Girls lacrosse: Team-by-team previews for the 2024 season in North Jersey

The girls lacrosse season begins this Monday in North Jersey. Here is a look at teams around Bergen and Passaic counties.

AMERICAN BLUE

Clifton

Players to watch: senior Carly Stoepker, juniors Meagan Valido and Emilia Wilk, sophomore Gianna Colon.

Outlook: The record may not show it for Clifton (6-12), but coach Amanda Gryszkin was encouraged by how much her team improved over the course of last season. Now with 10 starters back, there is the potential to flip some of the close losses in their favor.

Demarest

Players to watch: seniors Sloane Kaplan and Haylin Roth, juniors Isabella Sun and Katie Choi.

Outlook: The Norsewomen went through a youth movement last year with only two seniors and it should help them build on a 5-11 record. Adding support is the fact that most of the freshmen come with lacrosse experience, a first in coach Alexandra Champ's nine seasons.

Paramus

Players to watch: seniors Ryan Beyer, Meghan Jones and Lori Sarafian, junior Kiley Bejot.

Outlook: A new chapter begins for the Spartans (5-13), who moved to the American Blue and brought on coach Kayla Walstrom to lead the program. Walstrom likes the team's unity and athleticism and thinks freshman Adriana Giugliano will be a big boost.

Waldwick

Players to watch: seniors Kaitlyn Verdesca, Julia Levitzke, Sabrina Dowling and Kaitlyn Hu.

Outlook: Almost everyone is back for the Warriors (9-9), who will push for a winning record with a senior-heavy lineup. Verdesca is a prolific scorer on attack who fired in 68 goals last season.

Wayne Hills

Players to watch: senior Mia Cuccinello, junior Blake Nisenson, sophomore Amanda Carriere, freshman Arianna Carrino.

Outlook: After a long run atop Passaic County, the Patriots fell back to Earth last season and ended with only one win. The good news for new coach Dana Cavallo is their bounceback potential with some good underclassmen and just three seniors to replace.

Bergen Tech and Passaic Tech also compete in this division.

BEST OF THE BEST: North Jersey girls lacrosse players to watch heading into the 2024 season

AMERICAN RED

DePaul

Players to watch: seniors Katie McGuire and Mia Nardi, juniors Ava Bower and Leah Bolson.

Outlook: The Spartans have talent across the board after returning 12 starters from their run to the Passaic County semifinals. An offense that finished top-five in North Jersey in goals scored last spring is in good hands with Bower running the show from the midfield.

Emerson/Park Ridge

Players to watch: seniors Kayla Hunt, Mary Grace Craffey, Hailey Moran and Sydney Majdosz.

Outlook: The Cavos (7-10) have a lineup full of seniors – including five who have started since sophomore year – which should help them navigate the move to a tougher division. Hunt leads the class after pouring in a staggering 65 goals last season.

Fair Lawn

Players to watch: seniors Isabella Fontanez, Gabby Quintano and Maya Zabari, junior Sydney Murri.

Outlook: After 14 years leading Indian Hills, coach Mike Carti has come home to Fair Lawn where he was an All-State midfielder. The Cutters have produced three straight double-digit win seasons, but need to replace all but four starters.

Holy Angels

Players to watch: senior Betania Kiamue, junior Rowan O'Malley, sophomore Emily Vonderhorst, freshman Jane Tenaglia.

Outlook: The Angels (3-11) turned to a youth movement last year and will be young again with four freshmen expected to start. Coach Bill Potkulski has liked his draw control unit in the early going and the emerging depth on offense behind Vonderhorst.

Pascack Hills

Players to watch: seniors Nikki Giammanco, Brooke Bonanno and Savanna Bell.

Outlook: Speed and toughness will be the keys for the Broncos (9-9), who have some newcomers to break in but expect to play their best lacrosse in May. Bell is battled-tested in goal, stopping close to 50 percent last year.

Rutherford

Players to watch: senior Ellie Schmitt, juniors Jea Herninko and Fiona Waller, sophomore Maeve Murphy.

