By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/27/14
Four Philly teams will face off against each other Wednesday when the PIAA tournament opens as La Salle meets Springfield-Delco and Bishop Shanahan faces Penncrest. The Rankings:
1. Malvern Prep (24-0) Prev: No. 1- The Friars closed a perfect 24-0 season by defeating Haverford School in the Inter-Ac Invitational finals. They will close as the No. 1 team for 2014.
2. Haverford School (20-6) Prev: No. 2- The Fords had to settle for second fiddle to Malvern Prep all year – but they return a slew of starters for 2015.
3. Salesianum School (15-1) Prev: No. 3- The top-seeded Sals face Caesar Rodney in the Delaware state semifinals Wednesday at a neutral site.
4. Avon Grove (17-4) Prev: No. 7- The District 1 champion Devils play District 3 third-place finisher Hershey Wednesday at Henderson (6 p.m.) in the first round of states.
5. Bishop Shanahan (18-2) Prev: No. 4- The Eagles face Penncrest in a first-round PIAA game at Henderson (4 p.m.) on Wednesday. Penncrest took the regular-season game, 9-8, in overtime.
6. Springfield-Delco (18-4) Prev: No. 5- The Cougars meet defending state champion La Salle in the first round of states Wednesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh at 6 p.m. (confirmed today).
7. Penncrest (19-1) Prev: No. 6- The Lions face Bishop Shanahan in the first round of states Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Henderson.
8. Radnor (15-5) Prev: No. 8- The Raiders face District 3 champion Carlisle at Exeter (6 p.m.) in the first round of states.
9. St. Augustine Prep (17-6) – Prev: No. 9- The Hermits dropped a tough 9-7 loss to undefeated Bergen Catholic in the New Jersey Non-Public A semifinals.
10. La Salle (14-7) Prev: No. 14- The District 12 champion Explorers face Springfield-Delco Wednesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh at 6 p.m. (confirmed today).
11. Upper Dublin (18-5) Prev: No. 12 – The Cardinals made the District 1 quarterfinals with a lineup chock full of sophomores and will look to be a district contender for the next few years.
12. Central Bucks East (17-5) Prev: No. 10- The Patriots dropped a heartbreaking OT game to Penncrest in a playback, knocking them out of the state chase.
13. Garnet Valley (15-6) Prev: No. 11- The Jaguars dropped two one-goal games in their quest to make it to states for the third straight year.
14. Moorestown (15-7) Prev: NR- The Quakers edged Shawnee, 10-9, for the South Jersey Group 3 title and play Ridgewood for the state championship on Wednesday.
15. Ridley (14-5) Prev: NR- The Green Raiders suffered a one-goal loss to Upper Dublin in the second round of districts.
Under consideration: Abington (15-5), Carlisle (18-3), Clearview Regional (16-4), Conestoga (11-8), Emmaus (18-4), Episcopal Academy (8-13); Great Valley (13-4), Holy Ghost Prep (12-7), Manheim Township (20-3), Owen J. Roberts (16-6), Parkland (18-5), Spring-Ford (19-3), Shawnee (17-2), Seneca (15-3), St. Joseph’s Prep (14-6), Wilson West Lawn (23-1), Wissahickon (15-5).
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