Top 5 Not in the Top 50
Lacrosse Extras Staff — January 12, 2023 — Opinion Piece
IL Women released their list of the top 50 returning players in November. Here are five players not on that list who you should look out for this season.
1. Jackie Wolak (SR.)
Jackie Wolak finished her junior season with 40 goals and 31 assists, both career bests. Most of the attention entering this season is on her two classmates, Kasey Choma and Madison Ahern, but Wolak has proven she can shine in big moments. Notre Dame struggled last season, but down the stretch, they were incredible in keeping their season alive and a huge piece of that success was Wolak.
In an ACC Tournament must-win game against Duke, Wolak put up eight points, part of a six-game stretch to end the season where she had 32 points. Her ability to muscle off defenders and turn the corner stands out, along with her deceptive and powerful shooting abilities. Expect her to be a key part of a dangerous Notre Dame team looking to make a deep tournament run in 2023.
2. Tayler Warehime (GR.)
Tayler Warehime will suit up for the Gators this season after transferring from North Carolina, where she quickly became a staple attacker for the Tar Heels during her early years. After only putting up 15 points in a rather quiet 2022 season, expect her to explode offensively with Florida. In Gainesville, she will have the opportunity to pair up with two incredible attackers in Danielle Pavinelli and Emma LoPinto – both ranked in the top 50 returners this season.
The Maryland native has great finishing and feeding abilities around the crease, and in her final year as a Tar Heel, she served as a team captain. Warehime will bring veteran leadership as well as a poised presence to a young Gator squad looking to break past the Elite 8.
3. Sydni Black (JR.)
Sydni Black will serve as a captain this year for the Greyhounds. After putting up 52 points in her sophomore campaign and earning All-Patriot League Second Team honors, she will look to take her game to the next level. Loyola graduated star attacker Livy Rosenzweig who led their attack last season, creating an opportunity for Black to step into a bigger offensive role.
Her explosive first step leaves defenders frozen and often earns her 8-meter opportunities where she is an elite finisher. She will be pivotal in leading Loyola who looks to once again make a deep postseason run.
4. Hannah Dorney (GR.)
Hannah Dorney returns for her fifth year, captaining an Irish squad looking for redemption. As mentioned before, Wolak will pose a huge offensive threat, but perhaps even more critical is Dorney stepping up to fill the loss of graduates, including star goalkeeper Bridget Deehan and veteran defensive players like Diana Kelly.
Dorney’s play down the stretch in Notre Dame’s must-win games was impressive as she came up with defensive stops and key turnovers to fuel the Irish’s momentum. She led her team with 28 caused turnovers last season and will look to make a huge impact on the field again, anchoring their defense and providing the spark they need.
5. Nicole Humphrey (SR.)
UNC’s championship run last season saw Nicole Humphrey spend most of her time as a part of the second midfield line. However, her play stood out and her immediate impact was something to note as she came off the bench in all of the Tar Heels’ games. As she enters her senior season, expect her offensive production to ramp up.
Last season, her goals came in huge moments, scoring against Boston College in both the regular season matchup as well as the National Championship, where she gave UNC the lead in the 4th quarter. Look for her to step up drawing from her experience in big moments to help lead a young Tar Heel team and shine through the midfield.