Surging Cardinals in top spot with MIAA A postseason on horizon; public league crowns at stake Monday
by Derek Toney
Three weeks ago, Calvert Hall College was at a crossroads.
The Cardinals lost their top two goalies, leaving an unproven freshman manning the net. After being stunned by John Carroll School for a second straight loss, some wondered if the Cardinals would make the MIAA A Conference playoffs.
The nation’s best boys’ lacrosse league has proven anything can happen Tuesday or Friday, and Calvert Hall is in position for another championship run. The Cardinals are No. 1 in this week’s VSN Top 20.
The Towson school has reeled off five straight victories, including dominant performances last week against then-No. 2 Archbishop Spalding (13-8; led 7-0) and then-No. 3 Severn School (16-4). The Cardinals, who play at rival Loyola Blakefield Tuesday afternoon, can get the No. 1 seed and a bye into next week’s semifinals at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium with a win and losses by St. Mary’s and Boys’ Latin School.
The second-ranked and reigning champion Lakers are firmly entrenched for a semifinal spot going into Tuesday’s annual rivalry match at No. 5 St. Paul’s School. The Crusaders, arguably the biggest surprise in the MIAA A this spring, can lock up a playoff berth with a victory.
No. 3 Spalding, which enjoyed a breakout run to last year’s MIAA A final, has a playoff spot secured. The Cavaliers, who plays at Mount St. Joseph Tuesday, can get a bye into next week’s semifinals at Navy with a win and losses by St. Mary’s and Calvert Hall.
St. Mary’s, which held No. 1 before losses to BL and Spalding last week, has a berth as well. The fourth-ranked Saints can lock up a bye into next week’s semifinals with a win over No. 8 Severn Tuesday.
The Admirals need a win to get in, but could qualify with a loss and some help. McDonogh, which plays Gilman School Tuesday, must win with a St. Paul’s loss to have a clear path into the postseason.
The No. 6 Eagles could get in with a loss, depending on tiebreaker scenarios. No. 7 Loyola Blakefield is alive as well, but must beat Calvert Hall and have several scenarios play out.
The MIAA A playoffs start Friday with the No. 6 seed playing at the third-seed, and No. 4 seed hosting the fifth-seed.
Several public league titles will be decided Monday. No. 10 Severna Park will try to defend its Anne Arundel County championship at ninth-ranked Broadneck.
No. 11 Catonsville looks repeat in Baltimore County, hosting 13th-ranked Hereford. Poly and City College will play at Dunbar for the Baltimore City crown.
The state public tournament starts Wednesday with region quarterfinal action.
Here is the VSN 2022 Boys Lacrosse Top 20 for week 7:
1. CALVERT HALL COLLEGE
Record: 12-4
Previous rank: 3
Last week: defeated then-No. 4 Severn School, 16-4, and then-No. 2 Archbishop Spalding, 13-8
This week: at No. 7 Loyola Blakefield, May 10
2. BOYS’ LATIN SCHOOL
Record: 12-3
Previous rank: 5
Last week: defeated Mount St. Joseph, 15-7, and then-No. 1 St. Mary’s, 7-4
This week: at No. 5 St. Paul’s School, May 10
3. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING
Record: 11-4
Previous rank: 4
Last week: defeated then-No. 1 St. Mary’s, 8-6, and lost to then-No. 3 Calvert Hall College, 13-8
This week: at Mount St. Joseph, May 10
4. ST. MARY’S
Record: 14-2
Previous rank: 1
Last week: lost to then-No. 2 Archbishop Spalding, 8-6, and then-No. 5 Boys’ Latin School, 7-4
This week: vs. No. 8 Severn School at Pascal Field, May 10
5. ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL
Record: 11-5
Previous rank: 6
Last week: defeated then-No. 11 Gilman School, 11-5, and then-No. 17 John Carroll School, 17-4
This week: vs. No. 2 Boys’ Latin School, May 10
6. MCDONOGH SCHOOL
Record: 8-6
Previous rank: 7
Last week: defeated then-No. 17 John Carroll School, 17-4
This week: vs. No. 12 Gilman School, May 10
7. LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD
Record: 6-8
Previous rank: 8
Last week: defeated then-No. 4 Severn School, 11-7
This week: vs. No. 1 Calvert Hall College, May 10
8. SEVERN SCHOOL
Record: 9-5
Previous rank: 4
Last week: lost to then-No. 3 Calvert Hall College, 16-4, and then-No. 8 Loyola Blakefield, 11-7
This week: vs. No. 4 St. Mary’s at Pascal Field, May 10
9. BROADNECK
Record: 12-2
Previous rank: 9
Last week: defeated Southern, 18-6, and Old Mill, 18-2
This week: vs. No. 10 Severna Park, Anne Arundel County final at Broadneck, May 9
10. SEVERNA PARK
Record: 10-4
Previous rank: 10
Last week: defeated Arundel, 13-3, and Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 19-1
This week: at No. 9 Broadneck, Anne Arundel County final, May 9
11. CATONSVILLE
Record: 14-0
Previous rank: 12
Last week: defeated No. 16 Towson, 9-7
This week: vs. No. 13 Hereford, Baltimore County final, May 9; Class 3A North Region I semifinals, May 13
12. GILMAN SCHOOL
Record: 8-11
Previous rank: 11
Last week: lost to then-No. 6 St. Paul’s School, 11-5, and Mount St. Joseph, 8-4
This week: at No. 6 McDonogh School, May 10
13. HEREFORD
Record: 10-2
Previous rank: 13
Last week: defeated Urbana, 10-3, and Franklin, 17-7
This week: at No. 11 Catonsville, Baltimore County final, May 9; Class 2A North Region I semifinals, May 13
14. MOUNT HEBRON
Record: 13-1
Previous rank: 14
Last week: defeated then-No. 20 Marriotts Ridge, 11-5, and then-No. 18 Glenelg, 9-3
This week: Class 3A East Region I semifinals, May 13
15. FALLSTON
Record: 11-3
Previous rank: 15
Last week: lost to Huntingtown, 16-10
This week: Class 1A East Region I semifinals, May 13
16. TOWSON
Record: 8-4
Previous rank: 16
Last week: lost to then-No. 12 Catonsville, 9-7
This week: Class 3A North Region II semifinals, May 13
17. ARCHBISHOP CURLEY
Record: 10-4
Previous rank: 19
Last week: defeated Gerstell Academy, 18-4, and Saints Peter & Paul, 15-12
This week: at Park School, May 10
18. JOHN CARROLL SCHOOL
Record: 5-10
Previous rank: 17
Last week: lost to then-No. 7 McDonogh School, 17-4, and then-No. 6 St. Paul’s School, 17-4
SEASON COMPLETE
19. DULANEY
Record: 8-5
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week: defeated Perry Hall, 12-3, and then-No. 20 Marriotts Ridge, 12-11
This week: Class 4A North Region I semifinals, May 13
20. GLENELG
Record: 10-4
Previous rank: 18
Last week: lost to No. 14 Mount Hebron, 9-3
This week: Class 2A West Region quarterfinals, May 11
