, Senior
Attack
A leader on a team loaded with talent, Drinkwater also provided plenty of offensive pop that helped the Skippers win their second Division II title in three years. Drinkwater showed up in a big way in the big game, scoring four goals in North Kingstown’s 17-10 win over Burrillville in the Division II title game. She’ll play women’s lacrosse next spring at Colorado State University-Pueblo.
Ava Gershon
Moses Brown, Senior
Attack
This spring, the Quakers’ offense was performance art, with each member playing her part in order to get the ball into the net. Gershon didn’t chase the big shots but still found a way to make them happen this spring. The senior was second on the team in goals with 45 and led the state champions in assists with 52 and will hope for similar success next spring when she suits up for Connecticut College.
Mila Navarro
East Greenwich, Senior
Attack
An All-Division honorable mention selection last spring, Navarro’s off-season work took her game to the moon and made her one of the state’s best scorers in 2023. Her play up top gave East Greenwich the finisher it needed to earn the program’s first state championship appearance. Navarro’s career will go to the next level and she’ll play at Butler University next spring.
Helena Dunwoody
East Greenwich, Senior
Midfield
The Avengers were the surprise story of the 2023 season and play from the likes of Dunwoody was a big reason why. Dunwoody gave EG some attitude in the middle of the field, using her devastating speed to get the job on offense or torture an opponent who dared to score. Her play helped guide East Greenwich to the program’s first state title game and she’ll play next spring at New Haven.
Violet Gagliano
Barrington, Senior
Midfield
One of the state’s top field hockey players, Gagliano was a force on the field this spring and helped the Eagles to the state semifinals. Barrington was hit hard by graduation, but Gagliano’s play helped solidify the offense and give the team the attitude it needed. She finished the season with 41 goals and 30 assists and came through in big moments all season long.
Anna Lombardi
Barrington, Junior
Midfield
Lombardi stepped into a starring role for the defending state champs and had her best season to date. The junior’s versatility allowed her to be an offensive weapon (she scored 33 goals and had 30 assists), play tough on the defensive end and to be one of the state’s best on the draw. Lombardi will be one of Rhode Island’s top players next spring and she has verbally committed to play at Virginia Commonwealth.
Sylvia Mayo
Prout, Junior
Midfield
It was a tough season for the Crusaders, but Mayo’s play was hard not to notice on the field this spring. The junior was the focus of every defensive attack, but with her speed and athleticism, she still found a way to put the ball in the back of the net. Mayo will enter her senior season next spring as one of the state’s best and is already verbally committed to play at Old Dominion.
Elly Skeels
Portsmouth, Senior
Midfield
Skeels wrapped up her career as one of the best players Portsmouth has produced. This is her third All-State selection, second as a first teamer, and this season may have been her best. With Portsmouth moved up to Division I, Skeels stepped up her game as a scorer and leader and helped the Patriots reach the state semifinals. She’ll play next spring at American University.
Hannah Jackson
Barrington, Senior
Defense
Offense rules girls lacrosse, but the Eagles’ calling card has been defense and Jackson’s play this year gave the team one of the best in Rhode Island. Jackson, who created 21 turnovers, was the heart of Barrington’s offense and her ability to be on a coach on the field was key all spring. Jackson will continue her career next spring when she plays for St. Lawrence University.
Charley Lagor
Moses Brown, Sophomore
Defense
There was no sophomore slump for the Quakers’ star defender, who makes her second straight appearance as a First Team All-State selection. Lagor took her game to new heights this spring as part of Moses Brown’s dominant defense that only got better as the season rolled on. With two seniors graduating, Lagor will step into a leadership role next season as MB tries to win another title.
Virginia Stone
Moses Brown, Senior
Defense
With some new blood infused into the lineup, Stone spent time as a defensive midfielder and in the back and excelled at both. Her unselfish approach made the Quakers’ rock-solid in the back and gave opponents nightmares all season. Stone was instrumental in the state title game, during which Moses Brown allowed just three goals in a win over East Greenwich. She’ll play at Rollins College next spring.
Kate Shields
Bay View, Junior
Goalie
In a sport where offense dominates and wins games, Shields play helped the Bengals win a championship. She was the state’s premier shot-stopper in net and her athleticism allowed her to jump start Bay View’s offense coming out of the net. Shields was at her best in the biggest game, coming up with huge saves late in the Bengals’ quadruple-overtime win against East Providence in the Division III final.
2023 Providence Journal All-State Girls Lacrosse Second Team
A — Julianna Casey, Lincoln School, Sophomore
A — Lilly Madeira, Moses Brown, Sophomore
A — Laurel McIntosh, Chariho, Senior
MF — Sydney Boss, Lincoln School, Senior
MF — Maddi Goodwin, La Salle, Sophomore
MF — Samantha Murphy, Burrillville, Senior
MF — Kaitlin Roche, Portsmouth, Senior
MF — Hannah West, Moses Brown, Junior
D — Ashley Brousseau, Moses Brown, Freshman
D — Brianna Coleangelo, Moses Brown, Senior
D — Isabel Gelzhiser, East Greenwich, Senior
G — Fiona Baxter, East Greenwich, Senior
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The Providence Journal 2023 Girls Lacrosse All-State First and Second Teams
