Phillylacrosse.com Rankings: Haverford School has top spot in 1st boys’ poll

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/19/08

The 2008 boys’ season kicked off in style last week when La Salle walloped last year’s western runner-up, Hempfield, 14-7, and then fought hard in a 3-2 loss to Haverford School Tuesday. The first Phillylacrosse.com Boys Top 10 Poll:

1. Haverford School (2-0) – The four-time Inter-Ac League defending champion Fords edged stubborn La Salle, 3-2, in an early-season showdown behind the goaltending of Dan Wigrizer and a clutch goal by Kurt Watkinson.

2. Malvern Prep (0-0) – The Friars – featuring offensive standouts Chris Layne, Matt Mackrides and Colin McGeehan – open on the road with St. Anne’s-Belfield (Va.) today, Collegiate School (Va.) on Thursday and St. Mary’s Annapolis (Md) on Saturday.

3. Downingtown East (0-0) – The defending state champion Cougars open by hosting Fort Collins Unified Thursday at Downingtown West.

4. La Salle (1-1) – The inexperienced Explorers – winners of 13 of the past 15 Catholic League crown – held their own in the loss to the Fords.

5. Garnet Valley (0-0) – The three-time defending Del-Val League champion Jaguars had a strong winter season and open at Sun Valley March 26.

6. Conestoga (0-0) – The defending Central League champion Pioneers open March 28 at home against Bayard Rustin.

7. Penn Charter (1-1) – The Quakers opened with a 15-8 triumph over Hill School and then fell, 14-11, to St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) despite four goals by Eddie Bambino.

8. Germantown Academy (0-0) – The Patriots – behind senior captains Brendan Lee, Mark Mullen and Craig Burnett – open March 26 at home against Bishop Shanahan.

9. Great Valley (0-0) – The Patriots won their first post-season game ever last year and netted Tony Verna the EPSLA Coach of the Year honor. They open at home against Radnor March 25.

10. Episcopal Academy (1-2) – The Churchmen bounced back from tough losses to Maryland powers McDonogh (7-5) and Archbishop Spalding (8-5) by whipping Bishop Shanahan, 12-4, as Robert Fitzpatrick had three goals and two assists and Drew Green tallied four goals.