Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro girls lacrosse teams for the 2025 season:
Player of the Year
Emma Penczek, Manchester Valley, senior, midfielder
Some day, when Manchester Valley midfielder Emma Penczek looks back on one of the most storied high school careers in state history, she’ll think about the championships she helped win and the records she shattered. But those accomplishments will take a backseat to something a bit less tangible, though more important in her eyes.
“All the accolades and accomplishments are amazing, but I think the best thing that has happened to me in my four years of high school is the amount of friendships that I’ve built with a variety of people,” Penczek said. “Those friendships have truly made an impact on my life, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
The Clemson commit also wouldn’t change the results of her unparalleled senior season, in which she racked up 89 goals, 56 assists, 124 draw controls and 39 caused turnovers, capped by a four-goal, four-assist performance in a 17-9 win over Glenelg in the Class 2A state title game. All told, her top-ranked Mavericks finished 19-0, outscoring opponents 354-62 to earn a No. 4 national ranking, and No. 1 among public schools, by USA Lacrosse.
The perfect season capped a career in which Penczek broke the Carroll County record for goals (329), eclipsing the 307 scored by former Century star Katie Schwartzmann, who went on to become a two-time Tewaaraton Award winner at Maryland in 2012 and 2013. Penczek also shattered school records for career points (487), assists (158) and draw controls (437) while winning a pair of state titles along the way.
Now, the 18-year-old is set to begin her college career at Clemson, departing for the summer semester this month. She plans to major in sports communications while playing for a team that’s become a burgeoning national power after only its third year of competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Still, she said there always will be something special about her senior year at Manchester Valley.
“It was so surreal. This team was so special,” she said. “This senior class … we all grew up together playing rec lacrosse. Being able to go out with an undefeated season and winning the state championship with this group of girls was so amazing. I couldn’t picture a better way to end.”
Coach of the Year
Brian Reese, Maryvale Prep
In his fourth year at the helm, Reese led Maryvale Prep back to prominence as a lacrosse powerhouse, helping the Lions overcome a few midseason hiccups to capture their first Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title since 2002 and rank as high as No. 3 in the country.
To get there, the Lions first had to figure out a way to overcome consecutive one-goal regular-season losses to McDonogh and Spalding. After some late-season introspection, Maryvale Prep tightened up its game and did its best work in the A Conference playoffs, first rallying from a 6-2 deficit to score a 9-8 overtime win against McDonogh in the IAAM semifinals, then roaring back from a 4-2 deficit to topple Spalding, 7-5, in the final.
“I think we learned a lot about ourselves in those [losses], and were able to fix some deficiencies and play a lot better in the playoffs,” Reese said.
Brian Reese led Maryvale Prep to its first Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title since 2002. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)
The 1998 Maryland graduate and former All-America defenseman has been a driving force since coming to Maryvale Prep from Glenelg Country, where in 2017 he was named The Baltimore Sun’s co-Coach of the Year.
In the seven seasons before Reese took over, Maryvale Prep regularly languished in the bottom half of the A Conference standings, averaging three wins a year against league opponents. Since then, it has averaged 9.5 wins in conference and has 22 underclassmen set to return next season, including his All-Metro daughter, Cayden.
“We’re built to last,” he said. “It’s not a flash-in-the-pan type of thing or catching lightning in a bottle.”
Success is nothing new to Reese, who was also Major League Lacrosse’s coach of the year in 2009 with the Denver Outlaws, and was part of his wife Cathy Reese’s coaching staff when the Terps won a national title in 2010. Still, he said this season will always be a memorable one.
“It’s special for our girls because it’s something they haven’t done before, but I think they’ve always wanted to do,” Reese said. “They helped put Maryvale back on the map.”
First team
Brynn Bartlett, Howard, junior, midfielder
The three-year starter and UMBC commit was the definition of an impact player for the Lions, racking up 64 goals, 45 assists, 114 draw controls and 25 caused turnovers. She already has the 10th-most points in county history.
Maria Bragg, Severna Park, junior, midfielder
In her third year as a starter, the Florida commit was dominant all over the field, finishing with 37 goals and 16 assists to go along with 33 caused turnovers and 94 draw controls for the Class 3A state finalists.
