PA's March Madness Notebook - 3/22/25

PA State Rankings:   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Malvern 2. LaSalle 3. Haverford 4. Hill School 5. SCHA 6. Episcopal Academy 7. Springfield-Delco 8. Radnor 9. St. Joe's Prep 10. Marple Newtown</li> </ol>   Today's sunset featured two of the top-ranked teams in the state & the country squaring off on Flannery Field, home of the Explorers! This highly anticipated competition gave LaSalle an early barometer reading vs Malvern who has already played a handful of the most prestigious programs in the sport's history this season! The 5 o'clock start provided a timely rehearsal for LaSalle as they are looking to take on DeMatha (Hyattsville, MD) in less than two weeks at the US Lacrosse Training Center.   Leading up to the season what I found particularly interesting was the focus that this might be one of Malvern Prep's most dominant & deepest teams in school history, yet they do not return a single All-American from last season (2024). LaSalle on the other hand is talented & top-heavy with more than enough veteran experience to shake things up as the favorite in the PIAA (AAA) picture - they are not the underdogs!   Malvern continued to demonstrate why most media outlets rank them amongst the top 5 overall teams in the country! Their strength of schedule is undeniable with early season wins against out-of-state (MIAA/IAC) perennial powerhouses such as Archbishop Spalding 12-8, McDonough 11-10, Boys' Latin 9-6, Georgetown Prep 10-2, & Loyola-Blakefield 13-10.   Malvern is going anywhere & everywhere on the journey in their competitive mode, earning their stripes, driving them to be better. In the Friars' early season meeting with McDonogh (MD), [player_tooltip player_id='19762' first='Heath' last='Jones'] (15 saves) held off the Eagles' late game surge with clutch play down the stretch. [player_tooltip player_id='123039' first='TJ' last='McDermott'] was a boost on the draw by going 8/10, mostly in the second half. Jack Carroll (Cornell) was credited with tough defense throughout the game while [player_tooltip player_id='14539' first='Owen' last='Mears'] (2 G, 3A), [player_tooltip player_id='19765' first='Logan' last='Turley'] (3G, 1A), [player_tooltip player_id='14544' first='Michael' last='Ortlieb'] (2G), & [player_tooltip player_id='14517' first='Jake' last='Bickel'] (2G, 1A) did the majority of the scoring.   The battle with Boys' Latin (MD) saw similar star play from the usual scoring suspects: [player_tooltip player_id='23638' first='Danny' last='Lucovich'] (3G), Ortlieb (2G, 2A, 1GB), & Bickel (2G, 2A, 1 GB). There were notable groundballs from short-stick defender [player_tooltip player_id='14550' first='Will' last='Tantillo'] & long-stick [player_tooltip player_id='71563' first='Dylan' last='Novak'] collecting 3 apiece. Jones recorded 7 saves in the win & [player_tooltip player_id='82290' first='Matthew' last='Connolly'] went 8/12 on the draw against the Lakers.   Malvern Prep upended Georgetown Prep (MD) in the Inter-Ac vs IAC challenge by showcasing a total team win. The Friars utilized their bench & flexed their depth chart against the Little Hoyas with two sharp goalkeepers! Jones finished with 7 saves (87.5%) & [player_tooltip player_id='19759' first='Thomas' last='Ploszay'] made 4 saves (80%) as each goalie was responsible for letting in only 1 goal respectively. Turley (2G), Mears (2G), Lucovich (2G), Ortlieb (2G, 2A), & Bickel (1G, 2A, 1GB) provided the punches offensively. Carroll, Tantillo, & Novak also added 3 groundballs each.   MP downed the Dons from Loyola-Blakefield (MD) with offensive outbursts from Ortlieb (4G, 1A), Turley (2G, 3A), & Lucovich (3G, 1A). Jones notched 8 saves for the Friars.   