MIAA A Conference lacrosse playoff preview: Boys’ Latin and upstart Spalding earn byes
No. 1 Boys’ Latin (13-2 overall, 9-1 in conference play) proved most consistent in the mighty Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference regular season to earn the top seed in the six-team playoffs set to start Friday.
The Lakers and second-seeded Archbishop Spalding (13-4, 9-2) earned first-round byes and head to Tuesday’s semifinals (5 and 7:30 p.m.) at Navy Marine-Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, which will host the championship game at 7:30 p.m. May 17.
Here’s a closer look at the top two seeds and Friday’s quarterfinal matchups:
First-round byes
No. 1 seed Boys’ Latin
The Lakers have the needed ingredients to make it their year. After heartbreaking, one-goal losses to eventual champion McDonogh in the semifinals of the past two seasons, they have highly motivated senior leadership and talent at key spots. Spencer Ford and Matt Higgins are the catalysts on attack; Parker Hoffman is the area’s top faceoff specialist with Liam White the midfield glue; and goalie Will Ohnmacht has been sensational between the pipes. Boys’ Latin awaits the winner of Friday’s Calvert Hall-Gilman quarterfinal after beating both teams in the regular season.
MIAA A Conference lacrosse notebook: 6-team playoff field set but seeding still up for grabs
No. 2 seed Archbishop Spalding
The hottest team entering the playoffs is not top-seeded Boys’ Latin nor two-time defending champion McDonogh. It’s the league’s biggest surprise, Spalding. The Cavaliers closed the regular season with seven straight conference wins, clinching a first-round bye with Tuesday’s 14-4 win at Mount Saint Joseph. With a roster dominated by underclassmen, the Cavaliers are a cohesive group that plays freely with a ton of confidence. Attackmen Brady Mollot and Joey Matassa lead one of the league’s most balanced attacks. Faceoff specialist Ryan Criswell has more than held his own in the circle, while long pole Robby Hooper dominates the middle and goalie Jacob Neuman is a terrific shot-stopper. Spalding takes on the McDonogh-Loyola Blakefield winner having beaten both teams in the regular season.
Quarterfinals
No. 5 Gilman (11-6, 6-4) at No. 4 Calvert Hall (10-6, 7-3), Friday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: In their regular-season game April 23, the Cardinals won in overtime, 7-6, at Gilman with Cody Collier providing the deciding goal. Expect another close game with attention to detail magnified in all phases. The faceoff battle — Calvert Hall’s Ben Cuomo goes up against Gilman’s Joe Kim — and goalie play — featuring Calvert Hall’s Alex Swartz and Gilman’s Zach Parks — are vital starting points. Gilman’s attack banks on Jay Wilkerson, Mike Maloney, Jay Rodgers and Clayton Baddley, while the Cardinals rely on Owen Scott, Jackson Mitchell and strong all-around play from Sisto Averno.
No. 6 Loyola Blakefield (9-7, 6-4) at No. 3 McDonogh (12-3, 8-2), Friday, 4:15 p.m.
Outlook: The two-time defending champion Eagles, seeded third, closed the regular season with five straight wins, starting with a commanding 16-6 victory over the Dons on April 18 that was followed by a 12-10 win at No. 1 Boys’ Latin. In the victory against the Dons, Luke Miller led the attack with four goals and one assist, faceoff specialist Ciaran Sweeney won the battle in the circle and the defense got shutdown work from Max Allen. Loyola, which closed on a three-game winning streak to earn the sixth seed, boasts Mason Cook on attack and Peter Laake and Brady Nicholas on defense.