- November 23, 2024
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It’s no secret that Matanzas girls lacrosse goalie Stephanie Stuart is a beast. And anyone who plays lacrosse knows that's a compliment.
Not only is she the best goalie in Flagler County, but she’s among Florida’s elite. Check that. She’s one of America’s top high school underclassmen female goalies.
Stuart, who is heading into her senior year for the Lady Pirates in August, was selected as one of two goalies to be a part of the Under Armour All-American underclass tournament, which will be held July 5-7, in Baltimore.
Stuart will represent the South Team, which features players from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
After a five-hour tryout on June 2 in Orlando, just two goalies were selected from the nine states. Stuart will leave for Baltimore on July 3.
At the tournament, the South Team will compete against teams made up of other players across the United States, including teams from Baltimore, Long Island, the Midwest, New England, New Jersey, Philadelphia, upstate New York, Washington D.C., and the West.
The tournament will be held at Towson University, in Baltimore.
Stuart, who began playing goalie three years ago as a freshman, sees making it this far as a huge accomplishment. Many would probably agree.
“Being selected to the South Team means a lot to me,” Stuart said Thursday. “Claiming (one of the two goalie spots) shows that working hard and making sacrifices for the love of a sport pays off.”
Matanzas’ Crease Monster will have a busy offseason, too. In addition to playing in the Under Armour All-American tournament, she will be competing in several tournaments with her club team, LaxManiax.
“My last goal is staying focused and enjoying every minute I have with my teammates before making the transition into women’s lacrosse at the college level,” she said.
Stuart has led the Lady Pirates to back-to-back district championships. If she has any say — and she will — her Matanzas team will go for the three-peat next year.
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