Maryland 1A Playoff Preview: Offensive Threats

Fallston remains the clear favorite in the race for the Maryland 1A Public School Lacrosse State Championship. The Cougars are eyeing their fourth title in the past five years, but the path back to the top won't be nearly as smooth as last season's dominant 15-2 win over Liberty in the final. With several hungry contenders closing the gap, the question will be if any other team will be able to content with Fallston. Let's break down the teams and players to watch in a 1A field that still holds intrigue — even with a favorite as strong as Fallston leading the charge.   Fallston (11-1)   Next Opponent: Cambridge-South Dorchester   Notable Wins: Catonsville, Hereford, Archbishop Curley   Losses: South River, CM Wright   Fallston enters the postseason as the clear favorite to capture the 1A state title. The Cougars notched impressive wins over strong programs like Hereford, Catonsville, and Archbishop Curley, proving they can compete beyond their classification. Their only setbacks came against a highly talented South River squad and, more recently, against C. Milton Wright in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference (UCBAC) Championship — a loss that won't affect their playoff standing.   What truly sets Fallston apart is the program's sustained commitment to building a winning culture from the youth level all the way up to varsity. That investment has paid off, as the Cougars are exceptionally deep and talented for a 1A school.   Offensively, they're led by a potent trio: [player_tooltip player_id='127973' first='Jaden' last='Riley'] (committed to Anderson), Caleb Canatella (Frostburg State), and Ian Swartzendruber (Randolph-Macon), all capable of taking over a game. On defense, J. Cooper Savelle (Hobart), Owen King (Randolph-Macon) and Jacob Williams (Florida Tech) anchor a tough, experienced unit. With talent on both ends of the field and a track record of success, Fallston looks built for another deep postseason run.   Middletown (8-4)   Next Opponent: Rising Sun   Notable Wins: Oakdale, South Carroll, Catoctin (twice)   Losses: Urbana, Linganore (OT), Manchester Valley, Walkersville   Middletown opened the season with four straight losses against tough competition, but they've been perfect ever since. Since that rocky start, the Knights have dominated their opponents, winning by an average margin of 10.8 goals per game. Both sides of the ball have stepped up in a big way, showing balance, depth, and confidence.   Offensively, Jackson Bennett and [player_tooltip player_id='127978' first='Ryan' last='McLister'] (uncommitted) have emerged as reliable playmakers capable of putting up points in bunches. On defense, Middletown is anchored by a physical unit led by Caleb McHugh (Messiah), Truman Funk (Ohio Northern), and Liam Callahan (Lebanon Valley). With momentum on their side, the Knights are looking like a dangerous threat heading into the 1A playoffs.   Liberty (5-7)   Next Opponent: Calvert   Notable Wins: Oakdale, South Carroll, Catoctin   Liberty was the team that faced Fallston in last year's 1A State Championship. While their current record may not jump off the page, it's nearly identical to where they stood at this point last season — a run that included key wins over Calvert and Perryville to reach the title game. Once again, Liberty looks like a team capable of peaking at the right time.   Their schedule hasn't been favorable, as they've navigated a tough Carroll County slate with losses to strong programs like Westminster, Manchester Valley, and Century. Still, the Lions have shown flashes of high-level play, particularly on offense, where [player_tooltip player_id='127976' first='Ethan' last='Carpenetti'], Ethan Addison, and Matthew Brandel provide a dangerous trio of scoring threats. Liberty will meet Calvert again in the quarterfinals and will look to replicate last year's result — a statement win that propelled them toward a championship run.   Calvert (8-3)   Next Opponent: Liberty   Notable Wins: Patuxent (twice), La Plata   Calvert is one of the tougher teams to evaluate heading into the postseason. On paper, their record is impressive — much like it was last year — but that regular-season success didn't carry over to the playoffs, where they fell to Liberty 13-5 in the quarterfinals. The Cavaliers are led by two standout players: goalie Jason Klotz (Susquehanna) and star attackman [player_tooltip player_id='127979' first='Jaxson' last='Zapoli'] (St. Mary's [MD]), both of whom will play key roles if Calvert hopes to make a deeper run this time around. They'll face a familiar opponent in Wednesday's quarterfinal — a rematch with Liberty that offers a shot at redemption.    [player_tooltip player_id='127973' first='Jaden' last='Riley'] has been a game-changing addition to Fallston after transferring in from John Carroll this season. The Anderson University commit commands attention every time he touches the ball, forcing opposing defenses to slide early and often. He thrives when sweeping across the middle, using his deceptive sidearm release to pick corners and snipe top shelf with ease.   Riley also serves as the point man in Fallston's transition offense, where his vision and shooting range stretch defenses and create mismatches. In the 1A North Region II Semifinal against Patterson Mill, he led the team with 6 goals and 2 assists - a performance that showcased just how dangerous he can be when the stakes are high. Expect more of the same as Fallston pushes for another deep run in the 1A state playoffs.     [player_tooltip player_id='127976' first='Ethan' last='Carpenetti'] is already one of the top sophomores in Carroll County and a cornerstone of Liberty's offense. He's the first player opposing defenses must account for, and with good reason. As a freshman, he scored one of Liberty's two goals in the 1A State Championship and he did it in signature fashion, dodging down the alley and finishing with confidence.   Carpenetti is a nightmare matchup thanks to his elite dodging ability. Most defenders struggle to even get a stick on him, as he combines the threat of both hands with exceptional change-of-direction skills. His quickness, field awareness, and ability to create separation make him a constant threat - and a key piece for Liberty as they look to return to the championship.     [player_tooltip player_id='127978' first='Ryan' last='McLister'] is a true multi-sport athlete who makes a major impact for both Middletown's football and lacrosse teams. On the lacrosse field, he brings a combination of speed, toughness, and skill that sets the tone for the Knights' offense.   McLister is relentless when dodging, often attacking down the alley with burst and confidence. His quick first step puts opposing defenses on their heels, making it difficult to slide in time. And when the slide does come, he's just as dangerous - showing excellent vision to find cutters inside and the ability to feed with either hand. Whether he's finishing or facilitating, McLister is a dynamic threat every time he touches the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='127979' first='Jaxson' last='Zapoli'] is the player opposing defenses must game-plan for if they hope to slow down Calvert in the playoffs. The St. Mary's (MD) commit is Calvert's all-time points leader, having eclipsed the 300-point mark in his career - a testament to both his consistency and explosiveness.   Standing at 6'4", Zapoli uses his size to his advantage, playing with physicality during dodges and making it tough for defenders to body him up. He also has impressive bounce and fluidity in his movement, allowing him to read defenders, feel contact, and capitalize when they overcommit or lunge at his top hand. Zapoli's combination of size, skill, and lacrosse IQ makes him one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the 1A bracket.

Fallston remains the clear favorite in the race for the Maryland 1A Public School Lacrosse State Championship. The Cougars are eyeing their fourth title in the past five years, but the path back to the top won't be nearly as smooth as last season's dominant 15-2 win over Liberty in the final. With several hungry contenders closing the gap, the question will be if any other team will be able to content with Fallston. Let's break down the teams and players to watch in a 1A field that still holds intrigue — even with a favorite as strong as Fallston leading the charge.