2024 Schedule Rundown: Malvern Prep, Haverford, Gonzaga

With the high school season less than two months away for teams in the Mid-Atlantic, several top programs from the region recently announced their respective 2024 schedule via social media, so we'll be diving into those releases and providing analysis as the season approaches.

First, let's take a look at what's in store for Main Line mainstays Malvern Prep (Pa.) and Haverford (Pa.), as well as Gonzaga in D.C.

Malvern Prep is expected to enter the 2024 season as one of the top-ranked teams in the country, as the Friars return a ton of critical pieces from their Inter-Ac championship team. Last year's daunting schedule reared its ugly head in the form of five consecutive losses before Matt Mackrides' crew righted the ship at the right time and knocked off archrival Haverford in the Inter-Ac final after entering the postseason with a 14-7 record. This year's non-conference slate will be incredibly tough once again, though there are some notable differences from last spring. After playing Bullis in 2023, the Friars will instead open at Georgetown Prep (Md.) in the Inter-Ac vs. IAC Challenge on Saturday, March 16, followed by home contests against MIAA foes Loyola Blakefield and Calvert Hall, a Friday night game set for 7:00 p.m. Another test against a Baltimore power will take place against Boys' Latin on March 27 against Boys' Latin at the US Lacrosse headquarters. 

A location is still TBD for another neutral site showdown against St. Anthony's (N.Y.) that following Wednesday in what should be a huge week, with Malvern set to host Lawrenceville (N.J.) on Saturday, April 6 before league play begins. This year, the Friars added Valor Christian (Colo.) on a Monday in late March to bolster a non-conference slate that includes rematches with Delbarton (N.J.), Academy of the New Church (Pa.), Salesianum (Del.) and La Salle (Pa.), with the date with the Explorers now serving as the final game of the regular season on Saturday, May 11. 

DROPPED: Bullis (Md.), Brunswick (Conn.), Radnor (Pa.), Seton Hall Prep (N.J.)

ADDED: Georgetown Prep (Md.), Loyola Blakefield (Md.), Valor Christian (Colo.), Boys' Latin (Md.)

Year-over-year, the Fords' non-conference schedule has looked dramatically different since 2019, which was John Nostrant's final year leading the program and the last time that Inter-Ac programs only faced each other once during the regular season. Now entering his fourth full season at the helm, head coach Brendan Dawson has assembled another impressive schedule, keeping the tradition going by kicking things off with an MIAA opponent, with Haverford hosting Loyola Blakefield (Md.) on March 7. The Fords will have more than a week off before heading to play Landon (Md.) in the Inter-Ac vs. IAC Challenge, the program's first tangle with the Bears since 2018, followed by a showdown with McDonogh (Md.) at home on March 19. 

Lawrenceville (N.J.) is off the Fords' 2024 schedule, however, Haverford will instead host Taft (Conn.), another boarding school powerhouse, on March 24 before the Fords' spring break trip to play St. Anne's Belfield and Woodberry Forest in Virginia. Additionally, Haverford is set to welcome Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.) during the Gators' spring break trip, having hosted their WCAL rival St. Ignatius (Calif.) last year. Hill School (Pa.) and St. Anthony's (N.Y.) round out the non-conference slate for the Fords, who handed the Friars their only loss of 2023. That matchup is set for Thursday, May 4 after taking place on a Saturday last spring. 

DROPPED: Georgetown Prep (Md.), Lawrenceville (N.J.), St. Ignatius (Calif.)

ADDED: Landon (Md.), Taft (Conn.), Woodberry Forest (Va.), Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.)

Gonzaga has played one of the nation's most challenging non-conference schedules year in and year out, and the same could be said about 2024's slate. In the past, league games have been spread throughout March and April, however, the WCAC made an effort this offseason to have its members fit conference play into April. It's also worth noting that as of now, all of Gonzaga's home games will be played under the lights at 7:00 p.m., adding extra juice to an excellent environment nestled a few blocks away from the U.S. Capitol building. 

For the fourth time in six seasons, the Eagles will open up with McDonogh (Md.) in what is always a highly anticipated matchup. From there, Gonzaga will face St. Mary's (Md.) on the road followed by a Tuesday night battle with Boys' Latin (Md.), getting the Lakers back on the schedule after the two programs last played in March 2020, the week that the coronavirus outbreak shut down the season. Later in the week, the Eagles will welcome a loaded Culver (Ind.) squad in a rematch of last year's overtime battle and a coaching matchup between childhood friends — Gonzaga's Jeff King and Culver's Jon Birsner grew up together in Levittown (N.Y.) and squared off in college at Lehigh and Navy, respectively. 

The Eagles will head south to play Tampa Jesuit (Fla.) and Plant (Fla.) over spring break before returning to D.C. to prepare for the annual tilt with Georgetown Prep (Md.), which will once again take place at Georgetown on Thursday, March 28. As always, Gonzaga will also take on Bullis and Landon of the IAC, playing both local rivals in April rather than March as it did in 2023. 

DROPPED: St. Albans (D.C.), Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.), St. Ignatius (Calif.)

ADDED: St. Mary's (Md.), Boys' Latin (Md.), Tampa Jesuit (Fla.), Plant (Fla.)