2024 Schedule Rundown: La Salle (PA) and Springfield (PA)
With the start of the 2024 PIAA lacrosse season approaching, we thought it was time to review the schedules of the three teams viewed as the favorites to bring home the 3A state trophy in June.
Below is a deep dive into the 2024 schedules of LaSalle and Springfield.
First, let us review the upcoming season for the squad from southeastern Pennsylvania that is the dominant force in the Philadelphia Catholic League as well as 3A state title contender every year.
LaSalle will enter the 2024 season as the No. 17 ranked team in Inside Lacrosse's preseason poll. There is good reason for that ranking, as LaSalle returns a slew of their key prospects from last year's team that assembled a 9-4 record and advanced to the state semifinals. The Explorers' four losses in 2023 came to Lawrenceville, St. Mary's (Md.), and eventual 3A state champion Radnor (twice). There is no shame in any of those setbacks. Still, LaSalle is hungry for more here in 2024 and its aggressive early season schedule should prepare them well for the rigors of the PIAA state tournament.
LaSalle will open this season with a three-game homestand against elite competition hailing from outside of Pennsylvania. Starting in mid-March, the Explorers will host Delaware juggernaut Salesianum, Canada's Hill Academy, and MIAA power St. Mary's. April will bring neutral site contests with Cape Henlopen (DE) and DeMatha (MD). Both of those games will be solid tests for the Explorers before the meat of their Philadelphia Catholic League schedule kicks in. A run of eight straight league games begins on April 16th, with a trip to PCL archrival St. Joe's Prep. LaSalle closes the regular season in May with a three-game gauntlet that features Radnor (5/4) and Christian Brothers Academy (5/9) at home as well as an away game on May 11th at Malvern Prep.
The 2023 Springfield squad amassed an impressive 22-3 record, captured the District 1-3A championship, and earned a trip to Penn State, where the Cougars finished as the 3A state runner-ups. They began last spring with an opening night loss to eventual Pioneer Athletic Conference champions, Spring-Ford. Springfield also suffered two defeats at the hands of Radnor. Included in its 1-2 record vs. Radnor last season was a loss in the state championship game. Springfield returns a host of talented prospects from last year's roster and the Cougars are hungry to avoid finishing second in the state tournament again here in 2024.
After scrimmages versus nationally ranked Malvern Prep and Academy of New Church, Springfield begins its 2024 revenge tour with a home game against Spring-Ford. The early season schedule continues with a contest against Downingtown West as well as out-of-state games at Archbishop Spalding (Md.) and Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.). A pair of Central League contests proceed Springfield hosting PCL contender St. Joe's Prep on April 5th. A home game against defending state champions Radnor on the 12th is circled on Springfield's calendar. Matchups with Conestoga as well as 2A state champion Marple Newtown and Montgomery County powerhouse Upper Dublin will present challenges for Springfield in the final weeks of their 2024 season.
