2026 Shore Sports Insider Girls Lacrosse MVP: Chiara Donohue, Trinity Hall
Most of the Shore Conference’s top lacrosse players have been playing the sport for as long as they can remember.
Chiara Donohue didn’t pick up a lacrosse stick until eighth grade.
Fast forward just a few years, and the Trinity Hall junior has developed from a newcomer to one of the nation’s top recruits. A Duke University commit and a standout two-sport athlete who also stars on the ice hockey rink for the Monarchs, Donohue put together a season that showcased her impact in every facet of the game.
That all-around dominance has earned Donohue Shore Sports Insider Most Valuable Player honors as the Shore Conference’s top player.
Trinity Hall’s Chiara Donohue (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
“Chiara’s impact on our program has been tremendous,” Trinity Hall head coach Dana Lenneper said. “She is the type of player who raises the standard every single day, not just by what she does in games, but by how she practices, how she competes, and how she carries herself.”
Throughout the spring, Donohue was nearly impossible to contain. She led the Shore Conference with 129 goals, 153 points, and 130 forced turnovers, while adding 24 assists, 128 draw controls, and 80 ground balls.
These impressive numbers illustrate what made her such a unique player. Donohue didn’t just score goals. She won possessions, created turnovers, controlled draws, and dictated the flow of games from midfield.
Beyond individual numbers, Donohue helped lead Trinity Hall to one of the best seasons in program history. The Monarchs finished 19-4, captured the American Division title, reached the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals and advanced to the Non-Public state semifinals.
Her consistency matched her production. Donohue scored at least three goals in every game against Shore Conference teams and regularly delivered in big moments.
Her most explosive game came in the Non-Public state tournament’s second round, when she tallied a career-high 12 points on nine goals and three assists in a win over Holy Angels.
Trinity Hall’s Chiara Donohue (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
While her statistics were eye-popping, Lenneper believes what truly separated Donohue from other standout players was her understanding of the game.
“I think we always knew Chiara had something special, but this season there were moments where it became very clear that she was playing at an MVP level,” Lenneper said. “It was not just about goals or stats. It was the way she controlled the game, the way she made adjustments, and the way she applied everything we coached her on.”
The scary part for the rest of the Shore Conference is that Donohue still has another season left in a Trinity Hall uniform.
Despite all she has already accomplished, Lenneper believes her best lacrosse is still ahead of her.
“What excites me most is that Chiara is still only scratching the surface,” Lenneper said. “She is coachable, driven, and never satisfied. She has the work ethic and mindset that great players need, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to grow.”
After leading the Shore Conference in goals, points, and forced turnovers while helping Trinity Hall win a division championship, Donohue has already cemented herself as one of the state’s elite players.
With one season left before heading to Durham, Donohue has a final chance to add the two biggest missing achievements to her resume: a Shore Conference Tournament championship and a state title. For someone who didn’t begin lacrosse until eighth grade, the most impressive part of Donohue’s journey may still be to come.
Finalists (alphabetical order)
Hayley Jamison, Jr., Middletown South (65 goals, 27 assists, 92 points, 18 ground balls, 85 draw controls, 8 forced turnovers)
Chloe Kelly, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven (72 goals, 26 assists, 98 points, 28 ground balls, 67 draw controls, 27 forced turnovers)
Karlie Ruland, Sr., Red Bank (57 goals, 24 assists, 81 points, 54 ground balls, 101 draw controls, 31 forced turnovers)
Mackenzie Sininsky, So., Southern (81 goals, 39 assists, 120 points, 78 ground balls, 87 draw controls, 66 forced turnovers)
Ella Tortorici, Jr., Barnegat (59 goals, 22 assists, 81 points, 80 ground balls, 123 draw controls, 75 forced turnovers)