Outlook: Maybe no one in North Jersey was a bigger surprise last year than the Bulldogs (14-2), who won the American Central title in their second year as a varsity program. Helping them acclimate to a higher league this spring is the fact that they lost only one senior.

Tenafly

Players to watch: seniors Ayla Uram, Jemma Bienenfeld, Emma Darche and Gabby Man.

Outlook: The Tigers (13-3) raised the bar last year with their first winning season and don't want to rest on their laurels. The challenge now is to maintain that success with a whole new offensive group.

Pompton Lakes also competes in this division.

AMERICAN WHITE

Dwight-Englewood

Players to watch: senior Alexa Kobre, junior Dani Weis, freshmen Lilli Sher and Sam Malhame.

Outlook: Realignment should help the Bulldogs, who went from one win to six in coach Kiersten Hovan's first season. After reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2017, the Bulldogs come in with the goal of getting back.

Paramus Catholic

Players to watch: senior Charlize Lewis, junior Madison Kata, sophomore Erica Vazquez, freshman Kayla Wanvig.

Outlook: This could be a breakthrough season for the Paladins (8-10), who've made subtle progress over the last two years. Coach Kevin O'Hara sees a team that can score in a variety of ways and has more depth than ever before in the program's nine-year history.

Passaic Valley

Players to watch: senior Sema Koc, junior Lilliana Kalokits, sophomores Magdalena Foucaud and Alyssa Ricca.

Outlook: The Hornets (5-11) got over the hump last spring after back-to-back winless seasons and now set their goals even higher. Starting so many underclassmen over the last two years has given this group time to get comfortable playing together.

Saddle Brook

Players to watch: seniors Saoirse Twomey, Natalie Rosales and Frankie Accetta.

Outlook: The Falcons finished with only one win in the 2023 season, but hope to be more competitive in the league race with three of the top four scorers back. Twomey is a versatile player to build around, having led the team in goals, assists and ground balls as a junior.

Boonton, Hoboken, Irvington and Newark East Side also compete in this division.

FREEDOM RED

Glen Rock

Players to watch: seniors Ally Zamparelli and Ryan Doyle, juniors Kasey Schwarzbek and Emily Sanders.

Outlook: The Panthers (14-6) will be loaded with talent after bringing back all four Freedom East first-teamers, plus three more who made the second team. Doyle checks all the boxes in the midfield and the Fairfield-bound Zamparelli will be a force in goal for the returning Bergen semifinalists.

Mahwah

Players to watch: seniors Julia Graceffo, Izzy Lotito and Morgan Marchesi, sophomore Abby Clark.

Outlook: The Thunderbirds (12-8) are full of talent after subtracting only one senior from a team that won the Bergen Invitational tournament. The entire defense returns along with a top-notch goalie in junior Elizabeth Crames.

Pascack Valley

Players to watch: juniors Celina Bussanich, Courtney Pelisson and Ella Saxon, sophomore Riley Hirsch.

Outlook: The Panthers (14-3) went unbeaten in the American North last season with underclassmen making up a large majority of the lineup. That experience will be useful for coach Melissa Velez's team while adapting to a harder league.

Ramapo

Outlook: The Raiders (4-16) are looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic season and have five starters returning to aid that mission. A more favorable league set-up will be key for coach Maria Grant, who likes her team's coachable nature.

Saddle River Day

Players to watch: seniors MC Salter, Nia Carrera and Abbi Holland, junior Isabella Pedone.

Outlook: The Rebels (11-9) have a lot of firepower at their disposal after graduating only one senior from a run to the county quarterfinals. Holland and Pedone make up a terrific passing/scoring duo and Salter is a workhorse goalie headed to Siena.

Westwood

Players to watch: seniors Keira Dunn and Morgan Hornidge, juniors Alexis Toro and Camryn Dempsey.

Outlook: The Cardinals (18-4) are coming off their winningest season and kept most of the core intact. The midfield will be a huge strength led by Toro, who scored a team-record 88 goals last year.

