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The NJSIAA girls lacrosse tournament gets underway on Wednesday for non-public schools and Thursday for public teams.
The 24-team statewide non-public tournament ends on June 9 at Kean University with the state championship. The public-school South sectional finals will be held on June 9 at the higher seed. The public state championships will be held on June 12 & 13 at The College of New Jersey.
Here is a look at the field.
Records and statistics are through May 25.
South Jersey first-round games
16) Rancocas Valley at (1) Cherokee, (9) Washington Township at (8) Eastern, (13) Monroe at (4) Lenape, (10) Howell at (7) Kingsway
Defending champ: Southern
Favorite: Cherokee
Best first-round matchup: Washington Township at Eastern. A few years removed from a traditional Olympic Conference rivalry, the Minutemaids wave the SJILL banner these days.
Three stars:Abby Ball, Cherokee. A towering talent, the Chiefs senior has 48 goals this season, 161 for her career. Lexi Bucciorelli, Lenape. The Indians' senior leader passed the 100-career goal and 100-assist marks in April. Phoebe O'Rourke, Kingsway. The Dragons star has 252 goals and 326 career points.
Prediction: Cherokee. Sitting in the top half of the bracket, the Chiefs should be on track for a home final against defending champion Southern.
South Jersey first-round games16) Triton at (1) Moorestown, (12) Northern Burlington at (5) Mainland, (13) Lawrence at (4) Cherry Hill West, (14) Toms River South at (3) Shawnee, (11) Brick Township at (6) Clearview, (15) Hammonton at (2) Ocean City
Defending champ: Moorestown
Favorite: Moorestown.
Best first-round matchup: Northern Burlington at Mainland. The Greyhounds present a different challenge for the Cape-Atlantic Tournament finalists, but the Mustangs should be able to hold serve at home.
Three stars:Julia Blong, Moorestown. The senior wears the program's famed 51-jersey and leads the Quakers with 32 goals. Maddie Goulburn, Shawnee. The Renegades senior leads the attack with 40 goals this spring. Marley Ostrander, Ocean City. Leading a powerful attack with 57 goals, the Red Raiders' junior has 78 points this spring.
Prediction: Moorestown. The Quakers are built for this and have built toward this in a season when they've proved to be South Jersey's top team.
South Jersey first-round games: (9) Wall at (8) Sterling, (12) Delran at (5) Cinnaminson, (14) Absegami at (3) Seneca, (11) Oakcrest at (6) Robbinsville, (10) Timber Creek at (7) Cedar Creek
Defending champ: Allentown
Favorite: Allentown
Best first-round matchup: Timber Creek at Cedar Creek. An interesting nonleague battle that pits the Cape-Atlantic Pirates with the SJILL Chargers in a battle of styles.
Three stars: Zoey Holstrom, Cedar Creek. One of South Jersey's top snipers, the Pirates sophomore has 87 goals so far this spring. Frankie Sorino, Seneca. The Golden Eagles senior leads the attack with 54 goals and 74 points. Mia Sztenderowicz, Cinnaminson. The Pirate's sophomore star has 67 goals and 89 points on the season.
Prediction: Allentown. Seneca could be the Red Birds' biggest South Jersey challenge, but the Golden Eagles would likely have to top Manasquan on the road in the semis to get there.
South Jersey first-round games: (16) New Egypt at (1) Haddonfield, (12) Gateway at (5) Delaware Valley, (14) Middle Township at (3) New Providence, (11) Lower Cape May at (6) Haddon Township, (10) West Deptford at (7) Woodstown
Defending champ: Rumson-Fair Haven
Favorite: Haddonfield
Best first-round matchup: West Deptford at Woodstown.
Three stars:Riley Austin, Haddonfield. The Bulldog's senior is looking to cap her 54-goals season with a sectional title. Kaitlyn Martin, Haddon Township. The Hawks' sophomore erupted for 72 goals this spring to make a claim as South Jersey's most dangerous scorer. Delaney Walker, Woodstown. Another 65 goals this spring gives the Wolverines' senior star 234 heading into the playoffs.
Prediction: Haddonfield. The Haddons will likely have to knock off the defending champs but there's no reason to doubt the Dawgs.
South Jersey first-round games: (21) Newark Academy at (12) Holy Cross Prep, (22) Dwight-Englewood at (11) Bishop Eustace, (23) Donovan Catholic at (10) Camden Catholic, (8) Paul VI, bye, (7) Holy Spirit, bye
Defending champ: Pingry
Favorite: Oak Knoll
Best first-round matchup: Dwight-Englewood at Bishop Eustace. The Crusaders have played well enough to earn a home playoff game ahead of a winnable second-round game.
Three stars:Kat Gillern, Camden Catholic. With 62 goals and 49 assists, the Irish junior has established herself as one of the area's best scorers. Caroline King, Bishop Eustace. The junior has 46 goals on the season and a team-best 69 points. Emma McCarthy, Paul VI. Over 300 career goals and nearly 450 points marks the Eagles' senior as an all-time SJ great.
Prediction: Oak Knoll. The Royals will probably have to face a single South Jersey team, 8-seed Paul VI on the way to another state title.
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at [email protected] and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Our South Jersey high school girls lacrosse 2026 tournament primer
Continue reading...
