Team of the Year

Mountain Lakes

Mountain Lakes is known for having a strong lacrosse program, but most of the glory usually goes to the Lakers’ boys’ team. This year, the girls’ team took the spotlight, going 18-5 and making a remarkable run to the Tournament of Champions finals.  Although the Lakers lost to national power Moorestown, they played well, falling by a very respectable 11-8 margin. Along the way, Mountain Lakes won the Group I state title for the first time and reached the Morris County final.

After their MCT Finals loss to Mendham, the Lakers really banded together.  Mountain Lakes regrouped and relied on its strengths:  team speed, balanced offense and stout defense.  The Lakers were led by Meagan Stickle, Jordan Renna, Erin Turkot, Grace Newfrock and goalie Britt Dignes, who earned first-team All-State honors for her tremendous play in the state tournament.  Dignes and the defense carried the day in a 6-3 win over Shore Regional in the Group I final;  a few days later the offense exploded as the Lakers routed West Essex in the ToC semi-finals.

As Mountain Lakes approached the end of the season, it seemed like every game coincided with a Laker birthday celebration.  It seemed fitting as the Lakers celebrated 2009 as their best season ever in girls’ lacrosse, and they are clearly worthy of our JSN Girls' Lacrosse Team of the Year award.

Player of the Year

Meagan Stickle, Mountain Lakes

With her speed and sharp shooting skills, senior captain Meagan Stickle helped lead Mountain Lakes to its best season ever.  She led the Group I State Championship team with 62 goals and chipped in with nine assists. Many of her goals came from speedy fast breaks or assists from her many talented teammates like spirited senior captain Jordan Renna.

Competitive on the field, Stickle showed her leadership and character many times after games.  She demonstrated a team-first attitude after a low-scoring win over Shore Regional in the Group I final. “It was awesome to win a title with this team, it was exciting, knowing we’ve been here before but this time we accomplished our goal,” Stickle said, noting that the Lakers had lost to the same team in the state final two years earlier.

Not only did Mountain Lakes accomplish their goal, they went all the way to the ToC Finals and played a very respectable game against national power Moorestown.  Meagan Stickle's performance and character will set an example for future Mountain Lakes players and for her efforts, she is the 2009 JSN Girls' Lacrosse Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year

Jennifer Munday, Mountain Lakes

Although Mountain Lakes finished with the best season in the girls’ lacrosse program's history, it wasn't a smooth ride.  Second year coach (and former all-state goalie for the Lakers) Jen Munday saw her team struggle in the middle of the season. But after a second setback to Mendham in the Morris County finals, Munday and the Lakers regrouped and decided to play to their strengths.  The Lakers seemed to gel from that point on, turning in an exceptional post season run including the Group I state title.

For most of the year, Mountain Lakes was ranked in the state's Top Ten.  But their results suggested they couldn't compete with the elite teams at the top of those rankings.  However, as the post-season began, a newly confident Lakers squad emerged and charged through the Group I playoffs. The Lakers then hammered #2 West Essex in the Tournament of Champions semi-final before playing a strong game against national power Moorestown in the ToC finals.

Munday helped guide the Lakers' turnaround and commented on the efforts the girls gave. “I’m proud of all the girls, they each did their part, whether in practice or in games. I was proud every single day."  In only her second season, Munday guided the Lakers to new heights. Congratulations on a great season, earning the 2009 JSN Girls' Lacrosse Coach of the Year Award.

Girls' Lacrosse Notes

TOP TURNAROUND:  A year after a sub-.500 season, DePaul posted the finest performance in school history with a 12-3 record.  The Spartans earned their first state playoff victory ever as well when they beat Indian Hills in the first round.

COLTS CHARGE FORWARD:  Kinnelon also rebounded from a down year, 6-12 in 2008, to post a solid season.  The Colts finished 10-7 this year despite playing in one of the toughest conferences in the state.  They also earned a state tournament win, a 17-16 sudden death thriller against Morris Catholic, before falling to Mountain Lakes in the sectional semifinals.

DYNAMIC DUO:  Montville had but two seniors on its roster, but Kim Armbruster and Ashley Miller did it all for the Mustangs, a state playoff qualifier.  In one victory, the pair combined to score 15 of Montville's 16 goals.  Both were second team All-County selections.

EXPANSION AND REALIGNMENT:  Passaic Valley played its first varsity season this year, and Lakeland will join the party next year with a varsity team.  The disbanding of the Northern Hills Conference (as part of the NJSIAA realignment) will force a number of local teams to join new leagues next year; the NHC schools were among the few in north Jersey that didn't belong to lacrosse-specific leagues.   -- Casey deWaal