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If you’ve ever been part of the All-CIF selection process, you know it’s far from perfect.

Between politics, league imbalances, and the natural bias of coaches advocating for their own players, selecting the “best” players in San Diego girls lacrosse has become increasingly complicated. Every season, divisions shift, schedules vary wildly in strength, and stat sheets become harder and harder to compare equally.

Production can be heavily influenced by division placement, strength of schedule, pace of play, and scorekeeping tendencies. So this list is built primarily on the eye test: who consistently changed games, elevated teammates, impacted winning, and looked like the best players on the field against top competition. 

Team success also mattered in these evaluations. Fair or unfair, we placed a significant emphasis on impact in high-level games and against top competition. Players who consistently elevated their teams in major matchups naturally separated themselves, while players whose production dipped against elite opponents were evaluated more cautiously.

That doesn’t mean great players can’t exist outside the top programs. They absolutely can. But when building a theoretical “Super Team,” we valued players who consistently influenced winning at the highest level of San Diego lacrosse.

Given that this year’s All-CIF list missed the mark, here is our San Diego “Super Team” — the group of players we’d choose if the goal was simply to win dominate.

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## MIDFIELD

Alexis Felago, LCC
Sydney Dunn, Coronado
Breck Dunn, Coronado

Alternates:
Charlee Woods (Draw)
Martha Hall, LCC
Emerson Davis, Bishops
Cathy Tonelli, TP

Alexis Felago, Sydney Dunn, and Charlee Woods were undoubtedly the three most impactful draw takers in the county this season. Felago showed the best overall control, constantly playing cat-and-mouse with opposing units. LCC was able to play make-it-take-it, and for most opponents the question often became: will we ever actually have possession?

Pairing Felago’s draw control with the speed and pressure of the Dunn sisters on the wings would create a nearly impossible midfield to play against in transition. Both Sydney and Breck Dunn have incredible feet and elite instincts around the circle, as was showcased in their complete wing dominance during the 1v2 matchup against LCC in April. 

Martha Hall and Emerson Davis both impressed as physical, high-motor midfielders capable of changing pace and impacting both ends of the field. Cathy Tonelli brings great size and physicality to the midfield, a solid option when paired with a strong supporting cast.

## ATTACK

Parker Saari, LCC
Lily Raiszadeh, Cathedral
Maria Anaya, Coronado
Charlee Woods, San Marcos

Alternates:
Sienna Keiffer, Coronado
Lia Palacek, Cathedral

Charlee Woods might be the single most difficult cover in San Diego. At times chaotic, occasionally undisciplined, but almost impossible to contain once she gets downhill. Her footwork is elite, and few attackers in the county commanded more faceguards this season. Given her ability to put Divison I-bound defenders in recovery mode, this two-time All-CIF senior simply feels like a player you need on the field if you’re building a team designed to win.

Parker Saari and Maria Anaya form a dynamic attacking pair. Saari is the more polished, strong and explosive finisher – her being snubbed by CIF is truly wild. She is possibly the strongest true attacker in the city. Pairing her with the slippery Anaya, who has shown herself confident cutting & finishing next to aggressive dodgers. Raiszadeh quietly became one of the most effective top-down dodgers in the county this year, showing improved pace and significantly more versatility as a scorer.

All four attackers consistently carried major offensive responsibility for their programs against high-level competition.

Off the bench (for us), Keiffer is extremely talented – it’s just difficult to truly evaluate Coronado attackers simply because of how loaded the Islanders roster was this season. Palacek is a lethal lefty, with the potential to sneak up this list as she grows in footwork and feeding abilities.

## DEFENSE

The San Marcos Zone

If we chose individual defenders:
Ella Avery, Carlsbad
Kylie Clark, Torrey Pines
Maddie Collins, Coronado
Avery Hunter, Coronado

Alternates:
Vivienne Adams, Carlsbad
Maddie McCallion, Cathedral

Defense is always the hardest position group to evaluate. The best defenders often have the fewest stats because offenses simply avoid them altogether.

That said, the aggressive, high-pressure zone San Marcos deployed this season was statistically the most effective defensive system in the county. According to LaxNumbers data, San Marcos held opponents to an average of six goals below their season scoring averages. Every opponent except Coronado finished below their norm — and they did it without one of the county’s elite goalies behind them. 

Individually, though, evaluating defenders becomes much more about 1v1 matchups, recovery speed, communication, and physicality.

Ella Avery remains the premier defensive recruit in San Diego. Carlsbad’s decision to use her heavily in transition and midfield sometimes limits her pure defensive impact, but if we’re picking one defender to guard the cage in isolation, she’s near the top of the list.

Maddie Collins feels nearly impossible to beat cleanly 1v1. Aggressive? Absolutely. The fouls and cards come with it. But her physicality and willingness to pressure elite attackers stand out immediately, especially paired with Avery Hunter, who consistently handled difficult assignments with composure and efficiency.

Kylie Clark was one of the brightest spots for Torrey Pines squad this season, consistently taking on premier matchups without hesitation.

Vivienne Adams and Maddie McCallion both showed the ability to handle difficult faceguarding responsibilities with discipline and effort throughout the season.

## GOALIE

Cambria Williams, LCC

Alternates:
Lyla Palacek, Cathedral
Sam Cohen, Cathedral

Team USA 16U goalie Cambria Williams is the clear No. 1 goalkeeper in San Diego this season, despite being left out of the All-CIF honors (how??). Particularly given the injury status of senior Lyla Palacek, there is no goalie in San Diego we’d rather have in cage. Williams consistently stabilized an LCC defense that, at times, struggled structurally in front of her. Her poise, positioning, and ability to make high-level saves in big moments separated her throughout the year.

Assuming full health, Lyla Palacek remains the obvious backup selection after battling Williams closely last season. Freshman Sam Cohen also deserves recognition for stepping into a difficult situation and handling meaningful minutes under pressure.

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There’s no perfect formula for building a “Super Team” — especially in a sport where context matters as much as production.

Some of these picks will age well.
Some probably won’t, but who’s taking this team on?