Oregon high school girls lacrosse: Meet the top stars of 2022 (Part 2)

Oregon boasts an impressive crop of high school lacrosse talent. Here are just some of the girls who have starred this spring.

By René Ferrán

This week, SBLive Oregon will be highlighting several of the top girls lacrosse players in the state. Here is Part 2 of our list. (Read Part 1 here.) 

Our list was created based on nominations made by Oregon high school lacrosse coaches. All statistics are as of early May. 

Photo by Ben Ludeman

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G Katrin Ellett, Fr., Wilsonville

Wildcats coach Mark Waddell turned to Ellett, who hadn’t played lacrosse before this spring, to play goalie, and he called her “our savior” after posting a 10.51 goals against average and .502 save percentage through 12 matches. “She gets better every time she takes the field,” Waddell said. “She was an instant game-changer for us with amazing potential.” 

M Helen Evans, Jr., South Eugene

Evans is one of the top players in Southern Oregon, ranking No. 6 among the state’s goal scorers with 50 in the Axe’s first eight games to go with 40 draw controls won and 27 ground balls. Her coach, Sara Long, said her specialties include “crease rules, sassiness, piano and loving the game of lacrosse,” adding that “the player I have seen Helen develop into amazes me.” 

M Mia Gabriel, Jr., Sunset

With defenses focused on stopping top scorer Sloane Chase, Gabriel often has escaped their attention — despite wearing a hot pink headband on the field — and has quietly put together a solid season with 22 goals, 33 draw controls won, 24 ground balls won and 12 turnovers forced. “Mia’s dedication to the game of lacrosse is unparalleled,” Apollos coach Alexandra Greiner said. “Not only is she a huge threat on both defense and offense, but she's also an incredible asset as a captain, lending support and guidance to her teammates.” 

CM Cameron Gabrielson, So., Oregon Episcopal

Gabrielson was a standout goalie for the Aardvarks girls soccer team in the fall for the 3A/2A/1A runner-up. Now, she’s a standout in the middle for the lacrosse team, with 10 goals, five assists and 27 draw controls while playing in just half of OES’ games. “Cameron is a tremendous asset in getting control of the ball on the draw,” coach Shawn Patrick said. “She has incredible stick skills and an amazing drive to improve her play.” 

M Aviana Gonzales, Sr., Liberty

Gonzales hasn’t had the opportunities of some others to put up huge numbers — Liberty has played only eight games through mid-May — but she still has 37 goals (.740 shot percentage), 11 assists, 43 ground balls won and 41 draw controls. 

A Tatum Hagen, Jr., Wilsonville

Hagen has developed into one of the state’s top attackers this spring, tied for third in the OGLA with 50 goals while displaying uncanny accuracy (72.5 shot percentage). She has won 37 ground balls. “Tatum is a shotmaker, with many different shots and shot angles to choose from,” Wildcats coach Mark Waddell said. “She has a tenacious spirit in transition and going to goal from multiple angles.” 

A Hollis Hale, Jr., Oregon Episcopal

Hale is another multisport standout for the Aardvarks, earning first-team all-Lewis & Clark honors in helping the basketball team to a fifth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament. She leads the lacrosse team in ground balls won (31) and turnovers caused (16) and is second with 28 goals (.651 shot percentage) and 16 assists. “Hollis is extremely reliable with the ball,” coach Shawn Patrick said. “She is aggressive on the re-defend and a complete player.” 

M Elizabeth Hamilton, Jr., South Eugene

Hamilton’s introduction to the sport came from her babysitter, a player at the University of Oregon, and she has developed into a solid midfielder for the Axe, ranking among the South Division leaders in ground balls won (24) and assists (seven) to go with 14 goals and 31 draw controls won. “Elizabeth is kind and cunning, an amazing athlete and an even better person,” coach Sara Long said. 

A Courtney Havel, Sr., Lake Oswego

Havel might not put up the gaudiest numbers, but the White Cheddar Cheez-It lover and Colorado Mesa signee always has an impact on the game — 15 goals (.652 shot percentage), nine assists, 13 ground balls won and eight forced turnovers despite missing three games. “Courtney will always be on the scouting report,” coach Lauren Anderson said. “She has a lethal shot — don’t put her on the 8-meter, or you will pay for it.” 

A Sarah Hawkins, So., Summit

Hawkins might be the Storm’s most well-rounded player, combining a knack for goal (24 goals, team-high 14 assists) with solid defensive skills (30 ground balls won, nine turnovers caused). She also is part of The Intuitive Writing Project, a California-based creative writing group. “Sarah’s broad range of talents help the team in all facets of play,” coach Dan Radatti said. “She contributes in many ways to the team’s success. She has great stick skills and is amazing at ground balls.” 

G Evie Hester, Fr., Jesuit

Hester splits time in goal with Cal-Berkeley commit Sydney Partovi but is quickly proving that the Crusaders won’t skip a beat when Partovi heads to college in two years. Hester has a 5.94 goals against average and .537 save percentage in her six appearances. “Her quick reactions make people have to work to put a goal in,” coach Lauren Blumhardt said. 

