By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/5/10
It will be hard to match the excitement and drama Saturday when Haverford School rallied for a brilliant 8-7 triumph over former No. 1 Conestoga.
The win moves the Fords into the No. 1 spot in this week’s Phillylacrosse.com Rankings. But it is quite early and there is much lacrosse to play.
Teams on the rise: Pennsbury, Germantown Academy, Spring-Ford and Radnor. All are off to strong starts. New this year to the Phillylacrosse.com area is Salesianum School, the defending Delaware state champions and a team chock full of PA players from Chester County.
Here are the Phillylacrosse.com Boys’ Rankings:
1. Haverford School (4-2) – The Fords can indeed bask in the glow of their marvelous victory over the Pioneers – but not for long. They host South Jersey power St. Augustine Prep Wednesday and then play Ontario powerhouse Hill Academy Saturday in the opening round of a four-team scholastic tourney at the New Meadowland before the Big City classic. (Prev: 3).
2. Conestoga (2-1) – The Pioneers may be heartbroken after the tough loss to Haverford School, but they need to get back up on the horse since they have enough strong teams on the horizon. They travel to 2-0 Garnet Valley Tuesday in their Central League opener and face another tough league foe in Penncrest on Thursday before hosting No. 5 Emmaus on Saturday. (Prev: 1).
3. La Salle (2-1) – To all that counted out the Explorers and thought they were rebuilding: shame on you! This team is dangerous, as evidenced by their dominant 10-6 win over St. Joe’s Prep Saturday. The Explorers host Easton today and play at Archbishop Wood tomorrow. (Prev: 7)
4. Springfield-Delco (2-1) – Coach Michael Friel was shocked to see his Cougars get outscored, 9-0, in the second half of Saturday’s 10-3 loss at Virginia power St. Anne’s-Belfield. They open Central League play Tuesday at Lower Merion. (Prev: 3).
5. Emmaus (2-2) – The Green Hornets had their chance to slay a big name, but fell to No. 4 Springfield-Delco, 8-7, on Thursday. They play at William Allen Wednesday in a Lehigh Valley game and then gear for Saturday’s clash at Conestoga. (Prev: 4)
6. Malvern Prep (4-1) – The Friars are suffering through some injuries and coach Dan Keating is trying to put together the pieces of a team with high expectations. They play at Chapel Hill (N.C.) on Wednesday and then meet St. Joseph’s Prep – the team Keating used to coach – Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Evanfest Lacrosse Festival at Malvern. (Prev: 5).
7. Episcopal Academy (6-0) – The Churchmen have been the year’s best-kept secret for too long now. They face a big test when they meet St. Joseph’s Prep Tuesday at St. Joseph’s University at 8 p.m. (Prev: 6).
8. Abington (1-0) – The Ghosts – who opened with an easy win over Colorado’s Golden, face their first real test Tuesday when they host Germantown Academy. (Prev: 9).
9. St. Joseph’s Prep (2-2) – The Prep did not play its best game against La Salle, though, the Explorers had a lot to do with that. The Hawks host EA Tuesday and then play New Jersey power Summit Wednesday in a game tentatively scheduled for Franklin Field (8 p.m.). Then they play Malvern Prep Saturday in the close to a big week. (Prev: 8).
10. Central Bucks East (1-0) – It’s hard to know where the Patriots are since all they’ve done is beat Souderton. Today we learn more as they host New Jersey’s St. Joseph Metuchen at 4 p.m. (Prev: 10).
Teams to Watch (alphabetic order): Avon Grove 2-0, Garnet Valley 2-0, Germantown Academy 2-0, Hatboro-Horsham 2-1, Penncrest 2-1, Pennsbury (4-0), Radnor 3-0, Ridley 3-1, Salesianum School 0-1, Spring-Ford 3-0.
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