Now, Calvert Hall College (MD) is the new #1 team in the country for the moment after handing Malvern (previously #1) their first loss of the season. Turley (4G, 2A, 1GB), Ortlieb (2G, 2A, 3GBs), & Bickel (3G, 1A) spearheaded the offense to another double-digit output. The Friars were tested within their special teams units where they were slightly less than 50% in the goal (Jones 9 saves) & less than their standard efficiency ratings facing off (10/27) at the X.   Malvern suffered their lone loss in overtime 12-11 after traveling down to Baltimore less than twenty-four hours before coming back home to conquer the Cardiac Cardinal's LaSallian brothers 9-5.   Malvern vs LaSalle College High School   The Explorers held their own against Malvern despite missing some key contributors from last season with [player_tooltip player_id='20999' first='Dylan' last='Malone'] & [player_tooltip player_id='29034' first='Declan' last='Heilig'] out with injuries. LaSalle got on the board first with a hard shot from [player_tooltip player_id='123227' first='Michael' last='Van Bastelaar'], but Malvern quickly jumped ahead by the end of the 1st Quarter with a 2-1 lead. The Friars continued to work the Explorers as they went up 4-1 at halftime; 3 of their first-half goals were noted off of turnovers.   LaSalle traded blows with Malvern in the 3rd Quarter bringing the score 5-2. The Explorers scored (1 of their 3) goals early on in the 4th quarter to make it 5-3 before Malvern answered 6-3. LaSalle fought until the end scoring a couple in a row making it exciting at 6-5 with minutes to play. The Friars then turned the corner putting in the last 3 goals straight unanswered to seal the deal.   The Explorers got solid efforts from [player_tooltip player_id='42674' first='Cooper' last='Heilig'], [player_tooltip player_id='20031' first='Danny' last='Kuriger'], & Ryan Vandegrift at close defense. Keenan Stahl & Thomas Dwyer gave good shifts, providing depth at the midfield. Returning All-American [player_tooltip player_id='14599' first='Max' last='Wickersham'] was held scoreless in large part to Malvern Prep's team defense. [player_tooltip player_id='71563' first='Dylan' last='Novak'] was the shut-down defender assigned to guarding 22 the majority of the game & he had some stellar goaltending behind him!   LS: William Trymbiski (2G, 1A), [player_tooltip player_id='123227' first='Michael' last='Van Bastelaar'] (2G), Shane Dominello (2A), Jackson Trymbiski (1G), Darryl Kuriger (1A). Roman Ippoldo 7 saves.   MP: Turley (4G, 2A), Bickel (2G), Lucovich (1G, 1A), Ortlieb (1G), Dan Reily (1G), Mears (1A). The team went 10/18 on the draw (55.5%) & Jones was credited with 12 saves (70.5%) behind a strong defensive effort:   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtube.com/shorts/IgjgDTt0XQE?feature=share </div></figure>   Other notable performances from the top teams & individual players across the PA state in the early goings of the season:   Haverford School   Haverford School opened up the season with a 10-7 win over Loyola-Blakefield (MD) from the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association before hosting the annual Inter-Ac vs DC IAC challenge last Saturday (3/15/25). The annual event featured the six teams from Philly's (Private) Inter-Ac League paired up against the six teams from Washington DC's (Private) Inter-State Athletic Conference.   The Fords battled back & stood strong on their home turf at Sabol Field vs the Landon School (Bethesda, MD). [player_tooltip player_id='45362' first='Anthony' last='Costa'] has been effective off the ground & [player_tooltip player_id='24324' first='Finn' last='French'] (2G) fired off the game-winner as they bested the Bears 11-10 in an OT Thriller! [player_tooltip player_id='23606' first='Conor' last='Morsell'] (4G, 3A) provided the game-tying goal with 9.2 seconds in regulation & the game-winning assist in overtime! Haverford School also handled St. Mary's (Annapolis, MD) 12-4 by way of Morsell (2G, 3A) leading the offense & [player_tooltip player_id='40418' first='Colin' last='Decker'] (10 saves) routinely making double-digit stops.   