Nevada Preseason Power Rankings: The Top 5

The high school lacrosse season is now just a month away, with the LVLA schedule set to begin on February 23rd, while some Northern Nevada teams will open play on the 21st. Considering the number of skilled prospects across the state, it is safe to assume this will be an entertaining and highly competitive season.   Below are my top five teams in Nevada as things currently stand. Expect this list to fluctuate as the year progresses, as there are bound to be more than a few upsets along the way.   1. Palo Verde Panthers - Can the Palo Verde Panthers run it back and win their second state title in a row? Time will tell. But right now, they are my early favorites to take home the hardware. Looking at their roster, they have talent absolutely everywhere.   It starts with their goalie, Jojo Aragon, who provides a steady presence in net. On defense, they'll rely on Carter Jost and Jace Mims, Danny Richards, Prentice Strobehn and Ian Toto.   From there, we move to their explosive offensive unit, which is sure to rack up goals all season long. [player_tooltip player_id='171379' first='Luke' last='Rava'], Slater Salinas, Ricky Jameis, Seth Salinas, and Mason Robinson are all big-time names to watch. Each of them is capable of producing both goals and assists, making them a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.   A few other key middies include [player_tooltip player_id='171577' first='Brandon' last='Freitag'], Alex Connelly, and Nick Lahkdari. Freitag and Connelly are expected to take the majority, if not all, of the face-offs. Though we did see Jost take some reps there last season. Lahkdari will serve as their workhorse SSDM, tasked with guarding opposing teams' top dodgers while also helping push the ball in transition.   Top to bottom, this team is built to win, and they should be a fun group to follow this spring.   2. Bishop Manogue Miners - The Miners will undoubtedly be in the mix for a state championship once again. They were a physical team last year, and I expect no different this season. On defense, they have standouts such as Jack Herrick, Luca Westfall, Ben Ferrell, Noah Gaunt, Brenden Wild, and Colin McKenzie. With that many stout defenders, it will be tough to generate easy looks against them, especially inside and on the crease.   At midfield, the Miners will lean on Zeke Peterson, Elijah Peterson, and Ulie Anderson (who can also play attack), among others. That trio accounted for a large share of the offense last season (89 goals to be exact), and I believe they are poised to apply consistent pressure on opposing defenses game in and game out. Another goal scorer to watch is attackmen [player_tooltip player_id='128183' first='Drew' last='Peacock'], who buried 22 goals last year.   In goal, I believe they'll have Luke Lyles. Who played in 9 games last year, and had 26 saves on 35 shots.   All in all, this team is both experienced and athletic, and they should secure more than a few notable wins this season if they can hit their stride.   3. Coronado Cougars - The Cougars were a strong team last season and went toe to toe with the other top squads in the state. But they then fell to Palo Verde in the LVLA semifinals, knocking them out of the playoffs. That loss should only add fuel to the fire this year, and it will be exciting to see how they operate now that they are a more senior- and junior-heavy team.   I'm particularly interested to watch their offense, as they return several proven goal scorers in Brody Rasmuson, Henry Pack, Ari Pack, Jason Koa Hernandez, [player_tooltip player_id='127435' first='Andrew' last='Viloria'], and Scotty Lennox. With that many weapons to account for, the Cougars should find themselves in plenty of high-scoring games.   On the defensive end, Coronado will lean on DJ Rogers, Euan Driscoll, Karson Kuhar, and Bo Pippenger at SSDM. Overall, they are a tough, quick group that will look to force turnovers and limit quality shot opportunities. Goalie Anthony Taylor will play a crucial role as well. And if he can take a step forward this season, it would significantly raise their ceiling.   At the X, they will likely feature Josh Wall, who earned Second Team All-LVLA honors last year. Aaron Tanner and Greyson Weiss may also see some opportunities at middie.   Now, it will simply be a matter of developing consistent cohesion and capitalizing in pivotal moments.   4. Faith Lutheran Crusaders - Look for the Crusaders to be one of the grittier teams in the state this spring. They boast an impressive defensive unit, along with several reliable goaltenders who can get the job done. Defenders to watch include [player_tooltip player_id='125267' first='Hudson' last='Pavicich'], Chase Garcia, and Parker Hunt, all of whom bring strong stick skills, instincts, and lacrosse IQ, which should help keep the group organized and disciplined.   In goal, Jett Piercy, Daniel Auon, and Pierce Isani provide a wealth of experience and should help keep Faith competitive in just about every game.   On offense, the Crusaders will look to Weston Schultz, Liam Schulz, Joey Marmor, Ashton Bittner, Finn Reber, Nate Robbins, and Johnny Trumball to find the back of the net. There is a lot to like about this group, particularly their willingness to share the ball and play unselfishly.   While I have them ranked fourth for now, I would not be surprised to see them climb this list as the season unfolds.   5. Bishop Gorman Gaels - Bishop Gorman enjoyed an outstanding season last year and gave the Palo Verde Panthers a good challenge in the LVLA Championship. In order to return to that stage, they will need consistent play from nearly all of their core contributors.   At attack, [player_tooltip player_id='124923' first='Ryan' last='Cambeiro'] will carry much of the scoring load while also generating opportunities for his teammates with precise passing. Colton Segler will be another focal point in facilitating the offense, and he is capable of erupting for multiple goals when he finds his rhythm. Fellow middie [player_tooltip player_id='124875' first='Xander' last='Iway'] should be a difference-maker as well, particularly with his ability to help the Gaels control possession. Jacob Coneh should also to be a reliable two-way presence at the midfield spot.   Defensively, the Gaels return two turnover-forcing machines in Beau LaVoie and Merek Mastrov, both of whom can dislodge the ball with swift, physical checks. Mastrov may also be asked to contribute offensively again, as he possesses strong dodging ability. Plus CJ McColl who stays in position and snags ground balls. In goal, Mason Wingard provides a steady presence and has shown the ability to turn away fast, accurate shots.   Even with a fifth-place ranking entering the season, Bishop Gorman remains a dangerous team that no opponent can afford to overlook.

The high school lacrosse season is now just a month away, with the LVLA schedule set to begin on February 23rd, while some Northern Nevada teams will open play on the 21st. Considering the number of skilled prospects across the state, it is safe to assume this will be an entertaining and highly competitive season.