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Sydni Black, Maryland Charm

WLL Golden Stick Award tracker: Sydni Black, Emily Hawryschuk lead after opener

By Caitlin McDonough | Feb 12, 2025

The Golden Stick Award in the Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League is given to a player with the most goals scored in the tournament. Here's a look at the leaderboard after Tuesday night's inaugural game:

T-1. Sydni Black, four scoring points

Sydni Black led the way for the Maryland Charm with four goals in their 14-13 loss to the New York Charging.

Black scored 30 collegiate hat tricks at Loyola, and it didn’t take long to add another one to her list. The attacker found the back of the net three times in 14 minutes for the first hat trick in WLL history.

She credited fellow Charm teammates for their advice on the transition from college to a professional setting.

“They just said mainly go out there and have fun,” Black said.

And have fun she did. The Charging defense struggled to contain her speed throughout on both sides of the ball.

Black drew her defender near the two-point arc and created spacing by using her quick one-two step in one-on-one situations.

New York head coach Colleen Magarity knew the team needed to make adjustments after the break to contain Black’s speed and slow down the Charm offense.

“We tried to match up Kendall Halpern on Sydni, since she’s our only true defender,” Magarity said. “We slid a little fast to her as she was the main dodger to limit goals.”

While Black had fewer chances in the second half, she played a part in Maryland’s stifling defense. The attacker pushed the pace in transition.

Black will look to use more of her speed against the Boston Guard on Thursday night.

T-1. Emily Hawryschuk, four scoring points

Emily Hawryschuk ranks third on Syracuse’s all-time leaderboard with 272 goals, and she carried that into her professional debut with the Charging, recording four goals and an assist against the Charm.

New York’s offense flowed through Hawryschuk, who led the Charging in touches with 38 and passes with 28. Despite her team’s win and her individual performance, she believes New York’s best lacrosse is yet to come.

“It's our first game,” Hawryschuk said. “We know the level of play as it relates to strategy. We can play much better.”

Hawryschuk and the Charging took time to settle into the game before their offense clicked and started scoring. She mainly operated at the top of the two-point arc.

A quick shoulder drop then a long windup froze her defenders. She didn’t need much space before firing a sidearm cannon that Caylee Waters had trouble saving.

Hawryschuk’s off-ball movement created chances for her and her teammates, as well. Oftentimes, she exploited the space to the left or right side of the defense. She would cut in front of the player with the ball to create confusion and take advantage of the slow switch. 

During a timeout, Magarity wanted her players to be ready for the two-man game and use it more.

New York’s offense revolved around playing off the pick-and-roll. The attacker set screens to give her teammates room to move the ball or go hard to the cage.

“Each of us has strengths and things we bring to the game,” Hawryschuk said. “That’s what we’re all so passionate about.”

T-2. Aurora Cordingley, three scoring points

Aurora Cordingley was a Tewaaraton Award finalist during her graduate year with the Terrapins in 2022. She produced another key performance for the Charm, notching three goals on six shots.

The Maryland attacker occupied space down low, closer to the goal circle and behind the cage. She immediately pressured Charging goalie Madison Doucette any time the ball was Doucette’s stick to prevent a fast break.

Cordingley slipped behind Charging defenders and finished her cuts in front of the cage for shots off a feed from up top. 

Cordingley was always an option near X. She facilitated the offense at times and kept the ball moving.

“The more they play with each other and understand what they want, girls will get more comfortable communicating,” Charm head coach Taylor Cummings Danseglio said. “It takes time and game experience.”

Like other attackers, Cordingley marshaled the field and worked to create space for other teammates, like Black. 

Her dangerous presence near Doucette caught defenders in two minds. Opponents could either stay with Cordingley or slide to the ball, but if they slid, they ran the risk of the attacker slipping in.

Cordingley’s willingness to cause confusion in front or behind the cage is a key part of the Charm attack.

“I’m proud of the team we have,” Cummings Danseglio said. “There’s little adjustments we have to make going forward.”

Also tied with three scoring points: Maryland’s Grace Griffin, New York’s Lauren Gilbert

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