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BOYS LAX: Episcopal Academy's Andrew McMeekin Earns National Honor, and Final Week of Play Heats Up in This Week's Notebook

By Marc Narducci, 05/09/22, 12:00PM EDT

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By Marc Narducci

 

INTER-AC LACROSSE - For one of the few times in his lacrosse career, Episcopal Academy senior Andrew McMeekin was caught off-guard.

McMeekin has been selected to play in the in the 17th annual Under Armour All-American Lacrosse Game on July 30 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

The girls’ game will be at 5:30 followed by the boys contest at 8, with both matchups airing on ESPNU.

Even more impressive is that the All-Star game announces four different waves of 11 players selected to the game. So far only 22 players have been picked for both the girls’ and boys’ game, and McMeekin is one of them.

Besides McMeekin, two area girls have already been selected for the game, Marissa White of Agnes Irwin and Kiley Mottice of Archbishop Carroll.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting it because it is such a hard thing to accomplish,” McMeekin said. “I was definitely hoping for all the work I have put in that it would happen, but you can never be certain.”

Actually, now he is certain.

He was picked in the second wave of 11 players and he admits that he was paying attention to each announcement.

“I was looking out for them to come out and it was really nice to see that I was in the second wave,” he said.

McMeekin is an accomplished face-off man. As his selection shows, he is among the best in the country. He also plays offensive midfield and in man-up situations, but has made his true mark in face-offs.

Winning a face-off is true grunt work. It is a battle of wills and McMeekin has spent years refining his craft.

“It takes a lot of time and practice,” he said. “I practice with my friends all the time and once you put in the hours, you reap the benefits.”

He admits that it is an exhausting exercise.

“It definitely tires me when running off the field and you are usually out of breath,” he said. “You are full speed on the ground and it is such a physical battle, but you get used to it after a while.”


Episcopal Academy senior Andrew McMeekin. (Photo by Marc Narducci for PSD)

No matter how used to it one gets the longer the game, the tougher the task.

“It can be tough late in the fourth quarter of a high scoring game,” he said.

McMeekin will continue his lacrosse career and education at Princeton. He said he was recruited primarily as a face-off man but is willing to do anything to help his future Tigers teammates.

“Offense, defense, I would be open to anything,” he said. “I am pretty sure they are looking for me on the face-off for now.”

Episcopal Academy coach Chris Bates couldn’t be more excited for McMeekin’s inclusion in the All-Star game.

“It is quite an honor,” Bates said. “Andrew is known to be one of the very best at his position and to be recognized and play in a game of this magnitude, it’s exciting for him and we are all proud of him.”

McMeekin is sidelined with a recent injury, and his return to the field isn’t yet known.

“I am hoping to get back as quick as possible,” he said. “When I went to the doctors there was not a firm timetable, but I feel great. Doctors’ orders are to lay low for a little bit.”

 

McMeekin has enjoyed playing the past two seasons without the pressure of a college decision hanging over his head. He made a commitment to Princeton in September of his junior year.

“I like the balance of academics and lacrosse there,” he said. “When I made the decision, it was a big weight off my shoulders.”

Those are some big shoulders on the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Episcopal Academy senior.

While winning face-offs is the No. 1 goal for McMeekin, a bonus is when he wins it and then goes down to score, something he has done several times in his career.

“It’s one of my favorite things to do,” he said.

That is only exceeded by his will to win.

Even in an All-Star game, he will be battling just as hard on those face-offs. This is more than just an exhibition to McKeekin. It’s a way to showcase his skills against the best in the country.

 

Inter-Ac standings (through Sunday May 8)

Malvern Prep 7-1, 15-3

Haverford School 6-2, 11-5

Episcopal Academy 6-2, 15-2

Germantown Academy 2-6, 8-7

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 2-6, 7-11

William Penn Charter 1-7, 11-11

Major win for Episcopal Academy

Episcopal Academy became the first Inter-Ac team to defeat Malvern Prep in a 6-5 win on May 3. Both teams played inspired lacrosse, each without one of the top players, with McMeekin out for Episcopal and junior AJ Nickolic sidelined for Malvern Prep.

“It’s nice to get a quality win over such a solid program, which is so talented and very well coached,” Episcopal Academy coach Chris Bates said. “It was certainly a defensive struggle.”

That’s for sure. The game was 2-1 Episcopal at halftime after a scoreless second quarter.

“I thought our defense was very much bend but don’t break,” Bates said. “Nash (Womack) was really good in goal.”

Womack, a York College commit, made 15 saves.

