MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown High School North girls lacrosse team has shown resilience and steady growth through the first half of the season, evening its record at 4-4 overall and an impressive 3-1 mark in the Shore Conference Independence Division under head coach Alex Diaz.
After opening the season with a tough 12-6 loss on the road against Marlboro on March 28, the Lions quickly regrouped, earning their first victory with a 10-6 win over Neptune just three days later. Though early inconsistency followed—including losses to Long Branch (7-5), Manalapan (17-3), and cross-town rival Middletown South (14-2)—the Lions have found their stride in recent outings.
Middletown North has won two straight games, including a 7-3 victory over Ranney and a thrilling 11-10 win against St. Rose on April 21, bringing the team back to an even record and building momentum heading into the heart of the schedule.
Offensively, the Lions have been led by junior standout Ava Lauderbach, who has tallied a team-high 16 goals and 20 total points. Senior Alex Vaubel has also been a key contributor with 15 goals, while junior Emily Montalto-Zadroga has added 10 goals and 13 points along with a team-leading 19 ground balls, showcasing her all-around impact.
Sophomore Chloe Noone (6 goals, 8 points) and senior Mercedes Batista (5 goals, 7 points) have provided additional scoring depth, while junior Olivia Podolsky has been a force in transition with 22 ground balls and a team-best 24 draw controls.
Defensively, the Lions have relied on strong efforts from players like Audrey Duno, who leads the team with 12 ground balls, and Alexandra Daly, who has contributed six ground balls and key defensive stops. In goal, sophomore Bridget Flattery has shouldered the majority of the workload, recording 113 saves across seven games.
As a team, Middletown North has compiled 58 goals and 82 total points, while also controlling possession with 48 draw controls and collecting 121 ground balls—numbers that reflect a hardworking and balanced squad.
Looking ahead, the Lions will travel to face Pinelands on April 24 before continuing a busy stretch that includes matchups against Manchester Township, Monmouth, and Brick Township. With their recent surge, Middletown North appears poised to make a strong push in the division standings.
With a mix of experienced seniors and emerging underclassmen, Coach Diaz’s squad is proving that persistence and teamwork can turn early-season adversity into opportunity as the Lions continue their 2026 campaign.