D Nelleke Hoekstra, Jr., Sunset

Apollos coach Alexandra Greiner likes Hoekstra’s versatility on the field, being able to move her to midfield if needed and even using her on faceoffs. She ranks among the team leaders in turnovers caused (12) and ground balls won (12). “Nelle brings a lot of energy to the game and always leaves every ounce of it on the field,” Greiner said. 

A Rose Hopkins, Jr., Hood River Valley

Hopkins ranks among the Portland League leaders in ground balls won with 35 to go with 14 goals, 19 turnovers forced and 12 draw controls won. “Rose is full of energy and optimism, on and off the field,” Eagles coach Lauren Oaks said. 

D/M Eva Horst, Jr., Hood River Valley

Horst might be the most well-rounded player on the Eagles, finding ways to contribute in the attack with 14 goals (.737 shot percentage) and six assists while also chipping in 23 caused turnovers and 22 ground balls won. “Eva constantly shows up as a leader,” coach Lauren Oaks said. 

A/M Addie Hummelt, Sr., Oregon Episcopal

Hummelt does a little of everything for the Aardvarks, ranking among the team leaders in assists (second with 17), ground balls won (12) and draw controls (11). “She is an incredibly selfless player who does all the dirty work like fighting for ground balls, getting draw controls, and setting up teammates for goals,” coach Shawn Patrick said. “She consistently works to make her teammates look good. She is the reliable safety when others get into trouble and seems to appear out of nowhere to rescue them.” 

CM Alara Ince, Sr., Sherwood

Ince has been a starter for the Bowmen for most of her career, becoming their steadiest faceoff taker (team-high 12 draw controls in their first five games) to go with eight goals and eight ground balls. “I consider her one of the strongest draw control players I’ve seen,” coach Mark Flint said. “Alara's speed, agility and ball handling during games continually keeps her a high scoring player.” 

M Audrey Jacklyn, Jr., West Linn

Jacklyn ranks among the team leaders in ground balls (31) and draw controls (29) won while also possessing an accurate shot (.619 shot percentage) to score 13 goals. “She’s so fun to watch,” Lions coach Rebecka Wachtel said. “Audrey is incredibly reliable, and her teammates really trust her out on the field.” 

M Ellie Johnson, Fr., Oregon Episcopal

Johnson has had quite the freshman year for the Aardvarks, playing key roles for soccer and basketball teams that made deep postseason runs. Now, she’s playing a starring role on the lacrosse field, sharing the team lead in draw controls won with 29, ranking second in ground balls won with 26, and sitting third with 15 goals. “Ellie has been the most wonderful surprise this year,” coach Shawn Patrick said. “She has started every game and been a relentless force at both ends of the field and in the draw circle. She carries herself with tremendous composure far beyond her young age.” 

D Emerson Karl, So., West Linn

Karl is returning from what Lions coach Rebecka Wachtel described as “a pretty heartbreaking injury” sustained during the offseason. She ranks among team leaders in turnovers caused with 13. “She’s worked hard in the offseason to be able to play on the field,” Wachtel said. “As coaches, we appreciate her positive energy and love for the game.” 

CM Brennan Kelly, Sr., Clackamas

Cavaliers coach Cydney Bartlett calls Kelly, who has committed to Division II University of Colorado Colorado Springs, “our engine who does all the small things that matter in major situations.” She ranks among the team leaders in goals (10), turnovers caused (six), draw controls (18) and ground balls won (eight). She and younger sister Mairin often bring their sibling rivalry to the field, and Bartlett recalls in the team’s first Three Rivers game this spring against West Linn, they were going at it enough to lead everyone to think they were angry with each other. “They look at each other, look at me, and say, ‘This is what we do.’ And as their coach, I can’t argue with that.” 

M Mairin Kelly, So., Clackamas

Kelly is the younger sister of Brennan Kelly, although they’re close enough in age that Cavaliers coach Cydney Bartlett joked that she likes to call them “the Irish twins, but they could not be more opposite.” One thing they have in common — they’re both standouts on the lacrosse field, with Mairin a five-star prospect who earned spots on the 3Steps Nations Best and Under Armour West Coast teams. She also has a knack for putting balls in the back of the net — she led the Cavaliers soccer team in scoring in the fall and now leads the lacrosse team with 25 goals and eight assists in six games this spring. She shares the team lead with 25 draw controls won. “Mairin is the oil of the team’s engine,” Bartlett said. “She can play at any position with no questions asked.” 

CM Evie Kim, Jr., St. Mary’s Academy

Kim leads a balanced Blues attack with 15 goals and 38 draw controls, and she leads the state in ground balls won with 52. Her cheering section at Blues games includes her golden retriever, Sully, which she named after the pilot who landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009. “Evie has so much passion for the game of lacrosse,” coach Sydney Sierra said. “This love gives her a drive that sets up natural tools for leadership.” 

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Part 1