By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/16/12
For the second time in four days, the Haverford School boys’ lacrosse team earned an easy win over a foe from Baltimore’s powerful MIAA conference.
Today the host Fords – ranked No. 2 and No. 5 in two national polls – handled McDonogh School, 10-2, to improve to 2-0. on Tuesday Haverford toppled St. Paul’s, 15-6.
The Fords got balanced scoring from junior attackman Reilly Hupfeldt (three goals), senior attackman Henry Blynn (two goals, one assist), senior midfielder Zach Rego (one goal, three assists), senior middie Will McNamara (one goal, two assists), junior attackman Gavin McBride (one goal, two assists) and senior midfielder Sam Rohr (one goal). Also, senior Will Gural scored once and took 11 of 15 face-offs as Haverford dominated possessions.
The Fords’ defense was even better as junior Jake Landman (five saves) was strong in his first game after missing Tuesday’s contest with a minor injury and the unit of seniors Connor Bailey, Scott Warren and James Chakey and senior long pole Paxton Moore continued to shine in the absence of ace defender Warner Bailey (out 2-4 weeks with sprained MCL).
Haverford – a perfect 23-0 last year – has now won 29 straight games since losing to Malvern Prep, 7-6, on May 7, 2010. Despite losing a standout senior class filled with many top Division I recruits, the Fords have impressed everyone in their two outings.
“We have a real solid defense and our chemistry is there,” said McNamara, signed with Virginia. “Of course we don’t have the same depth as last year’s team, but last year’s team was last year’s team and this team is ours.
“This year we have own identity and that’s based on chemistry and moving the ball and the ability to play lock down defense with good slides.”
Haverford bolted to an early 3-0 lead today nd led, 4-2, at halftime. The Fords blanked McDonogh in the second half, as McNamara and Rohr controlled the midfield and Gural took care of the face-offs as he did in the win over St. Paul’s.
“We got outclassed today,” said McDonogh coach Andy Hilgartner. “Up and down, from their goalie all the way to their attack, they have really good players. I knew how skilled they were offensively, but their defense played excellent and their long pole was really good.
“The way they dominated us between the lines was the biggest reason they won. They dominated the groundballs and we gave them a ton of second chances. Defensively, we didn’t play badly, we just played too much defense.”
Haverford School 10, McDonogh (MD) 2
Haverford 3-1-3-3– 10
McDonogh 1-1-0-0- — 2
Haverford School scoring:
Reilly Hupfeldt 3g
Gavin McBride 1g, 2a
Henry Blynn 2g, 1a
Will McNamara 1g, 2a
Sam Rohr 1g
Zach Rego 1g, 3a
Will Gural 1g, won 11 of 15 FO
Saves: Jake Landman 5, Tyler Miller 2, Elliot Avis 3
McDonogh scoring
Trey McGee 1g
Austin Frederick 1g, 1a
Justin Wittfelt 1g
Saves Nick Doyle 9
