Welcome to PressBox's first weekly high school lacrosse e-mail, written by Tom Peace, who will be bringing you all the best in local lacrosse -- boys and girls, private and public schools, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Check it out, pass it on and tell us what you think.
MIAA Is Up For Grabs
- The 2014 high school lacrosse season is around the corner, and for the first time in a long time, there is no clear-cut favorite to win the MIAA A Conference title. All nine teams in the conference have a shot, which makes this season intriguing.

- The 2013 MIAA A Conference championship game was one of the best high school lacrosse games ever. Loyola Blakefield entered the MIAA playoffs as the sixth seed and topped undefeated Boys' Latin, 10-9, at Johnny Unitas Stadium to take the title.

- Boys' Latin enters the season one of the top boys' teams in the area, but the Lakers don't have as strong a footing at that spot as they had last year. BL, like the other eight MIAA teams, will face a tough out-of-conference schedule before going into conference play.

- Gilman has a good nucleus, starting with senior attackman Tyler Ruhl (Notre Dame).

- Calvert Hall still has a ton of youth, but the players are now a year older and will be hungry.

- St. Paul's and McDonogh will be stronger on attack and midfield, and St. Mary's Annapolis, Severn and Mount St. Joseph will be competitive.

- Of course, you can't forget the defending champs. Loyola Blakefield returns junior Ryan Conrad (Virginia) and goalie Acie Newton (Brown). Bottom line: Every MIAA game will be important, which should make for a great season. 
Don't Sleep On D.C.
- The talent and the quality of lacrosse is growing rapidly in the northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., areas. Of course, there are Georgetown Prep and Landon, but don't ignore Paul VI, Bullis, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Gonzaga and DeMatha. All of these programs are loaded with Division I talent and excellent coaching.
Hereford Boys Primed For Another State Title
- Hereford defeated St. Paul's in 2012 and Gilman in 2013. This season, Brian King's team will have the challenge of facing Boys' Latin. The Bulls have been the most successful team in Maryland public school lacrosse, winning six consecutive state titles. Hereford has the muscle to win its seventh this season with seniors Adam Ceribelli (Towson), Jason Ashwood (High Point) and Brock Turnbaugh (Johns Hopkins).

- Other Maryland public school teams to keep tabs on are South River, Glenelg, reigning Class 4A/3A champion Westminster and 2013 Class 2A/1A champion Fallston.

Radcliffe Jewelers
McDonogh Girls Approaching State Record
- The McDonogh girls' team is entering what could be a historic season. The Eagles have mounted a 91-game winning streak and are 12 wins away from tying the all-time win streak for a Maryland girls' lacrosse team, held by two programs, Loch Raven (1982) and Mt. Hebron (2007).

- Chris Robinson's squad won its fifth straight IAAM championship in 2013. The Eagles have had a target on their backs for the past three seasons. Teams locally and nationally have tried to snap the winning streak, but the high-powered offense and a stingy defense have been able to defeat everyone in their path.

- McDonogh will face Harriton, the preseason favorite from Philadelphia, March 21. The Eagles will face a talented St. Paul's team April 17. The Gators nearly defeated McDonogh during last year's IAAM title game. Other tough matchups include IAAM foes Notre Dame Prep, Roland Park and Bryn Mawr and two public school powerhouses in Marriotts Ridge and Century.

- Leading the way for McDonogh are seniors Megan Whittle (Maryland), Ali Barzyk (Michigan) and Stephanie Holmes (Maryland). 
Trio Of Teams Leading D.C. Girls
- St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, Good Counsel and Georgetown Visitation are three of the top girls' teams in Washington, D.C., in 2014. All three are nationally ranked, loaded with talent and will play tough schedules from start to finish.

- SSSA will play top teams from nine states this season, such as Oviedo (Fla.), Loyola Academy (Ill.), Episcopal Academy (Pa.), and Milton (Ga.). The Saints, led by coach Kathy Jenkins, will be ready to go March 18.

- Good Counsel will also play Milton and two hotbed teams in Manahasset (N.Y.) and Garnet Valley (Pa.).

- Georgetown Visitation will host Bryn Mawr to open its season March 14.

- Other teams to keep an eye on throughout D.C. are Bullis and Bishop Ireton. 

Crabs Lacrosse Club
Crabs / PressBox Boys' Top 20
1. Boys' Latin
2. Gilman
3. Loyola Blakefield
4. Georgetown Prep
5. St. Paul's
6. Hereford
7. McDonogh
8. Calvert Hall
9. Fallston
10. Landon
11. St. Mary's Annapolis
12. South River
13. Paul VI
14. Gonzaga
15. Bullis
16. Mount St. Joseph
17. Kent Island
18. Westminster
19. Middletown
20. Severn 
Crabs / PressBox Girls' Top 20
1. McDonogh
2. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes
3. St. Paul's
4. Good Counsel
5. Georgetown Visitation
6. Notre Dame Prep
7. Marriotts Ridge
8. Century
9. Bryn Mawr
10. Mt. Hebron
11. Bishop Ireton
12. South River
13. Broadneck
14. Severna Park
15. Queen Anne's
16. Severn
17. John Carroll
18. Winters Mill
19. Maryvale Prep
20. Mount De Sales

The Crabs/PressBox polls are sponsored by Crabs Lacrosse and compiled by Tom Peace.
Featured College Commitments
2014
Archbishop Curley midfielder Garrett Reynolds -- Salisbury University
North Carroll midfielder Aaron Heinle -- Roanoke College
McDonogh attacker Megan Whittle -- University of Maryland
McDonogh attacker Aly Barzyk -- University of Michigan
Notre Dame Prep midfielder/attacker Caroline Drusano -- Georgetown University
C. Milton Wright midfielder Katie Burgee -- Ohio State University

2015
Boys' Latin defenseman Dylan Gaines -- University of Denver
North Harford goalie Cameron Brosh -- Siena College
St. Paul's attacker Dawes Milchling -- University of Vermont
St. Paul's midfielder Paige Aldave -- University of Florida
Mt. Hebron midfielder/defender Meghan Doherty -- University of Maryland
Westminster midfielder Tori McDonald -- Loyola University

2016
Gonzaga attacker Michael Stanton -- High Point University
Mount St. Joseph midfielder Drew Harrison -- University of Maryland

2017
Boys' Latin attacker Luke Shilling -- Johns Hopkins University
Bullis School attacker Alex Trippi -- University of North Carolina
Calvert Hall attacker J.T. Bugliosi -- Ohio State University
Gonzaga defenseman/LSM William Rock -- University of Virginia
Paul VI midfielder Paul Puglise -- University of Maryland
St. Paul's midfielder Kyle DiPietro -- Johns Hopkins University
Quick Links

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