2026 Girls Lax WCAC + ISL Outlook

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait a second! For a week the SR goalie was described as the best goalie in both the ISL and area (which was definded as up to Phlly). But now it appears that SR parents are claimining the Potomac goalie outplayed her.

Could it be that maybe the Potomac goalie (and possibly the other ISL and WCAC upperclassmen/committed goalies) are currently better than a freshman goalie who it sounds like had only played the position for one year?

How can that be? And more importantly, this must mean the NCS goalie has surpassed her SR rival, and is the unanimous best goalie in the area. Because how could the committed goalies at SSSAS, PVI, Potomac, GC, BI, and Visi be better than those freshmen juggernauts?!

All these goalies are good!

[Anonymous]

SR with the win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great time of year for girls lax!

As I long-time observer, here are a few thoughts:

1. The WCAC is a complete joke and a bore. GC is a great team that plays against 3 mediocre teams at best in conference and the rest are a joke. How boring can it get.

2. The Saints SR final ISL game has the makings of one of the more exciting and interesting games in recent years. Two teams of great contrasts in their styles and philosophy. Major differences include:

COACHING STYLES: KJ runs a highly regimented and robotic style on offense. A play with every possession. She even designates players who cannot shoot under any circumstances.

KM and SR: No plays. Instructs her players to play creatively. Read the defense and use their speed and athleticism to get to goal.

Both coaches could learn a bit from each other a adopt a bit from each. No plays is a bit ridiculous. Too much structure is not optimal.

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE: Saints played a joke of a out-of-conference schedule. Top teams were Roland Park, STAB and maybe Loyola. But hey they did play NCS in the ISL A division! But ducked GC. Just the facts.

SR played a murders row out of conference: McDon, St. Mary's, NDP, Milton, Glenelg, STAB, GC, Episcopal Academy PA, Penn Charter PA, and Severna Park. They probably went a bit overboard, but they made their team which is very young with 5 freshmen playing into a very experienced team by Playoff Time.

DEFENSE PHILOSOPHY: Saints Sags in on Defense off-ball. SR plays out with higher pressure man-to-man.

EXPERIENCE: Saints has 15 Seniors and 21 College recruits. SR only has 2 seniors that play and 5 Freshman that play most of the game.

STAKES FOR THE GAME: Saints has not won a post-season banner since 2022. SR has won the last 3 ISL Tourney titles and the regular season crown in 2026.

My take is that all of the pressure is on Saints to deliver with this senior class. SR with all of their youth is playing with house money as a PP suggested before. Get you popcorn ready. Should be a great matchup if you love the game.

Interesting and comprehensive analysis of the teams competing for the ISL final. Did not see the first game, but the pressure out on D would not seem to be the right strategy with SSSAS attack. Not sure it's accurate that SR has "no plays". It's maybe more of a attack "system", than a set play, but the motion up top, clear outs for #5 and #1 to dodge, and the timing on the back cuts, especially from X, suggests more structure than you indicated.

Good call out on the OOC schedule. SR is certainly more battle-tested. May have been a factor in the regular season match up. If SSSAS's dominant play in the semifinal is any indication, however, they are tuned up and ready for this one. Agree that the pressure is on the Saints, but expect them to breakthrough with the 2026 class for the win.

Not clear why you started with the WCAC, though, since you didn't have much to say there. Frankly, you gave GC short shrift, although you acknowledged they are a "great team". GC has beaten every ISL willing to play them (credit to Visi) the past three seasons (6-0), including an easy victory over Stone Ridge and a shellacking of Visi this season. SSSAS won't schedule them as you noted. If GC were in the ISL, it would be almost as boring, despite the fact that the 2nd through 4th best teams in the DC area in any given season are generally in the ISL. GC does this with, on paper (NW player notwitstanding), less impressive recruiting results on their roster than the top 4 of the ISL. They have a very physical defense, team cohesion and depth, solid goaltending, and an opportunistic attack. Like it or not, Coach H runs a strong program. Too bad we won't see a matchup between the WCAC and ISL champs.

