2024 Schedule Rundown: Boys’ Latin (Md.) and McDonogh (Md.)

Now that we're just a few short weeks away from the MIAA starting up, let's take a look at the schedules for two of the preseason favorites and programs that squared off in the postseason in '19, '21, '22, and '23.

With Boys' Latin adding seven-day boarding before the 2022 school year, things look pretty different on Lake Avenue these days. However, when it comes to the Lakers' 2024 schedule — as well as the program's expectations — not much has changed.

That's certainly the case for the start of BL's 2024 schedule. As always, the Lakers will get outside competition rolling with scrimmages against Landon and Georgetown Prep from the IAC before opening up with St. John's (D.C.) for the third consecutive year. Having lost to the Cadets both times, they'll be looking to turn the tide in what has become an excellent early-season measuring stick for both programs. From there, the Lakers head to Florida to face St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Andrew's during the program's annual spring break trip.

Fortunately for them, they'll have a week without games before embarking on a grueling eight-day, three-game stretch away from the friendly confines of J. Duncan Smith Field, playing at Gonzaga (D.C.) on March 19 and Lawrenceville (N.J.) four days later. Although Culver (Ind.) is no longer on the schedule, the Lakers' last contest before MIAA play will be a neutral site affair with a loaded Malvern Prep (Pa.) squad at US Lacrosse HQ on March 27. Another notable difference is the timing of BL's matchup with McDonogh, which will take place on April 23 after being played at or near the beginning of the conference schedule in each of the last five complete seasons.

ADDED: Malvern Prep (Pa.)

DROPPED: Culver (Ind.), Hill School (Pa.)

Coming into the year with a massive target on its back once again, McDonogh has the chance to become just the second MIAA program to win three straight conference titles, a feat that Calvert Hall accomplished from 2017 to 2019. Andy Hilgartner's Eagles will enter conference play having been battle-tested thanks to another rigorous non-conference schedule, one that's been upgraded from a year ago. In addition to scrimmaging Landon, Bullis, and Westtown (Pa.), the Eagles also scrimmage Deerfield Academy (Mass.) while in Florida for spring break, with that bout sandwiched between the opener at Gonzaga (D.C.) and a matchup with St. Thomas Aquinas, the defending state champs.

Similar to the teams that we highlighted in previous schedule breakdowns, McDonogh will have an incredibly difficult few games in late March, starting with a quick trip to Haverford (Pa.) on the 19th. Two intriguing new matchups will follow in the form of a Friday afternoon tilt with Hill Academy (Ont.) and a neutral site showdown against Chaminade (N.Y.) — location still TBD — in a rare battle between Baltimore and Long Island private schools.

ADDED: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.), Hill Academy (Ont.), Chaminade (N.Y.)

DROPPED: Durham Academy (N.C.), Kiski (Pa.), Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.), Noble & Greenough (Mass.)