Moorestown native Marie McCool, one of 20 players and coaches in the Women’s Lacrosse League with Philadelphia-area ties, was named MVP of the Lexus WLL All-Star Game on Sunday in Annapolis after scoring the game-winning goal in a matchup featuring many of the world’s best players.
McCool will return to action with the California Palms on Aug. 8, when the team looks to secure a win in its final regular-season game and clinch a spot in the inaugural WLL Championship, which will take place at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., on Saturday, Aug. 15.
With 45 seconds remaining in regulation of the All-Star Game, McCool backed down her defender and flipped a backhanded shot on goal to give Team Izzy a 16-15 win over Team Humphrey. McCool finished the game with two goals and one assist.
Video of the game-winning goal is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/w3pscu5ug4vpkvo8zd7r8/AE7UFPxduWv0BAhb_2BzL08?rlkey=qk2a50qsvzljiv04uv4esgyoy&st=5e109dbh&dl=0
The WLL Championship will bring added local significance to the region, with 20 WLL players and coaches having Philadelphia-area ties through their hometowns, high schools, colleges or current residences across the league. That group includes McCool, one of the most decorated players to come out of South Jersey, along with athletes and coaches connected to Germantown Academy, Penn Charter, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Archbishop Carroll, Haddonfield Memorial High School, The Episcopal Academy, Penn, Temple, Princeton and Rutgers.
Philadelphia-area WLL players and coaches include:
- Maddie Burns, Boston Guard, Philadelphia, Pa., Germantown Academy
- Savannah Sweitzer, Boston Guard, Hatfield, Pa., Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
- Courtney Taylor, Boston Guard, Chalfont, Pa., Central Bucks South; Temple
- Kaylee Dyer, Boston Guard, Philadelphia, Pa., Penn Charter
- Kiley Mottice, Boston Guard, Downingtown, Pa., Archbishop John Carroll
- Marie McCool, California Palms, Moorestown, N.J., Moorestown High School
- Gabby Rosenzweig, California Palms, Penn
- Katie Detwiler, California Palms, Devon, Pa., Archbishop Carroll
- Anna Brandt, California Palms, Penn
- Emily Parros, Maryland Charm (coach), Rutledge, Pa., Strath Haven
- Cassidy Spilis, Maryland Charm, Tabernacle, N.J., Seneca High School; Rutgers
- McKenzie Blake, Maryland Charm, Haddonfield, N.J., Haddonfield Memorial High School; Princeton
- Abby Bosco, Maryland Charm, Penn
- Olivia Dirks, Maryland Charm, Wayne, Pa., The Episcopal Academy
- Grace Fujinaga, New York Charging, Penn
- Delaney Sweitzer, New York Charging, Hatfield, Pa., Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
- Colleen Maagrity, New York Charging (coach), Oreland, Pa., Germantown Academy
- Madison Doucette, New York Charging, West Chester, Pa., Unionville High School
- Alyssa Long, New York Charging, Springfield, Pa., Springfield High School
- Darcy Felter, New York Charging, Wyndmoor, Pa., William Penn Charter School