[Anonymous]

That really should be an annual matchup at the end of the year for “the top team in D.C.”

[Anonymous]

Agreed. Many girls from schools in the two leagues would show up to support their representative. The Super Bowl of girls lacrosse!

[Anonymous]

Has anyone bothered to test the assumption that SSSAS is ducking GC and not the other way around? the same people/person has been repeating that all year. Just wondering if there is data to back that up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great time of year for girls lax!

As I long-time observer, here are a few thoughts:

1. The WCAC is a complete joke and a bore. GC is a great team that plays against 3 mediocre teams at best in conference and the rest are a joke. How boring can it get.

2. The Saints SR final ISL game has the makings of one of the more exciting and interesting games in recent years. Two teams of great contrasts in their styles and philosophy. Major differences include:

COACHING STYLES: KJ runs a highly regimented and robotic style on offense. A play with every possession. She even designates players who cannot shoot under any circumstances.

KM and SR: No plays. Instructs her players to play creatively. Read the defense and use their speed and athleticism to get to goal.

Both coaches could learn a bit from each other a adopt a bit from each. No plays is a bit ridiculous. Too much structure is not optimal.

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE: Saints played a joke of a out-of-conference schedule. Top teams were Roland Park, STAB and maybe Loyola. But hey they did play NCS in the ISL A division! But ducked GC. Just the facts.

SR played a murders row out of conference: McDon, St. Mary's, NDP, Milton, Glenelg, STAB, GC, Episcopal Academy PA, Penn Charter PA, and Severna Park. They probably went a bit overboard, but they made their team which is very young with 5 freshmen playing into a very experienced team by Playoff Time.

DEFENSE PHILOSOPHY: Saints Sags in on Defense off-ball. SR plays out with higher pressure man-to-man.

EXPERIENCE: Saints has 15 Seniors and 21 College recruits. SR only has 2 seniors that play and 5 Freshman that play most of the game.

STAKES FOR THE GAME: Saints has not won a post-season banner since 2022. SR has won the last 3 ISL Tourney titles and the regular season crown in 2026.

My take is that all of the pressure is on Saints to deliver with this senior class. SR with all of their youth is playing with house money as a PP suggested before. Get you popcorn ready. Should be a great matchup if you love the game.

Not sure it's accurate that SR has "no plays". It's maybe more of a attack "system", than a set play, but the motion up top, clear outs for #5 and #1 to dodge, and the timing on the back cuts, especially from X, suggests more structure than you indicated.

As a SR parent I can confirm, no plays, she doesn't believe in them. If you don't believe me, stand on the sidelines of a game when we go through a scoring lull and listen to us complain about not having a single play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone bothered to test the assumption that SSSAS is ducking GC and not the other way around? the same people/person has been repeating that all year. Just wondering if there is data to back that up.

Well, SSSAS puts on a tournament every year (Spring Fling) and can schedule whomever they want to play yet they never play GC??? HMMmmm....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don't think SSSAS will win by 3 or more, state your case.

SSSAS has been the dominant area team all year. Lost by one in the regular season to SR, but it is very hard to beat a better team twice. Class of 2026 playing their last game together. They will be all out.

Not their last game. They play in VISAA tournament next week.

Fair. Not the same as an ISL game though, right? STAB could give them a game, but beating SR in the ISL championship will be more important.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Why not have each conference put their best girls together and play, if you can't get full teams to participate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone bothered to test the assumption that SSSAS is ducking GC and not the other way around? the same people/person has been repeating that all year. Just wondering if there is data to back that up.

Well, SSSAS puts on a tournament every year (Spring Fling) and can schedule whomever they want to play yet they never play GC??? HMMmmm....

Exactly. And the last time they played was at SSSAS. Then SSSAS cancelled the return trip to GC.

Pretty clear who is ducking who if each year you host a play day and don’t schedule them.

[Anonymous]

scores?

[Anonymous]

12-5 GC
End of the 3rd

[Anonymous]

GC - 15 - SJC 6 4th

Goalie play is a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

10 g difference - running clock