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BOYS LAX: Haverford School and Malvern Prep Earn a Championship Meeting

By Marc Narducci. Photos: Colleen Claggett, 05/18/22, 10:15AM EDT

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Photos/Videos: Colleen Claggett

By: Marc Narducci

RADNOR – Haverford School senior Avi Mehl picked an opportune time for enjoying a career day in lacrosse. Before a huge crowd at Cabrini University, Mehl vaunted Haverford School into the Inter-Ac championship game by scoring seven goals and adding an assist in a 15-10 semifinal win over Episcopal Academy.

That set up the expected matchup between Haverford School and Malvern Prep in Friday’s 7 p.m. championship at Cabrini. Malvern Prep took control from the beginning with a 6-1 first quarter lead in a 16-8 victory over Penn Charter.

Mehl, a West Point commit, has been a major player throughout his career at Haverford School, but seven goals?

That turned out to be a career-high.

With a rocket shot and the ability to make space for himself, Mehl was simply on fire, enabling him and himself and his fellow seniors one more game in their high school careers.

After each Inter-Ac semifinal, PSD's Marc Narducci caught up with Haverford School's Avi Mehl, EA's Tristan Whitaker, Malvern's Jack Irish & PC's Colin Michener:

“It was one of those things were I am surrounded by great players,” Mehl said.

Left unspoken, is that it takes a great player to convert those chances.

“Today I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot at the right time, it was really a team effort,” he said. “The defense did a great job, Chuck Cacciutti did a great job in net and just overall, our offense moved the ball well.”

Haverford School was the No. 2 seed based on an 8-2 league record, with both losses coming to Malvern Prep. The Fords had to beat a talented No. 3 seeded Episcopal Academy team three times this season, no small feat. Episcopal Academy is the only Inter-Ac team this season to defeat Malvern Prep, splitting its two games with the Friars.

When Mehl scored on an assist from Wills Burt with nine minutes left in the third quarter to give Haverford School a 9-5 lead, it appeared as if the Fords were pulling away.

Yet Episcopal Academy showed the fight that has characterized this team all year, tying the score at 9-9 on a goal by Dylan Jaszcz, early in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve been in countless one-goal games and to just fight back and to give our guys a chance is awesome,” said Episcopal Academy senior Tristan Whitaker, a Vermont commit, who was sensational with five goals and one assist. “I am really proud of this group and they have a great future ahead of them.”

Haverford School coach Brendan Dawson reacts to reaching the championship game after a 15-10 win over Episcopal - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

Not surprisingly, it was Mehl who ruined things for the Churchmen.

He broke the tie by scoring the first two of five unanswered Haverford School goals that would then put the game away.

“He is a big-game player and obviously an unbelievable shooter and he had a day,” Haverford School coach Brendan Dawson said of Mehl.

Inter-Ac Semifinal Highlights: Haverford School vs. Episcopal Academy by Colleen Claggett & Marc Narducci

In addition, Cacciutti was strong in goal, making 10 saves. Connor Nolen added two goals. Ben McCarthy had seven ground balls and one goal and the combination of Ben and Jake McCarthy was 14 of 27 on face-offs.

Despite the loss, Whitaker left a lasting impression, a player known for so many clutch performances during his career at Episcopal Academy.

“He has been a phenomenal captain all year long,” Episcopal Academy coach Chris Bates said of Whitaker. “He is near the top of everybody’s scouting report and he’s delivered – he’s delivered as a leader, as a player and he has a bright future at Vermont going forward.”

Even though top seeded Malvern Prep was a prohibitive favorite against No. 4 Penn Charter, recent history didn’t allow the winning Friars to become complacent. .

Just last week, the Friars scored an 11-9 win over Penn Charter. Malvern Prep led 8-2 before Penn Charter stormed back and cut the margin to 10-9 and had the ball.

This time there would be no comeback.

Malvern Prep senior midfielder Jack Irish opened the scoring and by the end of the first quarter it was 6-1 and 9-2 at halftime. Penn Charter battled, but the Quakers never got closer than within six goals in the second half.

“That first goal felt great,” said Irish, a Lafayette commit. “I think we kind of needed that momentum.”

As usual, it was a balanced scoring attack for the Friars

AJ Nikolic had three goals, while Ryan Falkenstein, Joseph SheridanLiam Timmins and Ennis Udo each scored twice.

Inter-Ac Semifinal Highlights: Malvern Prep vs. William Penn Charter by Colleen Claggett & Marc Narducci

Penn Charter was led by senior Colin Michener with three goals. Michener was playing not far from his college destination, Villanova.

“We believed in ourselves, but they were just too good tonight,” Michener said of Malvern.

While any loss, especially in a playoff is difficult to digest, Michener could appreciate the atmosphere, playing high-level lacrosse in front of a huge crowd under picture-perfect weather conditions in Radnor.

“There is nothing like it,” he said. “We grinded our tails to get here and it lived up to it, under the lights at Cabrini, that is what is is all about.”

Speaking of crowds, another large one is expected for Friday’s championship. This is the first time since 2019 that there is a championship playoff.

Malvern Prep has won the last three championships where a playoff was staged. There was no playoff the past two seasons due to COVID, although Malvern Prep was last year’s regular season champion.

Haverford School hosted Malvern Prep in the first Inter-Ac game for both teams this season on April 12. The Fords led the opener 5-4 at halftime before Malvern Prep took immediate control in the second half of a 13-6 win.

The last time they met on April 29, Malvern Prep eked out a 13-12 decision.

There will be no bulletin board material for this game, only mutual respect from both teams.

“Haverford always gives us a good game,” Irish said. “They have a lot of talented players. They are evenly matched with us so I am really excited.”

So is the local lacrosse community, to see one more match-up between two of the best teams in the area and beyond.