Calvert Hall Wins 2026 MIAA Championship, Downs McDonogh 14-8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Calvert Hall Cardinals are your 2026 MIAA Champions. In front of a packed crowd at Stevenson University, the Cardinals took down McDonogh 14-8 in a game the Cardinals controlled in nearly every phase outside of the face-off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All season long, Calvert Hall has leaned on its depth, and that was on full display again in the championship. They consistently rolled fresh bodies and maintained a high level of play when the lights were the brightest. Offensively, nine different players found the back of the net, with multi-point performances from [player_tooltip player_id='172702' first='Adam' last='Heuston'], [player_tooltip player_id='121209' first='Hut' last='Perdew'], [player_tooltip player_id='17443' first='Jack' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='166405' first='Caleb' last='Kelly'], [player_tooltip player_id='172615' first='Connor' last='Sullivan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='24318' first='Matthew' last='Schoonmaker'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five standouts from Friday's championship game:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172702"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0a2fb25b7f4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172702' first='Adam' last='Heuston'] delivered a statement performance on one of the biggest stages of the year, finishing his sophomore campaign with an MIAA Championship and MVP honors. After missing last season due to hip surgery, this outing underscored both his resilience and his emergence as a high-level offensive threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heuston put four in the back of the net, showcasing a well-rounded scoring arsenal. His first came off a dodge, where he used a subtle hesitation to get by a Division I short-stick defender and finish with a dunk. The rest of his production came from three catch-and-shoot stepdowns within two minutes of each other in the third quarter, all from similar spots on the field but with varied placement. Utilizing an underhand shooting release, Heuston kept the goalie off balance by varying his finishes—going low, then high, and back to low. His ability to show the same windup while changing location highlighted his advanced feel as a step-down shooter. Performances like this will only elevate his stock, and Heuston will be one that college coaches will be focusing on this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["165896"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0a2fb25b832"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If it were my decision, Neavin would have earned MVP honors in the MIAA Championship. While Calvert Hall's defense was phenomenal in front of him, Neavin was the backbone of the unit, finishing by my count with 12 saves against just six goals allowed before being pulled late in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He played calmly and confidently when the lights were the brightest, consistently coming up with timely stops. McDonogh's scout clearly emphasized shooting low, but Neavin was seeing it well, showing strength at that level while also handling high shots and bouncers effectively. He checked every box—clearing it well, making the routine saves, and adding a handful of high-difficulty stops. Since taking over the starting role, Neavin has been solid against top-tier competition, and this performance only reinforced his standing. He continues to make a strong case as one of the, if not the, top uncommitted goalkeeper in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["123733"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0a2fb25b85c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hottle deserves a game ball for his performance in the MIAA Championship, holding [player_tooltip player_id='20017' first='Hunter' last='Metz']—one of the league's top scorers—to just one goal and two assists. That comes on the heels of Metz's six-goal, two-assist outing in the semifinals against Spalding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He was tested early in the two-man game, with McDonogh sending plenty of picks his way above the cage. Rather than settling for switches, Hottle adjusted by fighting over the top and staying attached. He consistently forced Metz down the alley, played strong at the goal line, and came up with a couple of timely checks. Hottle's footwork stands out, and he uses his cross-check as well as anyone in the class. Drexel got a steal—he's proven he can handle top matchups and compete with elite attackmen, even without the prototypical size of a Division I defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20157"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0a2fb25b87f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sweeney did his job for the most part in the MIAA Championship, going 16/22 at the X by my count while adding a goal. He was under constant pressure and had a few turnovers because of it, but overall did what he could to give McDonogh possessions. He has all the tools to be elite at Notre Dame next year—quick hands at the whistle, the size and strength to compete on the ground, the stick skills to handle pressure, and a shot that keeps defenses honest. He showed that in this one with a couple of quality looks, including a left-handed finish. Sweeney leaves McDonogh with multiple championships and as one of the top players in the 2026 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["120612"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a0a2fb25b89f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='120612' first='TC' last='Goodman'] was one of the few bright spots for McDonogh in the MIAA Championship. While not perfect, he finished with four goals and consistently found ways to produce. Most of his damage came in transition, where he showed his ability to get shots off quickly on the catch. He scored twice as the point man, added one on the extra-man unit, and picked up another off a ride-back with seconds remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This performance boosts his stock, especially with McDonogh set to lose [player_tooltip player_id='20017' first='Hunter' last='Metz'] to graduation. Goodman looks poised to take on a larger role, showing he can score in a variety of ways—changing release points and shot placement—against top defenders in a high-pressure, championship setting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->