Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/4/10
This week’s LaxGuys’ National Rankings, courtesy of LaxPower. Click here for the LaxPower forum thread on the rankings.
1. Deerfield Academy (MA) (11-0) (1) • The Big Green reeled off another two wins this past week, defeating Northfield Mt. Hermon and Hotchkiss School. In the latter game, Deerfield won 10-6 in their closest game since early April. They will play at Kent School on Wednesday before making the 50-mile drive for their huge tilt with Avon Old Farms this weekend.
2. Manhasset (NY Sect 8) (11-0) (3) • The Indians played just one game this week after their scheduled match-up with Locust Valley was postponed due to a death of a Locust Valley parent, and they defeated archrival and then-#15 Garden City, 7-6, on a goal by Penn-bound midfielder Drew Belinsky with 10 seconds remaining. Manhasset trailed 6-4 in the fourth quarter before rallying to win the 119th edition of the Woodstick Classic, the nation’s oldest public school rivalry. This week, they will host Floral Park on Tuesday before facing their second-biggest rival, undefeated #22 Cold Spring Harbor, at home on Saturday.
3. West Islip (NY Sect 11) (11-1) (2) • The Lions got a huge game from Towson-bound senior midfielder Andrew Hodgson, who had four goals and five assists in a 16-9 victory over a one-loss Connetquot squad on Tuesday and then blew out West Babylon 13-1 in a league match-up on Thursday. West Islip has now won 11 games in a row since a season-opening loss to Sachem North. They will play just one game this week, but it will be a huge one, as they host #6 Ward Melville in a battle of Suffolk’s top two teams. The teams have met in the Suffolk A championship game each of the past five seasons.
4. Jamesville-DeWitt (NY Sect 3) (8-0) (4) • The Red Rams gave former #2 LaFayette their second straight huge loss to a top sectional opponent, defeating the Lancers 14-6 behind four goals from Jake Bratek. J-D led the game 11-2 after three quarters, and the outcome was never in doubt. They will face just one game this week, as they return home to face Whitesboro, whom they already defeated by eight goals, on Thursday. Upcoming tests against Homer and Carthage seem to be the only possible roadblocks to an undefeated regular season for J-D.
5. Canandaigua Academy (NY Sect 5) (9-0) (5) • The Braves defeated Fairport in overtime on Saturday night in the Section V game of the year, as Mercyhurst bound attackman Brandon Thomson scored four goals, including the game winner. It was Canandaigua’s 29th consecutive win, as they continue their quest for a second consecutive Class B state title. This week, they’ll face two solid teams in Section V, when they take on Honeoye Falls-Lima on Tuesday and Webster Thomas on Thursday, both on the road.
6. Ward Melville (NY Sect 11) (10-1) (6) • The Patriots survived the suspension of 15 players due to a violation of district conduct policy to defeat Smithtown West, 13-8, on Tuesday afternoon. UMass-bound junior midfielder Sean Cleary led Ward Melville in that game with three goals and four assists. They followed up that performance by demolishing LI13’s alma mater Northport at Stony Brook on Saturday, 15-3, as nine of the suspended players returned. This week, they will face two difficult road games, traveling to #3 West Islip Wednesday and a solid Floyd team on Friday.
7. St. Paul’s (MIAA) (13-3) (11) • The Crusaders move up a few spots in this week’s rankings after earning a 9-4 win over Spalding before avenging an early season loss to McDonogh, beating them Saturday, 11-5. In the past month, junior keeper Gunnar Waldt has given up just 5 goals per game with the help of a talented underrated close defense in front him. St. Paul’s will host one-win Mount St. Joe on Tuesday before heading to Boys’ Latin on Friday for their annual rivalry game.
8. Skaneateles (NY Sect 3) (9-0) (10) • The Lakers demolished their two opponents, Onondaga Central and Manlius-Pebble Hill, 44-10. Kevin Rice scored seven goals and had four assists in the victory over M-PH. They vault into the top 10 for the first time this week and look to be the favorite to represent Upstate in the Class C state title game at Stony Brook on June 12. This week, Skaneateles will face three home games against Tully, Bishop Ludden, and CBA-Syracuse. They should cruise through the week, setting up a match-up with Cazenovia, who gave them their closest game of the year, next Tuesday.
9. St. Anthony’s (NY CHSAA) (11-1) (12) • The Friars dominated three opponents on the road this week, shutting down league opponents Kellenberg and St. John the Baptist by a combined score of 29-8 before getting three goals and four assists by Princeton-bound midfielder Tom Schreiber in a 15-4 domination of Delbarton in the annual game between the two Catholic schools. They should coast through this week, with two more league games on the road against Holy Trinity on Tuesday and Fordham Prep on Thursday.
10. Springfield-Delco (PA) (13-1) (24) • The Cougars jump 14 spots in this week’s rankings after handling then-#9 La Salle, 11-5, as well as earning a decisive win over Garnet Valley. Since their early April loss to STAB, star goalie Austin Kaut and the Springfield defense have allowed an impressive 4 goals a game. They will have two away contests this week against Upper Darby and Ridley.
For the rest of the Top 25, click here
Leave a Reply