With McMeekin sidelined, Will Hohn went 10 for 15 on face-offs

“Will did a really nice job on the face-offs,” Bates said.

Penn commit Matt McCarthy led the defensive effort, according to Bates.

“We also saw our two freshmen grow, with Evan MacFarland and Paul Bruder making big plays,” Bates said.

He added that Flynn KearneySam Malloy, John Malone and Nick Wolff also played a huge role in the stellar defensive effort.

The offense was spearheaded by Vermont commit Tristan Whitaker, who had five goals. Lucas Slate scored the other goal. TJ Lamb contributed three assists while Paul Buckley and Kearney each had an assist.

During a 15-9 win over Penn Charter, Dylan Jaszcz led the way with four goals. Slate had three goals and four assists, and Whitaker recorded two goals and three assists. Lamb and Buckley also had two goals. Charlie Kraftson had a goal and three assists, and Eddie Jones added one goal and one assist.

Womack made 12 saves.

Another convincing win for the Fords

Haverford School received hat tricks from Aydan DiRocco and Avi Mehl in a 12-2 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. DiRocco also contributed two assists.

Ben McCarthy had five ground balls.

The goalie due of Chuck Cacciutti and Trey Campbell combined for 11 saves. Wills Burt had two goals and one assist and Connor Nolen totaled two goals.

Other goal scorers were Teddy Malone and Sam Gerber.

Haverford School will conclude its Inter-Ac schedule with a home showdown against Episcopal Academy on Friday (May 13). Both teams are 6-2, one game behind Malvern Prep in the league standings.

Malvern Prep bounces back

After suffering the first loss of the season, 6-5 to Episcopal AcademyMalvern Prep rebounded with a 10-6 win over Delaware’s Salesianum.

In the loss to Episcopal Academy, Joe Doherty made 15 saves, but the Friars were just 4 of 14 on face-offs.

Freshman Mike Ortlieb scored a hat trick. Jack Irish had a goal and an assist and Richmond commit Joe Sheridan scored the other goal.

The win over Salesianum marked the return of standout junior AJ Nikolic, who missed the previous game with a shoulder injury.

Nickolic had two goals and an assist in the win over the Sallies. Bill Irish had a hat trick. Liam Timmins and Ortlieb each had a goal and an assist. Ennis Udo and Roman DiBartolomeo each had a goal, while Colin Krause contributed an assist.

Dundas continues strong play

Brendan Dundas continued his strong season with six goals and one assist in Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s 10-7 win over Germantown Academy.

Alec Tulio added two goals and two assists.

Ross Prince continued his strong face-off work, winning 18 of 21 in addition to having 16 ground balls and one goal. Drew Bown had a goal and an assist and Neil Hutchinson added one assist. Hayes Schreiner was strong in goal with 15 saves.

Springside Chestnut HIll Academy's Brendan Dundas. (PSD photo by James Quinn)

Springside Chestnut HIll Academy's Brendan Dundas. (PSD photo by James Quinn)

GA’s Donnelly a standout in goal

Goalie Brendan Donnelly continues to be strong for Germantown Academy whether in victory or defeat. In an 11-4 loss to Malvern Prep, he made 18 saves. Joey Delello and Rocco Ippoldo each had a goal and an assist, while Jack Luviano and Ryan Barrett each scored once and Jack Liss had two assists.

In a 10-7 loss to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Donnelly made 20 saves. Josh Gibbs had two goals and two assists and Liss added two goals. Single goals scorers were Walker Schwartz, Ippoldo and Luviano.

Penn Charter bounces back

After suffering Inter-Ac losses to Haverford School and Episcopal AcademyPenn Charter bounced back with a 14-7 nonleague win over Moorestown Friends.

Owen Black had six goals and one assist, while Colin Michener, the Villanova commit, added four goals and five assists. Nick Walter contributed one goal and two assists and Chet Kempinski had one goal and one assist. Other goals scores were Petey Malitas and James Joel, while Pat McDonough and Casey Felter each had one assist. Noah Dacanay made eight saves and Harrison Quinn had one save. Most impressive was George Glomb, who was 16 of 22 on face-offs.


Penn Charter's Owen Black. (Photo by Zamani Feelings for PSD)

In a 15-9 loss to Episcopal Academy, Gavin Michener had four goals, Colin Michener added three goals and two assists and Kempinski and Malitas each had a goal. Decanay made nine saves.

During the 14-6 loss to Haverford, Glomb was 11 of 22 on facceoffs and Decanay made nine saves. Malitas had three goals, Walter delivered two goals and two assists and Colin Michener had one goal and one assist.