No. 1 Ranked St. Anthony’s Friars Team Preview

Coming in as the number 1 team in the LILJ top 25 preseason rankings it’s the St. Anthony’s Friars who completed perfection in 2024 with a 19-0 record and another CHSAA Championship. Playing against some of the top teams from across the country, they proved to be the overall best team in the nation and will be looking uphold that standard in 2025. At the helm is Head Coach Darcy Messina who now enters her second season, and this year as they aim for a second straight year of perfection, they will do so with a different cast of players after seeing a big 2024 graduating class. During the winter they took part in the LILJ HSWL to get set for the new season.

On the offensive end of the field in the senior class they return Molly Hiney (Hopkins) at midfield, a two-way player who will serve as a primary offensive option after an 20 point junior season and will be a big factor on the draw circle. In the winter league Hiney was third on the team in points with 22, scoring 10 goals with 12 assists. At attack in the senior class is Katherine Rathjen (FSU) who was dominant in the winter league with 24 goals and 12 assists for 36 points, and in the junior class is the lefty Emma Speed (Florida) who already enters year three on varsity and also comes off of a huge winter league 19 goals and 6 assists for 25 points. Adding to their attack and midfield that are returning players are Devan Lange (Princeton), Peighton McNulty (Binghamton), Madison (Stetson), Emma Toner (Lafayette) and Shannon Steck (Hofstra) all in the senior class. Among those entering their first year on varsity that will be impact players for the program include juniors Anna Christie (Northwestern), Cameron Pupke (Princeton), Madison Sussi (UMass), Meadow Szillus (Stony Brook), Casey Torre (Stony Brook) and Noelle Meenan. With the loss of 2024 graduates Tess Calabria, Jena Binkis, Brooke Long, and Megan Kenny as part of the 2024 graduating class, their returning and new players will be tasked with filling the void. On the defensive end of the field their returning defenders include Julia May O’Connor (Syracuse) and Analisa LaMonica (Navy) in the senior class and junior Sophia Novelli (Vanderbilt) as starting defenders. Adding to their returning cast includes seniors Loralei Quinn (MIT), Ciena Souhrada (Old Dominion) and Gianna Spatafora (FDU). Some of their new upperclassmen on defense will be Kelsey Gorman (Siena), Sofia Passavia (UVA), Bella Capo (FSC),  Blake Pasqualone, and Meghan Langton. In goal they return seniors Jess Black (Army) and Sierra Grant (Binghamton) with juniors Sofia Moschitta (Stony Brook) and Gabriella Lemieux (LIU) entering their first year on varsity. This year they are without 2024 graduates Amanda Paci, Riley Zusi, Maddie Morris who were on last year’s starting defense, as well as their starting goalie Lexi Zenk. The Friars quest for another undefeated season will begin on March 24th against Wantagh.