Morris/Sussex girls lacrosse Top 10 rankings: Tournament titles to be settled on Saturday

Northwest Jersey will crown two girls lacrosse county tournament champions this weekend.

Hunterdon Central will host North Hunterdon for the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex title at 11 a.m. Saturday. Later in the day, Chatham and Morristown will meet in the Morris County Tournament final, which is set for 7 p.m. at Mount Olive.

This will be the fourth year in a row the same teams have decided the MCT. Morristown won last spring, after back-to-back Chatham victories. The Colonials also outlasted the Cougars in a Stars & Stripes Red regular-season game on April 20.

Check out our rankings before the opening draw of each final.

Girls lacrosse: 2024 Morris County Tournament bracket, schedule, scores

Girls lacrosse: 2024 Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex bracket, scores, schedule

10. Mount Olive (8-3)

Last week: No. 9

Junior midfielder Maggie Tilves has 53 goals and 20 assists – both team highs – as well as 80 draw controls, nine forced turnovers and 36 ground balls. Unbeaten atop the Independence Blue, Mount Olive has lost to neighbor West Morris twice.

Up next: Friday at Blair, Monday at Villa Walsh, Wednesday vs. Kittatinny

9. Randolph (5-9)

Last week: Unranked

Senior Alexis Rodell, who has verbally committed to Stanford, has 52 goals, 10 assists, 77 draw controls, 11 forced turnovers and 23 ground balls. The Rams have lost nine of their last 11, and have yet to win in the Stars & Stripes Blue.

Up next: Tuesday at Glen Ridge, Thursday vs. Summit

8. Morris Knolls (5-8)

Last week: No. 8

Sophomore Lucia Nash (46g, 15a, 33gb, 37dc, 23ft) and junior Addy Walker (38g, 14a, 21gb, 41dc, 7ft) have led Morris Knolls in its first Stars & Stripes season. The Group 3 Golden Eagles play Group 1 Mountain Lakes in division, then will play Group 4 Hunterdon Central and Morristown.

Up next: Friday vs. Mountain Lakes, Monday vs. Hunterdon Central, Thursday at Morristown

7. West Morris (9-3)

Last week: No. 5

Senior Celia Ortiz (29g, 30a) and sophomore Kate Barisonek (37g, 22a) have 59 points apiece. The Wolfpack have averaged 13.2 goals in their victories and just 4.3 in the three losses.

Up next: Friday vs. Bernards, Monday vs. Cranford, Wednesday vs. New Providence

6. Sparta (10-3)

Last week: No. 6

Junior midfielder Uma Kowalski has 66 goals and eight assists, 26 ground balls, 63 draw controls and 21 forced turnovers – all but one of which are team highs. Second-seeded Sparta was upended by third seed North Hunterdon, 8-6, in a HWS semifinal on May 7. The Spartans remain unbeaten in the Freedom White and are tied with Montclair Kimberley for the division lead.

Up next: Monday vs. Caldwell, Wednesday vs. Cranford

5. Madison (5-7)

Last week: No. 7

Juniors Gabby Mariani (32g, 10a, 62gb, 78dc, 16ft) and Hadley Holland (31g, 17a, 36gb, 14dc, 9ft) power Madison. The Dodgers' first season in the Stars & Stripes has been challenging, with every loss across the three divisions. Madison has lost four of its last six, including twice to Mountain Lakes – once in the NJGILL and once in an MCT quarterfinal.

Up next: Friday vs. Columbia

4. Mountain Lakes (5-7)

Last week: No. 4

Group 1 Mountain Lakes continues to struggle against larger schools in the Stars & Stripes, defeating Madison twice. but losing to Group 3 Chatham and Group 4 Morristown in a MCT semifinal on May 8. Group 3 Morris Knolls and Group 2 Mendham are up ahead.

Up next: Friday at Morris Knolls, Monday at Verona, Thursday at Mendham

3. Mendham (8-6)

Last week: No. 3

Four of Mendham's six losses are in the Stars & Stripes Red, and the most recent, to Chatham in an MCT semifinal on May 8, is also a division opponent. Senior midfielder Sophia Cardella has 49 goals, 13 assists, 45 draw controls, 11 forced turnovers and 20 ground balls for the Minutemen, who have won four of their last five.

Up next: Tuesday at Northern Highlands, Thursday vs. Mountain Lakes

2. Chatham (10-4)

Last week: No. 2

Juniors Ashlyn Carpenter (37g, 13a, 15gb) and Grace Hallahan (32g, 6a, 11gb, 80dc, 7ft) have stepped up for Chatham, which lost seven NCAA Division I signees to graduation. The Cougars will get a second shot at Morristown in the MCT final on Saturday, after falling 10-7 on the road on April 20.

Up next: Saturday vs. Morristown in MCT final at Mount Olive, Wednesday vs. Verona

1. Morristown (15-1)

Last week: No. 1

Morristown suffered its first loss, 8-7 to Summit on May 3 – but the two teams remain tied atop the Stars & Stripes Red. The senior-led Colonials are heading to their third straight MCT final against Chatham.

Up next: Saturday vs. Chatham in MCT final at Mount Olive, Tuesday at Immaculate Heart, Thursday vs. Morris Knolls

Also considered: Jefferson (8-6), Pope John (7-7), Roxbury (7-5), Vernon (7-5).

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ girls lacrosse: Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings for tournament finals