2026 PA Girls Lax 3A Preview: Favorites, Sleepers and Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once again, the 3A state championship is anyone's game, and the road to Panzer Stadium runs through a loaded field of contenders. Springfield Delco, which captured its first state title since moving up to 3A and second overall last spring, is the team every opponent has circled on its schedule. With the regular season just weeks away, several familiar powers look poised for another deep run, while a few emerging programs look to shake up the Pennsylvania lacrosse scene.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manheim Township Blue Streaks - Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach:</strong>&nbsp;Colleen Parmer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Streaks have long contended with the top programs Pennsylvania has to offer, but a state championship title is a box that remains unchecked. Manheim Township ran into Bishop Shanahan in the state semifinals, where the Eagles' relentless defense limited the Blue Streaks' offensive opportunities and handed Township a 9–4 loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite that, this year's team enters with high expectations, featuring a veteran-heavy roster made up of some of the state's top recruits, including Liv Palmer (North Carolina), Toby Bergstrom (Maryland), Reagan Taylor (Colgate soccer), and Lexie Kauffman (East Carolina). The Blue Streaks, who lost six seniors in the offseason, will also welcome a handful of players expected to contribute immediately, including junior goalkeeper Rylie Martin, who will assume the starting role with standout Leah Cramer now graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="white-space: normal">This senior-heavy roster may be better positioned for a state title run than recent Township teams, and an early-season nonleague schedule featuring Conestoga, Garnet Valley, and Radnor will quickly reveal just how championship-ready this group is.</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong style="font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts)">Key Returners:</strong><span style="font-size: revert;font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--system-fonts)"> Liv Palmer (North Carolina), Toby Bergstrom (Maryland), Reagan Taylor (Colgate soccer), Lexie Kauffman (East Carolina), Kara Engroff, Emma Slachta, Lola Slachta, Lily Rice, Rylie Martin, Kendall Cavallaro</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Oxford Coloniels- Sleeper</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: Jessica McIntyre<br>Between the program's first appearance in the PIAA state championship tournament and the four-hour bus ride the team endured to play in that game, there was plenty of reason to overlook the Colonials in 2025. However, a young core led by Cameryn Cohee (New Haven commit) went punch-for-punch with established powerhouse Mount Lebanon, which found the go-ahead and eventual winning goal from Quinn Murdoch with just 4:03 remaining in regulation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With much of last year's core returning and now carrying playoff experience on its resume, the Colonials are a team to watch entering 2026. Cohee, a Division I commit at New Haven and a 200-plus goal scorer, is expected to once again be the focal point of the Colonials' offense, but it is also hard to overlook the late-season emergence of rising sophomore McKenna Johnston, who scored four of the Colonials' 12 goals during the state championship tournament run. Johnston played her best lacrosse late in the season and is expected to be a key piece of the program in the years ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners: Cameryn Cohee (New Haven), <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=5899" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Malorie Stargel</a>, <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=8550" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lacy Jones</a>, <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=7133" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cailyn Miller</a>, <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=9110" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maya Lupian</a>, <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=8545" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kierra Hughart</a>, <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=8548" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordyn Clabaugh</a>, <a href="https://cm.ydr.com/highschool-scores?season=202425&amp;type=athlete&amp;id=10626" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ava Cohee</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conestoga - Favorites</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach:</strong>&nbsp;Jaclyn Collins (first year)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Many picked the 2024 PIAA 3A state champions to repeat in 2025, but the Pioneers ultimately fell short, unable to find the equalizer in a back-and-forth semifinal thriller against eventual state champion Springfield-Delco, which won 7–6. Conestoga returns the bulk of its roster, and while longtime coach Amy Orcutt stepped down this summer after more than 300 wins and 16 seasons with the Pioneers, her daughter, Price Orcutt, is expected to play an integral role in the team's offense this season. Price Orcutt was named Pennsylvania State Lacrosse Association Rookie of the Year in 2025 and is also a nationally ranked sprinter in the 60m and 200m. The Conestoga midfielder led the varsity team in scoring as a freshman with 46 goals and was a key part of the late-season surge that propelled the Pioneers to the state championship tournament. With a large portion of the team returning and a true breakout year expected from Orcutt, Conestoga enters the 2026 campaign as one of the most dangerous teams in the Pennsylvania 3A bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returners: Carolyne Jones (Penn State), Sofia Calvitti (Dusquene), Courtney Smock (Colorado), Bianca Antonacci (Drexel), Victoria Hewitt (<a href="https://www.laxnumbers.com/team_info.php?y=2026&amp;t=41057">Fairleigh Dickinson</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Springfield Delco - Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: Keith Broome</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is impossible to talk about the upcoming season without mentioning the reigning champions, Springfield. Led by a three-headed monster in Kylee O'Donnell (Ohio State commit), Maddie Kane (Lehigh commit), and Allie Hunter, Springfield rolled through the PIAA 3A tournament, taking down WC Henderson, Pleasant Valley, and Conestoga on the way to a 10–5 state title win over Bishop Shanahan. All told, Springfield beat its competition by a combined 24 goals across four tournament games, securing the program's second-ever state championship. But as all championship teams learn, winning two in a row is a tall task. With a large portion of last year's roster now graduated, that challenge becomes even steeper. One name to watch this season is rising sophomore draw control midfielder Eva Lemieux. Lemieux was an integral part of the Cougars' championship run, going 14-for-18 on draw controls in the state title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Legendary coach Keith Broome will be back on the sideline this season after missing the state championship due to urgent orthopedic surgery. One of the winningest coaches in Pennsylvania lacrosse history, Broome reached career win No. 500 last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong> Allyson McCoach (Widener), Macy Gougler (West Chester), Scarlett DiGrazio (Thomas Jefferson), Eva Lemieux, Harper Garrett (Florida State), Katherine Shandley (Salisbury)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Downingtown West - Sleeper</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach:</strong>&nbsp;Emily Ernest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to consider Downingtown West a true sleeper, but after a first-round exit in the PIAA state championship tournament a season ago, the Whippets are a team not to overlook. Led by five-star midfield twins Ava and Brinn Findora, who will follow each other to play lacrosse at the University of Virginia next season, Downingtown West once again enters the year as one of the top programs in the Keystone State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another name to watch this season is class of 2027 goalie Emilia Bressi, who is quickly emerging as one of the state's best keepers. At just 5'3", Bressi is certainly not the tallest in net, but her quick reactions, particularly on free-position attempts, have been key for Downingtown West in limiting opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Returners:</strong>&nbsp;Ava Findora (Virginia), Brinn Findora (Virginia), Charlotte Weil (UMass Lowell), Michelle Nguyen (Iona), Abrianna Guarino (IUP), Stella Fitch (Drexel), Sydney Fitch (Drexel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->