Calvert Hall adds to its MIAA lacrosse legacy with another A Conference crown

by Derek Toney

The last time the MIAA A Conference lacrosse championship game was played at Towson University, Calvert Hall made history. The Cardinals penned another epic title game chapter in the nation’s premier high school lacrosse league Friday evening at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Calvert Hall claimed the crown with a 10-9 overtime victory over Archbishop Spalding. Senior midfielder Jackson Mitchell’s goal with 2 minutes, 32 seconds left in the extra session was the magic moment for the Cardinals (16-2 overall), who claimed their record sixth MIAA A crown.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs…we’ve been following by a standard and dying by a standard,” said Peyton Forte. “This is what happens to 48 guys following the same standard.”

Forte, a senior attack who will play for the Naval Academy, finished with four goals Friday, including the game-tier late in regulation, and assisted Mitchell’s walk-off tally. Mitchell, who’s headed to St. Joseph’s, had two scores and an assist.

After a two-hour delay because of thunderstorms that pelted the Towson area late Friday afternoon (the preceeding MIAA B title match was delayed), Calvert Hall overcame three two-goal deficits, including a three-goal hole in the fourth quarter. 

As midnight closed in, the Cardinal players and coaches soaked in the moment on the damp Unitas turf. 

The championship slipper fit for Calvert Hall, the tourney’s No. 3 seed which ended McDonogh’s bid for an unprecedented fourth straight MIAA A title in Tuesday’s semifinals at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Friday, they denied Spalding’s claim as the undisputed No. 1 team in the nation. The Cavaliers defeated Calvert Hall, 11-6, during the regular season.

“I felt we were a little afraid of them and got our butts handed to us,” said Mitchell. “We came in here today with no regrets, no fear.”

The Cardinals didn’t blink, trailing 9-6 entering the final 12 minutes. Will Schoonmaker and Jackson Snelbaker started the comeback with unassisted scores.

With the ball, Calvert Hall called a timeout with 1:04 remaining in regulation. Forte fired a chest-high shot that Spalding goalie Jacob Newman easily stopped with 53 seconds to play.

The Cavaliers looked to run out the remaining time, but Cardinals senior longstick defender Jermaine Anderson stripped the ball from Grady Swidersky. 

Anderson sent a clear to Mitchell who eluded a Spalding defender down the middle of the field before passing to Forte on the wing. Forte closed in on goal and put a low shot past Newman, tying the game with 13 seconds left in regulation. 

“You just want to do anything for your team,” said Anderson, who will play for North Carolina next spring.

“We don’t get to overtime if Jermaine doesn’t strip that kid who’s really fast and he didn’t give up on it,” said Kelly. 

In overtime, Spalding missed a shot and Calvert Hall junior longstick defender Cole Hottle won the chase to the end line for possession. The Cardinals called timeout with 2:59 remaining

Mitchell, cutting down the middle, got a pass from Forte and converted, ending the first overtime match in MIAA A finals history. 

Calvert Hall’s Jackson Mitchell hugs teammate Jaxson Snelbaker after Friday’s MIAA A Conference championship game at Towson University. Mitchell, a senior, scored with 2 minutes, 32 seconds left in overtime, giving the Cardinals a 10-9 win over top-seeded Spalding. (Derek Toney)

It was the fourth overtime win for Calvert Hall this season, including a decision over Malvern Prep (Pa.), which was then ranked No. 1 in the nation. 

“You don’t like overtime games…I think our guys were confident when we were on defense,” said Kelly. 

Jack Newell, who will play for Fairfield next spring, finished with two goals and an assist for Spalding (17-2), and Gordie Bennett and Swidersky each tallied twice. 

The Cavaliers trailed 5-3 early in the second quarter before a 6-1 surge put them a quarter away from their first MIAA A championship (last title in 2002 in B Conference). 

Spalding, the tourney’s No. 1 seed and the consensus top-ranked in the nation, hadn’t lost since its MIAA A regular season opener.

“Congratulations to Calvert Hall — they made a few more plays than we did tonight,” Spalding coach Evan Hockel said. “I’m heartbroken for the seniors, they really worked hard and had a wonderful four years and I’m really proud of them.”

Five years ago at Unitas Stadium, Calvert Hall defeated St. Mary’s, becoming the first team to win three consecutive MIAA A championships. 

The 2025 edition know they don’t have the talent and firepower of those squads.  

“We grind it out…the other ones I felt like we dominated,” said Kelly, a 1987 Hall graduate who’s guided his alma-mater to all six MIAA A titles. “We don’t have a five-star guy on our team. We have a bunch of kids that all bought in and played together and everybody did their job.”

“When you play as a team,” said Mitchell, whose older brothers, Connor and Grant, were key members of the Calvert Hall’s 3-peat squad, “great things can happen.”