Kinnelon and Montville also compete in this division.

INDEPENDENCE RED

Lakeland

Players to watch: seniors Lauren Vignola, Samantha Robinson and Hailey Callahan, junior Gianna Peralta.

Outlook: Few programs are more consistent than the Lancers (5-14), who made their 10th straight county final last season while undergoing a rebuild. A strong foundation is in place after losing only three seniors, although one was all-time scoring leader Reaghan Lomascola.

Indian Hills

Players to watch: senior Alexa Demarco, juniors Olivia Foulke and Abby Pasternak, sophomore Anella Cavalieri.

Outlook: Times have changed for the Braves, who welcome new coach Luke Miller and move back to a division with Big North schools after competing against Morris/Sussex teams. The Braves (8-13) will count on Demarco's versatility in the midfield to propel a small roster.

Old Tappan

Players to watch: senior Allyson Sheldon, junior Annabelle Lee, sophomores Charlotte Malady and Jaley Mazzetti.

Outlook: The Golden Knights (8-11) have the potential for a winning season after returning their starting goalie and top four scorers. Malady will be a weapon for years to come, having scored a team-high 55 points as a freshman on the attack.

Ramsey

Players to watch: seniors Lillie Spiegelman and Bianca Aliano, sophomore Abby Featherstone, freshman Mia Clark.

Outlook: The Rams (4-13) bring back seven starters from a group that hung around with some of the best teams in Bergen County despite their record. Having that experience and a few freshmen ready to contribute should pay dividends.

River Dell

Players to watch: juniors Sam Idiculla, Megan Hartnett, Sarah Keery and Mia Kurtz.

Outlook: The Golden Hawks (13-7) lost some offensive firepower and five total starters, but still have a big group of upperclassmen who know the varsity ropes. Idiculla (.543) is a savvy goalie to build around and some of the freshmen should make an immediate impact.

Wayne Valley

Players to watch: juniors Ainsley Phillips, Sarah Vastano and Alexandra Morgan, sophomore Sadie Kirz.

Outlook: The Indians were one of the breakout teams of last season, going from three wins to 15 on the way to the Passaic County title. This year's team won't sneak up on anyone with seven starters back, but it must replace a goalie and the top two scorers.

West Milford

Players to watch: seniors Kailey Maskerines, Paige Fava, Ashley Czeczuga, junior Amanda O’Brien.

Outlook: The Highlanders were the feel-good story of the 2023 season, setting a program wins record on the field while coach Harry Shortway battled cancer tenaciously off it . This year, Shortway will take a seasoned lineup led by Fava into a tougher division.

STARS & STRIPES RED

Ridgewood

Players to watch: juniors Kiera Schwartz, Sam LaBier and Emme Dunphey, sophomore Grace Sullivan.

Outlook: The Maroons are bursting with talent again after winning league, county and state titles in the first year under Jim Montegari. The entire defense is back along with an array of scorers who contributed as underclassmen.

Chatham, Morristown, Oak Knoll, Mendham and Summit also compete in this division.

STARS & STRIPES WHITE

Immaculate Heart

Players to watch: senior Alex Kucharz, juniors Maddy Lively and Riley Ng-Knepper, sophomore Olivia Valente,

Outlook: The Blue Eagles (9-10) reached the county and Non-Public A semifinals last season and could be stronger this year if they can fill a hole in net. The bulk of the offense is back led by a dominant attacker in Sacret Heart commit Maddie Lively.

Northern Highlands

Players to watch: seniors Angela Beardsley, Anna Travers and Ava Paparozzi, junior Maddie Willkomm.

Outlook: The Highlanders will look younger after graduating 10 players from a strong senior class, but still have plenty of talent back to build on runs to the county and sectional finals. Beardsley and Willkomm lead the way as All-County attackers.

Glen Ridge, Montclair, Verona and West Essex also compete in this division.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Girls lacrosse: Team-by-team previews for the 2024 season in North Jersey