Oregon high school girls lacrosse: Meet the top stars of 2022 (Part 3)

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 3 of our list. (Read Part 1 here and read Part 2 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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D Sydney Kim, Jr., Jesuit

Kim is an aspiring painter who anchors a Crusaders defense that allows just six goals per game. She also has chipped in two goals and an assist to the attack. “Her lacrosse IQ and creativity on the field bring a dynamic that most players do not have,” coach Lauren Blumhardt said. 

M/A Lily Kirkpatrick, Jr., Oregon City

Kirkpatrick leads the Pioneers with eight assists to go with nine goals and 14 ground balls won. “Lily might be the shortest player on the team, but she has some wicked hops and snags balls out of the air,” coach Monica Curtis said. “Her stick is a magnet for the ball.” 

M Olivia Kozitza, So., Ida B. Wells

Kozitza ranks among the state leaders in goals (39, 10th) and draw controls won (43, 12th) to go with 26 ground balls won and 14 assists. She has been selected to attend the Under Armour 150 and Apex 60 Showcases this summer. Kozitza also runs cross country, finishing 21st at the Class 6A state meet in November, and she coaches the Wells/Lincoln third-fourth grade team. “Olivia is an outstanding athlete whose dedication to lacrosse is equally inspiring and terrifying to her peers,” coach Jess Ellefson said. “Olivia uplifts her team with her powerful draw control to start our games, always transitions the ball flawlessly down the field, and is a powerhouse on defense.” 

CM Emma Kroll, Sr., Hood River Valley

Kroll’s older sister, Elena, was a three-time state wrestling placer who’s now starting in the midfield for Linfield University. Emma has overcome four broken bones during her career to become a critical member of the Eagles’ midfield, ranking second on the team with 16 goals. “Emma’s situational awareness is impeccable, not only with herself, but with her team,” coach Lauren Oaks said. “She is the first to see opportunities and act upon them on the field.” 

G Phoebe Labuhn, Fr., Beaverton

Labuhn has demonstrated the potential to become one of the OGLA’s top goaltenders by the time her career ends. She has an 8.74 goals against average and a .616 save percentage in 11 games for the Beavers.

D Katie Laidlaw, Sr., West Linn

Laidlaw anchors a defense that allowed just 7.6 goals per game during a 10-2 start, ranking second on the team in turnovers caused (15) while also winning 29 ground balls. “Katie is a strong leader on our team,” Lions coach Rebecka Wachtel said. “She holds herself and her teammates to high standards. She’s competitive and will do anything for this team.” 

M Avery Lanz, Sr., Wilsonville

Lanz has been finding the back of the net for the Wildcats since her freshman season, when she finished with 55 goals and 20 assists to earn second-team all-state honors. She has 33 goals (.559 shot percentage) and 13 assists this spring while also serving as the team’s primary faceoff player (her 66 draw controls lead the state) and a steady defender (state-leading 43 ground balls won). “Avery is one of those players who makes this sport look effortless, often looking like she’s on skates out there,” coach Mark Waddell said. “There is nothing Avery can’t do on a lacrosse field.”

M Nora LeBlanc, Fr., St. Mary’s Academy

LeBlanc’s older sister, Claire, played for coach Sydney Sierra on the Blues soccer team several years ago. Now, LeBlanc is carving out her own legacy on the lacrosse field, sharing the team lead with 15 goals through 11 matches to go with a team-high 21 turnovers caused, 39 ground balls won and 37 draw controls. “Nora comes in as a freshman with the sticks, skills and fitness that show a bright future for our program,” Sierra said.

M Annie Lefever, Sr., St. Mary’s Academy

Blues coach Sydney Sierra first worked with Lefever in U9 club soccer, recalling that “she was one of the littlest players, but such a spitfire that she got as much or more done on the field as the bigger players.” Now that they’re reunited on the lacrosse field, Sierra sees many of the same traits in her now-senior, who has 14 goals and a team-high 18 assists (seventh-most in the state) while also running the program’s Instagram account. “As a natural leader on our team, she pushes everyone to play their best,” Sierra said. “I truly appreciate the positive things she has given us.”

A Brooke Leggat, Sr., Summit

Leggat has been among the state leaders in goals scored all season, with her 39 through nine games tied for 11th. She also has won 18 ground balls. Leggat, who hopes to play lacrosse at Dartmouth next year, is an avid watersports enthusiast and student body president, and she works with We Dine Together, which helps new students get acclimated to Summit. “Brooke has a great knack for dodging, getting open, and getting off shots,” Storm coach Dan Radatti said. “She has scored many clutch goals for the team this year.” 

D Malia Lockrem, Jr., Summit

Lockrem has competed in equestrian events since grade school, competing in the US Equestrian Foundation’s pony finals in Kentucky as an eighth-grader and winning the Childrens Jumper Derby at Sonoma Horse Park last year. This spring, she’s part of a solid defensive corps that has given up just 71 goals in 10 games, ranking among the team leaders in ground balls won (27) and turnovers caused (16). “Malia is a well-rounded defender who contributes in many ways on- and off-ball,” Storm coach Dan Radatti said. “She creates turnovers, gets ground balls, facilitates transition and makes it very hard for the opponent to dodge to goal.” 

