2026 Shore Sports Insider Girls Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year: Chloe Kelly, Rumson-Fair Haven

Two years ago, Chloe Kelly was watching from the sidelines.

An injury cost the Rumson-Fair Haven standout her entire freshman season. By her sophomore year’s end, though, she was celebrating a state championship, having scored the game-winning goal in the title game.

This spring, Kelly became one of the Shore Conference’s top scoring threats, leading the Bulldogs to a Shore Conference Tournament title and earning Shore Sports Insider Offensive Player of the Year honors.

“Chloe has matured tremendously as a player in just two seasons,” Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Amy O’Keefe said. “From scoring the game-winning goal in the state championship last season to becoming our team’s leading scorer this season, she has been absolutely crucial to our success.”

An Ohio State commit, Kelly put together a season that showcased her ability to impact the game in multiple ways. She finished with 72 goals, 26 assists, and 98 points. In addition, she contributed 67 draw controls, serving as the centerpiece of a Rumson-Fair Haven offense and helping lead the Bulldogs to a 16-6 record and a Shore Conference Tournament championship.

Those numbers tell only part of the story.

Kelly’s combination of power, athleticism, and competitiveness made her one of the most difficult matchups in the state. Opposing defenses routinely built their game plans around slowing her down, often sending extra defenders her way to keep the ball out of her stick.

More often than not, Kelly found a way to make defenses pay anyway.

“Chloe is one of the most powerful and fierce players I have ever coached,” O’Keefe said. “She is incredibly fun to watch on the field because of the intensity, determination, and confidence she brings every time she steps on the field. It’s likely going to take a team defense to stop her as she usually wins most 1v1 battles.”

Her most dominant stretch came during the Shore Conference Tournament, where she elevated her game against the Shore’s best competition. Over four tournament games, Kelly piled up 19 goals and five assists while helping the Bulldogs capture their 12th conference title. She saved one of her best performances for the last game of the tournament, scoring six goals in the championship game against Red Bank at Monmouth University.

Kelly continued to shine during the state tournament. In Rumson-Fair Haven’s season-ending 10-9 loss to Haddonfield in the Group 1 sectional final, she scored five goals and nearly carried the Bulldogs to another state championship game appearance.

While Kelly’s scoring ability often grabbed headlines, O’Keefe believes the biggest development in her game came when opponents focused on taking those opportunities away.

As the season progressed and defenses dedicated more attention to stopping her, Kelly evolved from a player who could overpower opponents into one who could also dissect them.

“Most impressive was her growth and maturity as a player,” O’Keefe said. “When defenses focused on shutting her down and scoring opportunities weren’t there, she showed me that she could take a step back and, instead of forcing drives, took on more of a feeder role and found open teammates and created scoring opportunities for other players.”

That growth helped transform Kelly from an elite scorer into a complete offensive player. Her 26 assists reflected a greater understanding of how to manipulate defenses and create opportunities for teammates, making Rumson-Fair Haven’s offense even more difficult to contain.

“Her vision on the field is outstanding, and she has become a very calculated player who understands how to make the right play,” O’Keefe said. “Some of the connections she made this season were truly beautiful lacrosse.”

Despite the statistics, championships, and accolades, O’Keefe believes Kelly’s impact extends far beyond her on-field production.

“Beyond her performance on the field, it has been a pleasure getting to know her and coach her,” O’Keefe said. “I think she is finally settling in and understanding her role and the impact she has on our team. While she is incredibly intense and competitive on the field, it has been great to see her open up a bit more and share her fun personality with all her teammates. She is a remarkable athlete and person, and I am so proud to have her be a part of this program.”

 

Finalists (alphabetical order)

Reese Achille, Sr., Brick (73 goals, 34 assists, 107 points)

Hayley Jamison, Jr., Middletown South (65 goals, 27 assists, 92 points)

Mackenzie Sininsky, So., Southern (81 goals, 39 assists, 120 points)

Aryelle Stein, Jr., Manalapan (104 goals, 17 assists, 121 points)