By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/1/10
Conestoga regained its perch atop the Phillylacrosse.com Rankings and stamped itself as a favorite in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) tournament with impressive victories over Abington and former No. 1 Springfield-Delco in the District 1 semifinals and finals.
It all starts over today as the first round of the PIAA opens. This week’s rankings:
1. Conestoga (20-2) – The Pioneers repeated as District 1 champions with an impressive defensive effort in their 8-4 victory over Springfield-Delco. Conestoga, which is peaking at the right time, opens PIAA play Tuesday against District 1 seventh-place finisher Hatboro-Horsham at Harriton at 5:15 p.m. (Prev: 2)
2. Haverford School (20-4) – The Fords gutted out a clutch, 7-6 thriller over Episcopal Academy in the Inter-Ac League Invitational finals. They stake their claim as the top team in the state for 2010. (Prev: 3)
3. Springfield-Delco (19-2) – The Cougars, after two amazing comeback wins in District 1 play, were unable to stage another rally against Conestoga in the district finals. They open PIAA play Tuesday against Central Bucks East at Harriton at 3:15 p.m. (Prev: 1)
4. La Salle (18-2) – The Explorers claimed their seventh straight Catholic League crown with a hard-fought 7-5 triumph over St. Joseph’s Prep. They open PIAA action Tuesday with an intriguing matchup against Abington at Plymouth Whitemarsh at 7 p.m. as they begin a quest for a third straight state championship. (Prev: 4)
5. Episcopal Academy (16-6) – In defeat, the Churchmen played a brilliant game in the Inter-Ac League Invitational finals. (Prev: 7)
6. St. Joseph’s Prep (12-8) – The Hawks have lost to La Salle 13 straight times since beating them in the Catholic League finals in 2003. They return most of their nucleus in 2011. (Prev: 6)
7. Garnet Valley (17-5) – The Jaguars rallied for an impressive 12-11 victory over Abington in the District 1 third-place playback and sidestep a first-round date with La Salle in the PIAA tourney. They play today against District 3 runner-up Manheim Township at Gov. Mifflin at 6 p.m. (Prev: 8)
8. Abington (19-3) – The Ghosts have a tough foe – District 12 champion La Salle – in their quest to rebound from consecutive losses in the District 1 tourney. It is a most interesting matchup as many of the players on both teams played for Abington Youth Lacrosse. (Prev: 5)
9. Malvern Prep (13-8) – The Friars tied with Haverford School for the Inter-Ac League title. (Prev: 9)
10. Emmaus (15-7) – The Hornets cruised to another District 11 championship and are getting healthier at the right time. They play Lower Merion in the first round of PIAA play for the second straight year, today at J, Birney Stadium at 5 p.m. (Prev: NR)
Under Consideration (alphabetic order): Central Bucks East (16-4), Downingtown West (17-3), Germantown Academy (9-8), Hatboro-Horsham (18-5), Lower Merion (14-9), Owen J. Roberts (16-6), Penn Charter (10-10), Penncrest (12-7), Pennsbury (17-3), Radnor (13-7), Ridley (13-7), Spring-Ford (19-3).
Tags: Conestoga
