By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/28/12
Who is the No. 1 boys’ team in Philly?
That’s the question everyone was asking after Episcopal Academy defeated Haverford School, 15-11, Thursday in the Inter-Ac Invitational championship game.
Clearly, EA could stake its claim. The Churchmen are the Inter-Ac champs and they did it with a brilliant performance, outscoring the Fords, 15-7, after the first four minutes.
Haverford School remains a clear option for being No. 1. The Fords won the Inter-Ac League championship (undefeated) and beat EA twice. They also handled Conestoga and beat La Salle and went 4-0 vs. MIAA teams, topping the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 squads in the powerhouse league along the way.
Conestoga can say it’s No. 1. The Pioneers did lose to Haverford School, but they also beat MIAA champ Calvert Hall and MIAA power Boys’ Latin on the road and topped La Salle while also going undefeated in the Central League and winning their fourth straight District 1 crown.
Some votes also could go to La Salle. The Explorers did beat EA and won another Catholic League crown.
So, who is No. 1? (Read on).
This week’s rankings:
1, Haverford School (21-2) – The Fords get the nod for No. 1. Looking at the season as a whole – going undefeated in the Inter-Ac, sweeping four MIAA teams, and beating Conestoga and La Salle – it’s too hard not to give them the No. 1 spot. Prev: No. 1
2, Episcopal Academy (18-5) – The Churchmen may not be No. 1 in these rankings, but they leave the year feeling like they are No. 1 after dealing the Fords a 15-11 loss in the Inter-Ac Invitational finals – Haverford’s first loss to a PA team after 34 straight wins. Prev: No. 5
3, Conestoga (19-3) – The Pioneers face District 3 fourth-place finisher Hempfield in the first round of states Wednesday at Henderson at 6 p.m. Prev: No. 2
4, La Salle (17-4) – The Explorers meet District 1 fourth-place finisher Great Valley in the first round of states Wednesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh at 4 p.m. Prev: No. 3
5, Garnet Valley (17-6) – The Jaguars, the District 1 runner-ups, meet Central League rival Radnor in the first round of states Wednesday at Henderson at 4 p.m.. Prev: No. 7
6. Downingtown West (21-1) – The Whippets face District 3 champion Ephrata Wednesday in the first round of states Wednesday at Exeter High at 7 p.m. Prev: No. 4
7, Lawrenceville School (17-4) – The Big Red ran into a buzzsaw when it fell to Episcopal Academy, 11-4, in the Inter-Ac Invitational semifinals. Lawrenceville was the Mid-Atlantic Prep League champion. Prev: No. 6
8, Great Valley (14-9) – The Patriots finished as the fourth seed out of District 1, an impressive accomplishment after injuries hit hard during the season. Prev: No. 9
9, Radnor (16-7) – The Red Raiders have come on strong in the post-season and finished as the fifth and final District 1 state qualifier in a year when two teams were cut from the field. They play Garnet Valley in a PIAA opener Wednesday at Henderson at 4 p.m. Prev: NR
10. Salesianum School (16-3) – The Sals blitzed Caesar Rodney, 13-2, to win their second straight Delaware state championship. They have a lot of young talent back and should continue to get notoriety outside of the First State. Prev: NR
Honorable Mention: Abington (15-7), Bishop Shanahan (15-5), Central Bucks East (19-3), Downingtown East (14-6), Germantown Academy (10-10), Hatboro-Horsham (18-4), Henderson (17-3), Hill School (9-6), Malvern Prep (8-10), Penncrest (14-6), Penn Charter (13-12), Pennsbury (17-3), Ridley (16-4), St. Augustine Prep (13-6), St. Joseph’s Prep (13-7).
