No hype is needed to promote this week’s Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference statement game, as two-time defending champion and No. 3 McDonogh travels to No. 1 Boys’ Latin at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday.
A look back at the past two years shows why.
In the past three meetings, including two semifinal playoff matchups, the champion Eagles were one goal better than the Lakers.
In last year’s semifinals, McDonogh needed overtime for an 8-7 win before successfully defending its crown with a title game victory over Calvert Hall.
Boys’ Latin (10-1) enters Tuesday’s game as the only undefeated team in conference play with a 6-0 mark, while McDonogh (8-3) is 4-2.
The Lakers are led by attackman Spencer Ford and faceoff specialist Parker Hoffman, while the Eagles counter with attackmen Luke Miller and Brendan Millon and midfielder Ben Firlie.
After two straight league losses, McDonogh rebounded with a 16-6 win over No. 9 Loyola Blakefield on Friday. The Eagles’ plan is to keep rolling.
“We definitely circle that one on the calendar. Every year, it’s been a dynamic rivalry ever since I’ve been here,” Miller said Friday. “We’ll rest up tonight and make sure we’re prepared, have a great week of practice and try to dominate those boys, too.”
Spalding’s Hockel, Loyola’s Haus enjoying demanding coaching challenges
As first-year coaches in the MIAA, Archbishop Spalding’s Evan Hockel and Loyola Blakefield’s Will Haus have quickly pinpointed what separates the league from others around the country: no breaks.
Hockel likens it to SEC college football, with less time to prepare for each quality opponent.
No. 7 Spalding (9-4) is 4-2 in conference play with a huge 10-9 win over defending league champion McDonogh last Tuesday. Loyola (3-7) is 2-3.
On April 5, Hockel won the battle of the rookie coaches when the Cavaliers claimed an 8-7 overtime win against the Dons.
Both coaches have taken similar approaches as they navigate their inaugural campaign.
“My biggest philosophy is really focusing on our team,” Hockel said. “We don’t have enough time to necessarily prepare for every team and what they are going to do. So we focus on what we can improve on, where we can get better and really focusing on the Spalding team as opposed to the other team.”
Over and over, Haus relays to his group that the next game is the biggest one.
“In this conference, from top to bottom, every team is good regardless of their record. Everyone is going to compete. Everyone is well-coached,” he said. “Obviously, we’re dealing with high school kids and they can look ahead and start focusing on another game and we do the best we can to make sure they’re focusing on that next game because that is the most important one. Staying in the moment is key.”
Boys’ Latin’s Ford, McDonogh’s Firlie named All-Americans
Boys’ Latin attackman Ford (Maryland) and McDonogh midfielder Ben Firlie (Georgetown) have been selected to play in the 19th annual Senior All-America Lacrosse Game, set to take place July 27 at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field.
The standouts were two of 12 players selected in the first wave. Three more waves of 12 will be announced over the next two months and the players will be divided into North and South teams. The game will be at 8 p.m. and broadcast live on ESPNU.
Quick hits
• On April 17, Calvert Hall goalie Alex Swartz was named USA Lacrosse’s Player of the Week in the Mid-Atlantic. A 15-save performance in the Cardinals’ 8-7 win against then-No. 1 McDonogh on April 13 was the highlight.
• With the regular season just past the midway point, the current six teams in playoff positions are 1. Boys’ Latin (6-0); T-2. Calvert Hall (4-1); T-2. Gilman (4-1); T-4. McDonogh (4-2); T-4. Spading (4-2); and 6. St. Paul’s (3-2).
• The season’s best conference game to date took place Saturday at Gilman, where visiting St. Paul’s handed the Greyhounds their first loss, 17-15 . Jack Iannantuono and Luke Bair accounted for 11 goals and three assists for the Crusaders.
• On Tuesday, Loyola Blakefield, in seventh place and on the outside of the playoff race at 2-3, hosts John Carroll (1-5) at 4 p.m. Gilman hosts Calvert Hall for second place at 4:15.
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