The 24-team statewide non-public tournament ends on June 9 at Kean University with the state championship. The public-school South sectional finals will be held on June 9 at the higher seed. The public state championships will be held on June 12 & 13 at The College of New Jersey.
Here is a look at the field.
Records and statistics are through May 25.
You must be registered for see images attach
South Group 4
South Jersey first-round games
16) Rancocas Valley at (1) Cherokee, (9) Washington Township at (8) Eastern, (13) Monroe at (4) Lenape, (10) Howell at (7) KingswayDefending champ: Southern
Favorite: Cherokee
Best first-round matchup: Washington Township at Eastern. A few years removed from a traditional Olympic Conference rivalry, the Minutemaids wave the SJILL banner these days.
Three stars:Abby Ball, Cherokee. A towering talent, the Chiefs senior has 48 goals this season, 161 for her career. Lexi Bucciorelli, Lenape. The Indians' senior leader passed the 100-career goal and 100-assist marks in April. Phoebe O'Rourke, Kingsway. The Dragons star has 252 goals and 326 career points.
Prediction: Cherokee. Sitting in the top half of the bracket, the Chiefs should be on track for a home final against defending champion Southern.
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South Group 3
South Jersey first-round games
16) Triton at (1) Moorestown, (12) Northern Burlington at (5) Mainland, (13) Lawrence at (4) Cherry Hill West, (14) Toms River South at (3) Shawnee, (11) Brick Township at (6) Clearview, (15) Hammonton at (2) Ocean CityDefending champ: Moorestown
Favorite: Moorestown.
Best first-round matchup: Northern Burlington at Mainland. The Greyhounds present a different challenge for the Cape-Atlantic Tournament finalists, but the Mustangs should be able to hold serve at home.
Three stars:Julia Blong, Moorestown. The senior wears the program's famed 51-jersey and leads the Quakers with 32 goals. Maddie Goulburn, Shawnee. The Renegades senior leads the attack with 40 goals this spring. Marley Ostrander, Ocean City. Leading a powerful attack with 57 goals, the Red Raiders' junior has 78 points this spring.
Prediction: Moorestown. The Quakers are built for this and have built toward this in a season when they've proved to be South Jersey's top team.
You must be registered for see images attach
South Group 2
South Jersey first-round games: (9) Wall at (8) Sterling, (12) Delran at (5) Cinnaminson, (14) Absegami at (3) Seneca, (11) Oakcrest at (6) Robbinsville, (10) Timber Creek at (7) Cedar Creek
Defending champ: Allentown
Favorite: Allentown
Best first-round matchup: Timber Creek at Cedar Creek. An interesting nonleague battle that pits the Cape-Atlantic Pirates with the SJILL Chargers in a battle of styles.
Three stars: Zoey Holstrom, Cedar Creek. One of South Jersey's top snipers, the Pirates sophomore has 87 goals so far this spring. Frankie Sorino, Seneca. The Golden Eagles senior leads the attack with 54 goals and 74 points. Mia Sztenderowicz, Cinnaminson. The Pirate's sophomore star has 67 goals and 89 points on the season.
Prediction: Allentown. Seneca could be the Red Birds' biggest South Jersey challenge, but the Golden Eagles would likely have to top Manasquan on the road in the semis to get there.
You must be registered for see images attach
South Group 1
South Jersey first-round games: (16) New Egypt at (1) Haddonfield, (12) Gateway at (5) Delaware Valley, (14) Middle Township at (3) New Providence, (11) Lower Cape May at (6) Haddon Township, (10) West Deptford at (7) Woodstown
Defending champ: Rumson-Fair Haven
Favorite: Haddonfield
Best first-round matchup: West Deptford at Woodstown.
Three stars:Riley Austin, Haddonfield. The Bulldog's senior is looking to cap her 54-goals season with a sectional title. Kaitlyn Martin, Haddon Township. The Hawks' sophomore erupted for 72 goals this spring to make a claim as South Jersey's most dangerous scorer. Delaney Walker, Woodstown. Another 65 goals this spring gives the Wolverines' senior star 234 heading into the playoffs.
Prediction: Haddonfield. The Haddons will likely have to knock off the defending champs but there's no reason to doubt the Dawgs.
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NJSIAA Non-Public
South Jersey first-round games: (21) Newark Academy at (12) Holy Cross Prep, (22) Dwight-Englewood at (11) Bishop Eustace, (23) Donovan Catholic at (10) Camden Catholic, (8) Paul VI, bye, (7) Holy Spirit, bye
Defending champ: Pingry
Favorite: Oak Knoll
Best first-round matchup: Dwight-Englewood at Bishop Eustace. The Crusaders have played well enough to earn a home playoff game ahead of a winnable second-round game.
Three stars:Kat Gillern, Camden Catholic. With 62 goals and 49 assists, the Irish junior has established herself as one of the area's best scorers. Caroline King, Bishop Eustace. The junior has 46 goals on the season and a team-best 69 points. Emma McCarthy, Paul VI. Over 300 career goals and nearly 450 points marks the Eagles' senior as an all-time SJ great.
Prediction: Oak Knoll. The Royals will probably have to face a single South Jersey team, 8-seed Paul VI on the way to another state title.
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at [email protected] and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Our South Jersey high school girls lacrosse 2026 tournament primer
Continue reading...
