By Jon Buzby
MaxPreps.com
The 2008 IAAM A Conference lacrosse playoffs began last Friday, with five first-round games taking place. John Carroll (12-0 league record), McDonogh (11-1) and Severn (8-4) were the top three seeds and all had byes.
#9 St. Paul’s SG (4-8) vs. #8 Roland Park (6-6) @ St. Mary’s Seminary
The Gators from St. Paul’s entered the tournament with a 6-11 overall record and a three-game losing streak. Meanwhile the Roland Park Reds brought a 6-6 record and their own four-game losing streak into the playoffs. Certainly not the way either team would have wanted to start their playoff run.
During the regular season the Gators edged the Reds, 8-7, setting up what would appear to be a closely-contested battle. And that it was, as St. Paul’s narrowly defeated Roland Park, 12-11, in one of two, one-goal first-round games.
Kirsten Goldberg led all scorers with seven goals and Kate Cathel dished out five assists for St. Paul’s. Isabel Harvey (three saves) and Barb Black (four saves) shared net-duty for the Gators.
For Roland Park, Laura Simanski tallied five goals. Goalie Jane Randall had 12 saves.
Next up for No. 9 St. Paul’s is the top-ranked team in the country, John Carroll (15-0). The two will square off at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at John Carroll. The Patriots defeated the Crusaders, 16-4, in their regular season match-up just two weeks ago.
#13 Seton Keough (1-11) @ #4 Notre Dame Prep (8-4)
The No. 13 Gators, losers of seven of their last eight and suffering an early-season, 18-6 loss to Notre Dame, hoped to come in and upset the Blazers, winners of three of their last four heading into the playoffs.
It was not to be as Notre Dame jumped out to a 10-1 halftime lead and soundly beat Seton Keough, 18-5, setting up a second-round game against Archbishop Spalding.
Freshman Covie Stanwick led the Blazers with four goals. Kelsi Bozel, Kasey Harvey, Erin Laschinger and Katie Liberatore each had two-goal games.
For the Gators, Erica Mulford had two goals and goalie Jenny Schroeder was busy in net, recording nine saves.
Number 4 Notre Dame will host fifth-seeded Archbishop Spalding on Tuesday, having won the regular season match-up, 11-9, handing Spalding just their third loss of the season at the time.
#12 Mercy (2-10) @ #5 Archbishop Spalding (7-5)
Archbishop Spalding tacked on a playoff win to its rebuilding resume, defeating Mercy handily, 12-8.
Danielle Kirk scored a game-high four goals and added an assist to lead the Cavaliers.
Stefanie Paskal chipped in with three goals and two assists, and Christy Konrad also scored three goals and had one assist. Cosette Larash recorded 13 saves in goal.
Caitlin McHugh scored three goals for Mercy in the losing effort. Dana Cahill had 12 saves.
Number 5 Archbishop will play at No. 4 Notre Dame Prep, 18-5 winners over St. Keough in round one.
#10 Mount de Sales (3-9) @ #7 Bryn Mawr (6-6)
The Mawrtians (8-6) beat the Sailors (7-9), 15-10, in their regular-season match-up, and this rematch was no different. Bryn Mawr took care of Mount De Sales by the exact score, 15-10, to advance to the second round.
Katie Sullivan, Annie Thompson and Kelsey MacDonald each scored three goals for the Mawrtians. Sullivan also tallied three assists. Sarah Cole and Paige Hanson added two goals each for Bryn Mawr.
Hannah Church scored five goals for Mount de Sales. Goalie Ali Konstantas had eight saves.
Number 7 Bryn Mawr will travel to second-seeded McDonogh on Tuesday.
#11 Maryvale Prep (3-9) @ #6 St. Mary’s (7-5)
St. Mary’s (12-7) roared to a huge 18-5 win over the Lions (5-10) during the regular season and came into the playoffs winners in three of its last four games.
The Saints looked for a repeat performance in Friday’s first-round game, but the Lions proved to be a much-more formidable opponent than during the regular season.
The Saints needed Caroline Cochran to score with 36 seconds left in the game to come away with a narrow 8-7 victory, avoiding a first-round upset. Joanna Dalton assisted on the game-winning goal.
Cochran’s goal was one of three for her during the first-round win. She also tallied an assist. Goalie Natalie Wills came up with 14 saves for the Saints.
Veronica Arnold and Nikki Puszcz had 2 goals apiece for the Lions. Meghan Clothier recorded 8 saves in goal.
Next up for No. 6 St. Mary’s will be No. 3 Severn. The Saints beat the Admirals, 12-8, in their last game of the regular season.
Check back on Wednesday for coverage of Tuesday’s second-round games.
Email your player of the week nominations to MaxPreps.com Maryland correspondent Jon Buzby at JonBuzby@hotmail.com.
