Friends, this is when things get serious in and amongst our Top 10.
We see the denouement of a number of competitions this coming week, including the state tournament final in Florida and the postseason tournament from one of the best competitions in the country, the Independent Athletic Association of Maryland, of which No. 1 Maryvale is a part. Today, the semifinals in Class A take place, and that leads to Saturday’s final at Stevenson University.
There will also be a raft of oustanding contests as teams close out their regular seasons throughout the country headed to tournament play.
1. Lutherville Maryvale Prep (Md.) 18-0
The Lions take on Towson Notre Dame Prep (Md.), a game which ended with a 19-8 margin. Expect this game to be closer this time around
2. Manchester (Md.) Valley 13-0
The Mustangs host Westminster Winters Mill (Md.) this Friday in the MPSSAA Class 2A North 1 semifinals; winner to play either Parkton Hereford (Md.) or Lansdowne (Md.)
3. Darien (Conn.) 11-0
The Blue Wave have their two last intersectional matches of the season; Darien meets Greenwich Sacred Heart (Conn.) today and Nyack (N.Y.) on Thursday before playing Staples (Conn.) on Friday
4. South Huntington St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) 11-1
The Friars beat Wilton (Conn.) 14-2 last weekend; they will host another Fairfield County competitor, New Canaan (Conn.) this Saturday
5. Philadelphia Penn Charter (Pa.) 20-2
The Quakers defeated Newtown Square Episcopal Academy (Pa.) 9-8, then beat Manheim (Pa.) Township the next day. They take on Rosemont Agnes Irwin (Pa.) today and travel to Radnor Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) for a Saturday test
6. Sayville (N.Y.) 12-0
The Golden Flash host Smithtown (N.Y.) West tomorrow and play Kings Park (N.Y.) later this week
7. Concord-Carlisle (Mass.) 9-0
The Patriots have four games this week: fixture congestion, anyone? Key games at Westford (Mass.) Academy and Reading (Mass.) Memorial later in the week
8. Owings Mills McDonogh (Md.) 12-3
The Eagles, after an 8-6 loss to Baltimore Roland Park (Md.) on April 1, have won eight in a row, but have a Brooklandville St. Paul’s (Md.) team that has given Darien (Conn.) a close game three of Sundays ago
9. Newtown Square Episcopal Academy (Pa.) 14-3
The Churchwomen had a close loss to Penn Charter and will be looking to set the tone with a game this Friday night against Springside-Chestnut Hill (Pa.)
10. Cumming West Forsyth (Ga.) 19-0
Get to know the Wolverines. This team plays a devil-may-care style of lacrosse, and have put up some enormous goals totals this seaso, playing like Grant taking Richmond. They have scored 20 goals in a game in nine of their last 11 games
Who’s out: Huntington (N.Y.) 8-3 loss to Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.); Alexandria St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes (Va.) 12-11 loss to Bethesda Stone Ridge (Md.)
And bear in mind: Atherton Sacred Heart Prep (Calif.) 17-0, Highlands Ranch Valor Christian (Colo.) 11-2, Greenwich Sacred Heart (Conn.) 8-4, Delray American Heritage (Fla.) 19-1, Orlando Lake Highland Prep (Fla.) 18-2, Milton (Ga.) 16-2, Towson Notre Dame Prep (Md.) 9-5, Olney Good Counsel (Md.) 15-2, Andover Phillips Academy (Mass.) 12-0, Moorestown (N.J.) 9-2, Garden City (N.Y.) 12-2, Huntington (N.Y.) 12-1, Penfield (N.Y.) Central 9-3, Irondequoit (N.Y.) 10-2, Tredyffrin Conestoga (Pa.) 16-1, Radnor Archbishop Caroll (Pa.) 13-3, Villanova Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (Pa.) 12-6, Rosemont Agnes Irwin (Pa.) 11-4, Charlottesville St. Anne’s Belfield (Va.) 13-5, Alexandria St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes (Md.) 19-1