Mckenzie Brown, McDonogh, senior, defender
This Northwestern-bound lockdown defender was also the Eagles’ biggest spark in transition. Aside from causing 17 turnovers and scooping 17 ground balls, Brown’s speed sparked several fast breaks for a team ranked near the top of the national rankings.
Jenna Cratin, Marriotts Ridge, sophomore, midfielder
This sophomore’s speed, uncanny explosiveness and consistent ability to make defenders pay helped lead the Mustangs to the Class 3A state championship. She finished with 56 goals and 27 assists to go along with 98 ground balls, 78 draw controls and 17 caused turnovers.
Ella Davis, Spalding, junior, goalie
The left-handed Virginia commit allowed just 6.3 goals per game against IAAM A Conference competition, frequently coming out of the cage to break up scoring chances and leading the Cavaliers to five one-goal wins, including two in the playoffs.
Sofia Herrera, St. Paul’s, senior, defender
The leader of a defense that held opponents to six goals or fewer nine times, this Maryland commit racked up 24 ground balls and caused seven turnovers while marking the opponent’s top threat. She also used her standout speed to spark the Gators’ transition game.
Kit Laake, McDonogh, junior, defender
The Maryland commit dominated defensively for IAAM A Conference regular-season champs, causing 25 turnovers and scooping 31 ground balls while always taking on the opponent’s top offensive threat. She is ranked as the nation’s top junior defender by Inside Lacrosse.
Nora Lopes, Broadneck, junior, midfielder
The Louisville-bound midfielder dominated at both ends of the field, finishing with 69 goals and 12 assists in leading the Bruins to their fifth straight Class 4A state title. Her standout speed made her a constant threat in transition.
Leah Miller, South Carroll, senior, midfielder
The Maryland commit did it all for the Class 1A state champions, finishing with 86 goals and 14 assists while winning 97 draw controls, scooping 41 ground balls and forcing 17 turnovers. Despite constant face guards, she scored at least five goals in nine games.
Emma Mohn, Maryvale Prep, junior, attacker
The Yale commit was a standout dodger and shooter who paired with Cayden Reese up front to lead the Lions to their first IAAM A Conference title in 23 years. She finished with 40 goals and 10 assists against the area’s toughest competition.
Cayden Reese, Maryvale Prep, junior, attacker
Despite facing constant face guards and double teams, the Maryland commit led the IAAM A Conference champions with 38 goals, 24 assists and 70 draw controls, frequently drawing in defenders and setting up goals with early passes.
Kayleigh White, Glenelg, senior, midfielder
The Howard County Player of the Year and High Point commit finished with 71 goals and 21 assists, connecting on an impressive 74% of her shots. The three-year starter also had 108 ground balls and caused 14 turnovers.
Second team
Sophie Baer, Manchester Valley, senior, defender
June Barber, Towson, senior, attacker
Tessa DeLuca, Maryvale Prep, senior, goalie
Paige Feick, Bel Air, senior, midfielder
Taylor Fique, Manchester Valley, sophomore, midfielder
Ava Fossati, McDonogh, junior, attacker
Caroline Hoskins, St. Paul’s, senior, midfielder
Erin Hussey, Severna Park, senior, midfielder
Kaitlyn Magdar, Mt. Hebron, senior, midfielder
Sienna Miller, Broadneck, senior, attacker
Ella Jane Ostrowski, Spalding, junior, attacker
Molly Robison, Broadneck, sophomore, goalie
Avery Saviano, Severna Park, senior, defender
Final Top 15 poll
Rank, team, record
1. Manchester Valley (19-0)
2. Maryvale Prep (13-5)
3. Spalding (12-5)
4. McDonogh (14-3)
5. St. Paul’s (12-4)
6. Broadneck (17-3)
7. Marriotts Ridge (15-4-1)
8. Severna Park (18-3)
9. Notre Dame Prep (10-7)
10. South Carroll (16-3)
11. Glenelg (16-4)
12. Towson (13-3)
13. South River (9-4-1)
14. Severn (8-7)
15. Mount de Sales (9-6)
Others considered: Century (12-5), John Carroll (6-8), Liberty (11-5), Mercy (12-2), St. Mary’s (10-9)
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