By Jon Buzby
MaxPreps.com
Victories by John Carroll, Notre Dame Prep, McDonogh and Severn set the stage for Thursday’s IAAM A lacrosse semifinals.
John Carroll plays host to Notre Dame Prep at 4:30 p.m. The two teams met in mid-April, with Carroll registering a 16-7 victory as part of its unbeaten run this spring.
McDonogh will host Severn at 4 p.m. Severn will be seeking revenge for a March 31 loss to Eagles, 9-6.
The winners will play at St. Paul’s Saturday at 3 p.m. for the IAAM A title.
Check back on Friday for Thursday’s semifinal recap and a preview of the championship game.
Quarterfinal Recaps
No. 2 McDonogh 10, No. 7 Bryn Mawr, 9
Unfortunately for Bryn Mawr, the winner and score of Tuesday’s quarterfinal contest with McDonogh was the same as the teams’ April 4 meeting.
Hannah Franklin scored a game-high three goals to lead McDonogh over the Mawrtians, 10-9, to advance to Thursday’s semifinal game against Severn. The teams battled to the same exact score and result a little over a month ago.
Bryn Mawr busted out to a 3-0 lead just six minutes into the contest. Junior Sarah Matz, freshman Morgan Rubin and junior Annie Thomas each contributed to the run with goals.
McDonogh answered with an outburst of its own, scoring the game’s next five goals as junior Ali Brennan found the net twice. Junior Colby Rhea followed Brennan’s tally with one of her own to pull the Eagles within one. Brennan then scored again to tie the game and Franklin and Kerry Hamill each scored to give McDonogh a 5-3 halftime lead.
The Mawrtians responded two quick goals as senior Sarah Cole found the back of the net twice to tie the game.
After trading goals and leads, McDonogh went on a four-goal run as Franklin, Brooks Ann Lawler, Molly Fernandez and Katie Matz all scored to put the Eagles up 10-6 with 11 minutes to play in the game.
But just when the scales seemed to have tipped one way, the Mawrtians went on another run to cut the lead to 10-9. Kelsey MacDonald, Sarah Matz and freshman Sam McGee scored the goals to bring Bryn Mawr back within one with time running out.
McDonogh’s Taylor Virden won the ensuing faceoff and looked to run the clock out. But a loose ball turned it over to Bryn Mawr and it took a fine defensive play by Carly Napora to intercept a pass with 30 seconds left and run the clock out on the Mawrtians’ season.
No. 4 Notre Dame Prep 10, No. 5 Archbishop Spalding 8
Archbishop Spalding coach Moira Leavitt’s Cinderella squad was hoping to add a trip to the semifinals to its rebuilding resume after not winning a league game the previous two seasons.
But it was not to be as Notre Dame’s Erin Laschinger and Emilie Boeri each scored twice to catapult the Blazers past the Cavaliers, 10-8, and send them into Thursday’s semifinals.
Notre Dame also won its regular season showdown with Archbishop Spalding.
Despite the loss, the Cavaliers exceeded expectations this year and will look to build upon their success heading into the off-season.
For Notre Dame Prep, it will be a short-lived celebration as it faces the No. 1 team in the country, John Carroll, in Thursday’s semifinal game.
No. 3 Severn, No. 6 St. Mary’s
For the second time in nine days, Severn and St. Mary’s found themselves on the same field together.
St. Mary’s upset Severn, 12-8, in both teams’ regular season finale April 28, but MaxPreps’ No. 11 team nationally turned the tables in dramatic fashion Tuesday.
Monica D’Ambrogi and Josie Owen each scored late to lead Severn past the Saints, 11-9, in double overtime.
No. 1 John Carroll 12, No. 9 St. Paul’s 11
John Carroll entered its quarterfinal clash with St. Paul’s well-rested after a first-round bye. That, in addition to a 16-4 win over St. Paul’s just two weeks ago, pointed to a lopsided postseason opener for the nation’s top-ranked team.
Instead, the Patriots appeared a bit rusty after the time off and watched their playoff lives flash before their eyes before holding off St. Paul’s, 12-11, to advance to Thursday's semifinals.
It took a game-high five goals by Carroll's Iliana Sanza and help from the pipe as the Gators' Kate Cathell's game-tying shot clanged out of harm's way with 1:06 to play, for the Patriots to escape with a narrow victory.