Earlier today, Delbarton was able to enter a hostile environment on the Main Line & knock off Haverford School 10-8. The Green Wave opened up their season with a successful road trip giving the Fords their first loss of the year.   SCHA   Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='123639' first='Moe' last='Sobel'] made 17 saves in a 13-7 win against Episcopal (Virginia) at the Inter-Ac vs IAC challenge! Since then, [player_tooltip player_id='20036' first='Spencer' last='Meile'] (4G) guided the offense while [player_tooltip player_id='20029' first='Cole' last='Carberry'] was also credited with hitting his 100th career goal milestone as a junior in a 14-5 win against defending State Champs (AA) Marple Newtown. [player_tooltip player_id='45355' first='Henry' last='Bertelsen'] (16/20 FO & 7 GBs) continued to control the time of possession for the Devils & Moe made 12 saves earning the victory. Sobel recently came up clutch with 26 saves vs Choate Rosemary Hall (Connecticut) in an 8-6 triumph. Additionally, he had 15 saves in a 6-3 loss to St. Mary's (Annapolis, MD).   EA   Episcopal Academy fell to Bullis School (MD) in the Inter-Ac vs IAC challenge despite a strong showing from [player_tooltip player_id='45374' first='Jackson' last='Orcutt'] (3G, 2A) who provided the Churchmen with steady play. Legendary Coach Colfer rallied the boys to beat Radnor 9-4 behind a balanced effort in which Brody Garrison dished out 4 assists while [player_tooltip player_id='24480' first='Reid' last='Dennis'] & [player_tooltip player_id='40420' first='Parker' last='Smith'] each accounted for a hat-trick. EA's [player_tooltip player_id='123284' first='Evan' last='MacFarland'] caused 5 turnovers & accounted for 6 ground balls in a recent out-of-state win over Gill St. Bernards (NJ) 11-4. Smith scored a game-high 4 goals, while Garrison (3G, 1A), & [player_tooltip player_id='16060' first='Keegan' last='Nash'] (2G, 1A) also contributed offensively.   Springfield-Delco   The Cougars won their first game of the season vs Strath Haven behind Pat Flaherty (5G, 2A) & Tommy Rush (1G, 12/13 FO). The game was called in the 3rd quarter due to inclement weather.   Radnor   The defending State Champs (AAA) lost their season opener away at Episcopal Academy 9-4. [player_tooltip player_id='18401' first='Sawyer' last='Smith'] scored a hat-trick for the Raptors while Logan Montrella (1G) sniped one from long-range & [player_tooltip player_id='123295' first='Tyler' last='Vitale'] added an assist in the loss to the Churchmen. Rala bounced back by defeating Upper Dublin 12-3. Smith (1G, 3A), [player_tooltip player_id='123287' first='Finn' last='Petrone'] (4G, 3A), [player_tooltip player_id='123288' first='Tommy' last='Goldstein'] (4G), & [player_tooltip player_id='141718' first='Zach' last='French'] (1G, 2A) were the top point scorers on the day.   SJP   St. Joe's Prep defeated CB East 12-5 where Dom Flynn (4G, 3A) & Keegan Dunn (15 saves) stood out against the Patriots. The Hawks beat OPC 11-4 powered by Quinn Gaffney (2G, 2A), Luke Bieberbach (3G), [player_tooltip player_id='142505' first='Craig' last='Webster'] (2G), & Trot Cush (1G, 1A). Nick Cunningham (1G, 1A), & Keegan Dunn (16 saves) led the way defensively against Penn Charter. St. Joe's Prep closed out Garnet Valley beating them 12-9. The Hawk's Flynn (4G, 2A), Bieberbach (2G, 4A), & Webster (3G, 2A) put the pedal to the metal to cruise past the Jaguars while Dunn had 10 saves.   MN   Marple Newtown's [player_tooltip player_id='14563' first='Brian' last='Box'] (Cornell) broke the school's all-time goal record with 4 goals & 1 assist in a victory over Kennett 14-5. The Tigers also beat Upper Dublin 9-5 behind Augie Bruder (2G, 3A) & some veteran leadership from Box (2G, 2A), Evan Kostack (1G, 2A), & [player_tooltip player_id='18393' first='Ryan' last='Keating'] (1G, 1A).   Stay tuned for the latest & greatest with all things Lacrosse Unlimited...Best Wishes!

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