MIAA A-Conf Quarterfinals Preview: Its Win or Go Home Season

Welcome to the MIAA A-conference postseason!

Six teams are in. Two teams have a first round bye, Calvert Hall and St. Mary’s Annapolis. And four will faceoff today at 4:15pm to see who will move on to the semi-finals next Tuesday at Towson University’s Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Sixth-seeded McDonogh will travel to Lake Avenue to take on Boys’ Latin. And St. Paul’s will take on Loyola Blakefield in the other quarterfinal game. Calvert Hall and St. Mary’s Annapolis have been rewarded with quarterfinal-byes.

The Lakers defeated the Eagles 11-10 in the regular season. But the regular season records are thrown out the window. Both teams are coming off huge wins, in terms of momentum. Tuesday, the final day of the regular season was rivalry day, BL (7-3) defeated St. Paul’s in overtime, 8-7. Boys’ Latin’s Ben Smith scored the game winning goal after a close and gritty game, in what is coined the best rivalry game in all of high school lacrosse..

McDonogh (6-4) faced its rival, Gilman at home and both teams’ playoff hopes were hanging by a thread. The Eagles for the most part dominated the Greyhounds, coming away with the 10-7 victory and getting the final seat at the postseason table.

The Dons (6-4) and Crusaders (6-4) will be entering their  game on Friday coming off two tough losses.

Loyola defeated St. Paul’s on May 3 by one-goal.

Loyola Blakefield lost to Calvert Hall and the Crusaders, as noted above, will be looking to rebound from a tough loss to BL.

The Cardinals finished undefeated in the conference during the regular season. Calvert Hall is looking mighty strong and unbeatable heading into what could be their third-consecutive A-conference title. Coach Kelly’s team is looking strong at all area’s of the starting lineup. Calvert Hall has a a fantastic goalie in Jackson Marshall, a defense led by Jake Snyder, the attack is scary good with Jack Sawyer, Daniel Kelly, and freshman

St. Mary’s Annapolis has a had an incredible season. The Saints are loaded with a senior class thats hungry to go out with a conference championship. Coach Lilly’s team is 8-2 in conference and riding into the postseason on a three-game winning streak. Led by seniors attackman Ian Krampf (Johns Hopkins) and defenseman BJ Burlace (Yale), the Saints will be a team nobody will want to play because they’re tough, physical and are relentless.

PRLB will have full coverage of both A-conference quarterfinal matchups.