Meet the 2025 All-Observer girls’ lacrosse team, the region’s top athletes

Two key figures from last month’s N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 girls’ lacrosse championship game have won top honors in the sport from The Charlotte Observer.

Grayson Anne McCurdy, a member of the runner-up Charlotte Country Day team, is The Observer’s Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year.

And Nicole Donoghue, coach of the championship Providence Day team, is Coach of the Year.

McCurdy, a senior, finished the season with 100 goals and 35 assists and had 293 goals and 101 assists for her career. She also had 122 draw controls and 33 caused takeaways. She will play her college lacrosse at James Madison.

Donoghue guided Providence Day to a 20-1 season and a 14-8 victory over Charlotte Country Day in the finals. She is a former player at Lake Norman High and at James Madison, and she was an assistant coach at Bridgewater (VA) College and then at Lake Norman High before coming to Providence Day.

One note ... picking the team this season was very difficult at the forward and midfield positions, because of a large number of talented players in the area.

There were standouts like Charlotte Country Day’s Ella Stein (108 points), Charlotte Catholic’s Lindy Dumas (35 goals, 51 assists), Weddington’s Abbey Testa (73 goals) — among others — who did not make the first or second teams.

The level of play in girls’ lacrosse across the Charlotte area has improved steadily in recent years.

Here is the All-Observer Girls’ Lacrosse team for the 2025 season:

FIRST TEAM

ATTACKERS

Ella Braun, Marvin Ridge, junior: Braun led the Maverick attack, finishing with 78 goals and 12 assists. She also totaled 44 ground balls.

Avery Dolan, Charlotte Catholic, senior: Dolan finished with 49 goals and 24 assists. She also is a standout in track and will attend Vassar College.

Riley Milligan, Charlotte Latin, senior: A St. Bonaventure commit, Milligan had 63 goals and 21 assists for the Hawks, also collecting 27 ground balls.

MIDFIELDERS

Maddy Baumgratz, Charlotte Catholic, senior: A two-time first-team all-Observer pick, Baumgratz totaled 35 goals and nine assists and was excellent on face-offs, winning 73 draws.

Grayson Anne McCurdy, Charlotte Country Day, senior: McCurdy is a USA All-America selection and a four-time all-state pick. She won 341 draws in her four years with the Buccaneers.

Reese Morgan, Charlotte Latin, senior: A Temple commit, Morgan had 54 goals, 32 assists, 42 ground balls and won 104 draws.

DEFENDERS

Tessah Cichon, Lake Norman Charter, junior: Cichon led the Knights’ defense, totaling 54 ground balls and forcing 41 turnovers.

Ragan Giddins, Weddington, junior: Giddins was an all-state selection who totaled 16 ground balls and usually defended the opponents’ top scorers.

Martha Tucker, Charlotte Catholic, senior: Tucker collected 17 ground balls, forced 10 turnovers, and scored eight goals from her defensive post.

SPECIALIST

Addison Maynor, Cannon School, sophomore: An all-state selection, Maynor won 131 draws, or 62 percent of her attempts. She also totaled 71 goals and 10 assists.

GOALKEEPER

Emma Lyberg, South Mecklenburg, junior: Lyberg had 150 saves, stopping 53 percent of opponents’ shots this season.

SECOND TEAM

ATTACKERS

Lucy Dyer, Providence Day, senior: 46 goals and eight assists on a state title team.

Ella Turner, Weddington, junior: 42 goals, 32 assists and 64 percent of draw controls.

Grace Webb Weddington, sophomore: 106 goals and 40 ground balls.

MIDFIELDERS

Harper Ayres, Myers Park, senior: 78 goals, 57 assists.

Anna Pedroli, Ballantyne Ridge, freshman: 95 goals, as the state’s top-scoring freshman.

Isabella Pierce, Davidson Day, junior: “Izzy” scored 68 goals and has 200-plus in her career.

DEFENDERS

Campbell Carter, Providence Day, sophomore: received all-state honors.

Lauren Schattner, Cannon School, sophomore: 19 ground balls, 17 forced turnovers; guarded foes’ top scorers.

Martha Tucker, Charlotte Christian, senior: 17 ground balls, 10 forced takeaways.

SPECIALISTS

Bea Serfontein, Marvin Ridge, sophomore: 78 goals and won 60 percent of faceoffs.

Caroline Uys, Charlotte Latin, junior: won 62 draws.

GOALKEEPER

Bridget Brewster, Providence Day, junior: all-state selection who made 143 saves.

This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 6:30 AM.