Lacrosse playoff races too close to call
Eight teams are competing for six postseason spots in the A Conference
Heading into Friday's action (April 25th), things could not be any tighter in the MIAA A Conference lacrosse standings with eight teams battling for just six playoff spots and no less than five teams with a legitmate shot at a top two seed and a first round playoff bye.
With three league games to play for some teams and four for others, it is certainly crunch time and the results of Friday's showdowns will have a major impact on the final standings. After Tuesday's contests, Archbishop Spalding and McDonogh are tied for first place, each with 5-1 records. To own a share of first, Spalding defeated Calvert Hall, 11-6, earlier this week, while McDonogh was equally impressive with a 10-6 win over Boys' Latin.
With their setbacks, Calvert Hall and BL each fell out of a tie for first place and now share third place, both with 5-2 marks. In addition, St. Paul's, which claimed an 11-8 win over Loyola Blakefield on Tuesday, remains in the chase for a top seed with a 4-2 mark.
Three other teams remain in contention for the playoffs as Loyola, Mount St. Joseph and Gilman will each enter Friday's action at 3-3.
On Friday, Calvert Hall will host St. Paul's. Spalding has to contend with a visit from Severn, it's arch-rival, McDonogh hosts St. Joe and Gilman will visit Loyola. Boys' Latin is idle on Friday. Severn (1-5), St. Mary's (1-6) and John Carroll (0-7) round out the league standings.
In the B Conference, Gerstell sits in first place with a 4-0 record which includes a 14-13 win over three-time defending champion Archbishop Curley, in late March. The Falcons, with three games to go are in position to secure the top seed.
Curley and Saints Peter & Paul, last year's finalists, are tied for second at 2-1 and each has four games to play. Concordia Prep and Park are each at 1-1 in the conference, followed by Indian Creek (1-2), St. John's Catholic Prep (1-3) and St. Vincent Pallotti (0-3).
In the C Conference, Annapolis Area Christian and Glenelg Country are each 5-0 and tied for first. If both continue to roll, the battle for first place will be determined when they meet in Ellicott City on May 2. Gunston School is competing quite nicely in its first year in the league, at 3-1. Key sits in fourth place at 2-2 and Jemicy is 2-3. The balance of the league standings contains Chapelgate Christian (1-2), Beth Tfiloh (1-3), Friends (1-3), Mount Carmel (1-3) and Cristo Rey (0-4).