Girls’ Player of the Year EVAN MURPHY Amador Valley (Calif.) Evan Murphy became hooked on lacrosse the moment she first picked up a
stick. Murphy, a soccer player at age 5, turned to lacrosse shortly afterward. Murphy loved the speed of the game and the high scoring. From there, she worked hard to become one of the state’s top high school players. Murphy led Amador Valley to a 22-1 record and the North Coast Section championship. The senior midfielder was named a US Lacrosse All-American, East Bay Athletic League MVP and scored two goals in the NCS Division I title game in the Dons’ 8-6 victory over three-time defending champion Carondelet — first NCS title since 2008. Murphy docked 11 goals in three playoff games to help the Dons outscore their playoff opponents 44-18. Amador Valley coach Richard Murphy is Evan Murphy’s father. He said she
has developed into a complete player, finishing with 65 goals and 36 assists while also providing “the glue that made our zone defense work.” Evan Murphy honed her skills with her club team, BearLax. She cited Theresa Sherry — who starred at Princeton and coached at Cal before starting BearLax — as a mentor. Several Ivy League programs courted Murphy, but she chose Oregon for the
team’s close-knit atmosphere. “Oregon is an amazing place,” Evan Murphy said. “I loved the school spirit
the school has toward athletics, especially because everyone is really into the sports teams at my high school. I also loved the coaches as soon as I met them. I really wanted to play somewhere where the team was like a family, and when I got onto the Oregon campus, I could tell the team was very close.” Murphy’s Amador Valley and BearLax teammate, Cambi
Cukar, also has committed to Oregon. The two have been playing lacrosse together since third grade. “Having a best friend on campus will definitely make going to college out of state much easier,” Murphy said. “The college game is faster and more physical, so I know I have a lot of improving to do before I get there. I also need to be in the best shape of my life in order to compete with the girls already there.”
1. AMADOR VALLEY (CALIF.) The Dons (221) rolled to the North
Coast Section Division I final and then edged Carondelet 8-6, their second close win over the rival Cougars.
2. AIR ACADEMY (COLO.) The Kadets (17-2) won
the state championship with an 11-10 victory over Cherry Creek. McEllen McDonough scored three goals and Jaycee Davis had 17 saves in the win.
3. CHERRY CREEK (COLO.) The Bruins (12-7) fell
short of an 11th state title, despite Olivia List’s game-high four goals in the final.
4. LAKE OSWEGO (ORE.) The Lakers (20-1) won their third
state title in four years by beating West Linn 11-5. Madeline Reece led Lake Oswego with three goals, avenging a loss in last year’s final.
5. WEST LINN (ORE.) The Lions (17-2) fell short in their
bid to defend their Oregon state title after beating Lake Oswego during the regular season when sophomore Natalie Byrne scored nine goals.
6. ST. IGNATIUS (CALIF.) Led by senior All-American Carly
— T.K.
Bell (Boston College), the Wildcats (11-7) closed out the season with an 8-6 win over Carondelet, avenging an earlier loss.
7. CARONDELET (CALIF.) The Cougars (14-7) got by Marin
“I need to be in the best shape of my life to compete with the girls
already there.” — Oregon-bound Evan Murphy
Catholic to reach the North Coast final, where they fell to Amador Valley. Ohio State-bound Madison Castelein starred.
8. MARIN CATHOLIC (CALIF.) The Wildcats (22-3) reached the
North Coast section semifinals with Player of the Year Maddie Spiess at the helm.
9. CENTAURUS (COLO.) The Warriors (16-2) were the
top seed in state playoffs, but got bounced by Cherry Creek. Sarah Brown (Colorado) was the top scorer.
10. ACALANES (CALIF.) Chloe Landry and Katie Fellner
led the Dons (16-6) to their second straight North Coast D-2 title. — T.K.
A Publication of US Lacrosse August 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 43
TOP 10 FINAL GIRLS’
LaxMagazine.com/HSGW
©DENNIS MARPURI/MAXPREPS (EM); ©PAUL DISALVO (JD)
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