MIAA soccer playoffs get underway on Monday
McDonogh wins the top seed in the A Conference; Boys' Latin and Beth Tfiloh are the top seeds in the B and C Conferences, respectively
by Nelson Coffin
After bowing to Calvert Hall, 4-2, on Sept. 30, McDonogh found that losing was not to its liking.
The Eagles (14-3-3, 10-3-3 league, 32 points) posted a 6-0-3 record in October, including a 2-0 win over Archbishop Curley (12-6-3, 10-5-1, 31) and a scoreless standoff with the Cardinals last week to wrap up the top seed and a first-round bye in this week’s playoffs.
Val Quaranta’s corner kick was the impetus for Maddox Ward’s assist of Drew Goodrich’s finish in the 36th minute to give McDonogh an early advantage against the Friars.
McDonogh found more joy in the second half when Javier Brown and Austin Roberts doubled the advantage in what turned out to be a 2-0 victory over Curley, which topped Mount St. Joseph, 4-1, on Friday to nab the third playoff seed behind Loyola Blakefield.
The Dons (11-4-3, 10-4-2, 32) also had an outstanding week, rallying past archrival Calvert Hall, 2-1, after trailing, 1-0. Senior forward Will Sharpe’s left-footed finish on a breakaway with 3:41 left in the first half tied the score before freshman Brayden Kowalick finished a four-shot assault in the 39th minute of what turned out to be a 2-1 triumph over the Cardinals (9-4-4, 8-4-3, 27).
On Friday, Loyola downed Gilman, 4-1, to secure the second seed and a bye into the semifinal round against the Curley-Mount St. Joseph winner on Thursday.
McDonogh will battle the Calvert Hall-Gilman winner on the other side of the bracket for a berth in the championship match Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at Loyola University’s Ridley Athletic Complex.
The Greyhounds (8-7-3, 8-4-3, 27), began the week with a 5-0 verdict over Concordia Prep, wrapping up the fifth seed while the Gaels (6-7-4, 6-7-3, 21) edged John Carroll, 2-1, to claim the sixth seed.
With a chance to separate themselves even further from the rest of the B Conference, Boys’ Latin (10-3-3, 7-0-3, 24) and St. Paul’s (8-3-3, 7–1-2, 23) found stiff resistance from Severn (8-2-5, 6-1-3, 21) and Annapolis Area Christian School (8-5-5, 5-3-2, 17), respectively, with both matches ending in 1-1 standoffs.
A 4-0 victory over Gerstell Academy gave BL the top playoff seed, by virtue of being a point better than the Crusaders, who edged Park, 1-0, to end the week. Both teams boast first-round byes
The Lakers will host the Annapolis Area Christian School-Severn victor Thursday, the same day that St. Paul’s will take on either the Bruins (7-4-2, 5-4-1, 16) or St. Mary’s (7-4-1, 7-2-1, 22).
The advancing teams will tussle on Sunday at 3:15 p.m. for the B Conference crown at Ridley.
The C Conference will kick things off at 1 p.m. with Beth Tfiloh (6-5-3, 6-1-1, 19) and Friends (9-2-4, 6-1-1, 19) hoping to carry top seeds to the final round.
2025 MIAA Soccer Playoff Schedule
A CONFERENCE
Quarterfinals
Mon., Nov. 3
No. 6 Mount St. Joseph at No. 3 Archbishop Curley
No. 5 Gilman at No. 4 Calvert Hall
Semifinals
Thurs., Nov. 6
MSJ/Curley winner at No. 2 Loyola Blakefield
Gilman/Calvert Hall winner at No. 1 McDonogh
Championship Game
Sun., Nov. 9
At Loyola Univeristy Ridley Athletic Complex, 5:30 pm
B CONFERENCE
Quarterfinals
Mon., Nov. 3
No. 6 Park at No. 3 St. Mary's
No. 5 Annapolis Area Christian at No. 4 Severn
Semifinals
Thurs., Nov. 6
Park/St. Mary's winner at No. 2 St. Paul's
AACS/Severn winner at No. 1 Boys' Latin
Championship Game
Sun., Nov. 9
At Loyola University Ridley Athletic Complex, 3:15 pm
C CONFERENCE
Quarterfinals
Mon., Nov. 3
No. 6 Cristo Rey at No. 3 Gunston
No. 5 Key at No. 4 Glenelg Country
Semifinals
Thurs. Nov. 6
Cristo Rey/Gunston winner at No. 2 Friends
Key/Glenelg County winner at No. 1 Beth Tfiloh
Championship Game
Sunday, Nov. 9
At Loyola University Ridley Athletic Complex, 1 pm