By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/18/12
Haverford School has been named the No. 1 team in the final Phillylacrosse.com Boys’ Rankings.
The Fords won their fourth straight Inter-Ac League championship with an undefeated record and also swept MIAA teams St. Paul’s, McDonogh, Loyola Blakefield (league finalist) and Gilman. They toppled eventual PIAA champion Conestoga as well as runner-up La Salle and won both regular-season games with Episcopal Academy – the team it lost to in the Inter-Ac Invitational finals.
The Churchmen won many points for defeating Haverford School, 15-11, in that Inter-Ac Invitational title game, but were ousted by Conestoga for second place as the Pioneers won a third straight state title impressively.
The final rankings are based on overall record, strength of schedule and success in the playoffs.
Final 2012 rankings:
1, Haverford School (21-2) – The Fords got the nod for No. 1 based on an undefeated Inter-Ac League season, a four-game sweep of MIAA teams, a dominating win over Conestoga, and a victory over La Salle. Prev: No. 1
2, Conestoga (23-3) – The Pioneers won their third straight PIAA championship and fourth straight District 1 title. It has indeed been quite a run. Prev: No. 3
3, Episcopal Academy (18-5) – The Churchmen won their first Inter-Ac Invitational title with an unforgettable 15-11 victory over Haverford School. Prev: No. 2
4, La Salle (20-5) – The Explorers won the District 12 crown and and advanced to the state finals for the fourth time in five years. Prev: No. 4
5, Radnor (18-8) – The Red Raiders advanced to the PIAA semifinals. Prev: No. 5
6, Garnet Valley (17-7) – The Jaguars’ highlight was reaching the District 1 finals for the first time. Prev: No. 6
7. Downingtown West (22-2) – The Whippets won an undefeated Ches-Mont League championship. Prev: No. 7
8, Lawrenceville School (17-4) – The Big Red won the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship and reached the Inter-Ac Invitational semifinals. Prev: No. 8
9. Penn Charter (13-12) – The Quakers had quality out-of-state wins over St. Anne’s-Belfield (Va.), Connecticut state finalist Wilton, Salesianum (Del.) and St. Augustine Prep (N.J.) as well as wins over Episcopal Academy and Abington.
10. Malvern Prep (8-10) – It’s difficult to judge where the Friars fit in, but they did play an extremely tough schedule and had a three-game sweep over Penn Charter as well as a victory over Salesianum and a sweep of Germantown Academy while reaching the Inter-Ac Invitational finals.
Rest of Top 25
11. Salesianum School (16-3)
12, Great Valley (14-10)
13, St. Augustine Prep (13-6)
14, Central Bucks East (19-3)
15, Hatboro-Horsham (18-4)
16, Pennsbury (17-3)
17, Abington (15-7)
18, St. Joseph’s Prep (13-7)
19, Ridley (16-4)
20, Henderson (17-3)
21, Germantown Academy (10-10)
22, Downingtown East (14-6)
23, Bishop Shanahan (15-5)
24, Hill School (9-6)
25, Penncrest (14-6)