G Taya Lorenz, So., Summit

Lorenz has skied competitively since age 6 and last winter finished tied for fifth in the Oregon School Ski Association grand slalom standings with her lacrosse teammate, Brooke Leggat. Now, she’s backstopped a defense that allowed just 71 goals through 10 games, posting a 6.80 goals against average and .505 save percentage. “Taya started playing goalie last year, and from the start was very receptive to coaching,” coach Dan Radatti said. “She has very good natural instincts that help her anticipate and react to the opponent's offense.” 

M Lucy Maddocks, So., Jesuit

Maddocks’ teammates have nicknamed her “5 Feet of Heat,” and her ferocious play combined with playmaking (six assists) “adds a spark on the field,” said Crusaders coach Lauren Blumhardt. “She gets everyone to work just as hard as she does.”

M Auerlia Mafinejad, Sr., Mountainside

Manfinejad has played soccer, cross country and basketball during her four years at Mountainside, but she has found a home in the Mavericks midfield after playing defense her first few seasons on the lacrosse field. This season, she has developed into a faceoff specialist, leading the team with 56 draw controls won, while also forcing a team-high 18 turnovers, winning 29 ground balls and chipping in 16 goals and 13 assists in attack. “She transitioned to fill a critical role in the midfield, which highlighted her resilience and wide skill set,” coach Jason Lines said. “She is a playmaker anywhere on the field.”

M Haleigh Magdelain, Sr., Tualatin

Magdelain, whose twin brother also plays lacrosse, is a jill-of-all-trades for the Timberwolves, sharing faceoff duties with Braquelle Blanchard (Haleigh has 27 draw controls won) while chipping in 14 goals, 14 ground balls won and seven forced turnovers. “This year, Haleigh has grown into her role on the attacking end by creating scoring opportunities for herself and others,” coach Lois Ray said. 

M Erin McDevitt, So., Grant

McDevitt played on the Generals’ state champion soccer team last fall, and now, she’s third on the lacrosse team with 34 goals and 15 assists while winning a team-high 31 ground balls and 46 draw controls. “Erin is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to lacrosse, not just with knowing the rules of the game but helping with how to best strategize a point of attack,” coach Yecenia Arrezola said. 

M Megan McDevitt, Jr., Grant

McDevitt has led the state in scoring for most of the season, and through 11 games, she had 61 goals (.550 shot percentage) and 18 assists to go with 39 draw controls and 28 ground balls won. The Chapman University commit celebrates her birthday every year on Christmas. “Megan has a get-it-done attitude that is what any coach would ask for,” Generals coach Yecenia Arrezola said. “When there is a task at hand, Megan always finds a way to accomplish it.” 

M Lexi McIlmoil, Jr., Wilsonville

Wildcats coach Mark Waddell called McIlmoil “the perfect complement” to his all-state candidates Avery Lanz and Tatum Hagen in the midfield. McIlmoil proved herself in the clutch last spring with her last-second goal to beat Oregon City/Clackamas in triple overtime, and this year, she’s stuffed the stat sheet — 15 goals, 10 assists, 23 ground balls won and 24 draw controls won in 12 games. “Lexi is a constant leader and producer for our team, and her future is bright,” Waddell said.

A Ella McKay, Jr., West Linn

McKay has been a stalwart on both sides of the ball for the Lions this spring. Not only does she lead the team with 48 goals (tied for eighth in OGLA) with 15 assists and a .676 shot percentage, but she also has a team-high 38 ground balls won and 21 turnovers caused. She has committed to Division I Furman. “Ella has really stepped up this year, both as a contributor and a leader on this team,” coach Rebecka Wachtel said. “She has a great deal of knowledge from playing all over, and she inspires her teammates to be better.”

G/A Keira McMahon, So., Mountainside

McMahon splits time with classmate Ainsley Schmietenknop in net, freeing her to also play on attack for the Mavericks. She has a 6.29 goals against average and .551 save percentage in goal, while scoring two goals and winning 14 ground balls as a field player. “Keira has quick hands and the keen ability to track shots as a goal, but also has great speed and agility on the field,” coach Jason Lines said. 

CM Lila Meyer, Sr., Oregon City

Meyer’s wizardry wielding a lacrosse stick makes her deadly in faceoffs — her 56 draw controls won rank fourth in the state. She also leads the Pioneers with 18 goals, scoring on two-thirds of her shot attempts, and 11 forced turnovers. “Lily is a mix of strength and smarts,” coach Monica Curtis said. “She is competitive, which is why it is no surprise that she is one of the top in the state for draw controls.” 

M Eva Murray, Jr., West Linn

Lions coach Rebecka Wachtel calls Murray “your true midfielder,” one who excels as both a goal scorer (24) and distributor (11 assists), but also as a faceoff specialist (45 draw controls won) and defender (32 ground balls won). “She’s incredibly athletic and has great skills on the attack and defensive ends,” Wachtel said. “She’s a player that you know is always going to give her all and leave it out on the field.” 

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Part 1

Part 2