Defense plays key role in all-state team

Defense, as coaches love to say, wins championships.

It should come as no big surprise, then, to see the girls lacrosse champions well represented on the all-state teams.

Jordan, which beat Woods Cross 10-6 in the title game, placed five players on the first team. The Beetdiggers landed Regan Lelli on the roster as the top goal keeper and two of the three first team defenders, Alison Holcombe and Katie Sieverts, also hail from Jordan.

Katie Christensen, a midfielder, was named the state's defensive MVP with her solid all-around game.

"That was something we took a lot of pride in," Jordan coach Soni Taylor said. "Defense is so important. We knew we could score, but we really wanted to stop other teams. The girls we had understood that and did a really good job slowing people down."

Woods Cross attacker Lyndsey Calton, who has committed to play Division I lacrosse at George Mason, was the offensive MVP.

The Wildcats, which went undefeated in the regular season before falling to Jordan in the championship game, placed three players on the first team. Joining Calton were midfielders Megan Clark and Abbie Cook. Woods Cross placed two more on the second team.

Showing the 'Diggers were not just a defensive team, Nancy Roush earned a first team spot as an attacker.

Murray's Staci Myrup (defense) and Emily Brown (midfield) also earned first-team spots, along with Bingham's Savannah Davison (attack) and Alisha Anderson (midfield).

In Division B, East's twin sister duo of Michele and Kelsey Milne were named to the first team. Michele was named the offensive MVP while Kelsey joined her as a first team midfielder.

West Jordan goal keeper Megan Nieves was named the Division B defensive player of the year.

Girls All-State Lacrosse

DIVISION A

Offensive MVP: Lyndsey Calton, Woods Cross

Defensive MVP: Katie Christensen, Jordan

FIRST TEAM

Attack: Nancy Roush, Jordan; Savannah Davison, Bingham; Lyndsey Calton, Woods Cross

Midfield: Katie Christensen, Jordan; Alisha Anderson, Bingham; Emily Brown, Murray; Megan Clark, Woods Cross; Abbie Cook, Woods Cross

Defense: Staci Myrup, Murray; Alison Holcombe, Jordan; Katie Sieverts, Jordan