Photos/Videos: Jack Verdeur, James Quinn, Zack Beavers, Mike Nance & Lennie Malmgren
By: Marc Narducci
Haverford School’s Burt returns with a clutch performance
It’s been a difficult lacrosse season for Haverford School senior midfielder Wills Burt. A University of Virginia commit, Burt has been sidelined most of the season due to a hamstring injury.
He didn’t play his first full game of the season until this past week. Burt returned for last Tuesday’s 18-9 win over Episcopal Academy, but only saw sporadic action.
He then picked a good moment to return to more full-time duty - a classic 11-10 overtime home win over Malvern Prep played in a steady rain on Friday.
Burt scored three goals, including the game-winner.
“It was a really special moment for him,” Haverford School coach Brendan Dawson said. “Nobody cares more for Haverford lacrosse, and it’s been tough to watch this year being hampered by injury.”
Burt suffered the injury in preseason and tried to come back earlier, but the hamstring still bothered him.
Even though Haverford opened its Inter-Ac season with a 10-6 win at Malvern Prep on April 11, the Fords knew they would be facing an improved team. The fact that Burt was in the lineup gave the Fords a major boost.
This has become one of the top lacrosse rivalries in the area.
“Malvern is always circled on our schedule,” Burt said.
In the overtime, junior Ben McCarthy won the faceoff and Haverford moved the ball around before calling timeout with about 25 seconds left in the possession.
Haverford School senior midfielder Wills Burt #17 - PSD Photo by Jack Verdeur
Haverford School senior midfielder Wills Burt #17 scored the game-winning overtime goal to lift the Fords past the Friars on Friday - PSD Photo by Jack Verdeur
“The conditions were tough with the rain coming down and Malvern was playing great D,” Burt said. “After coach called time, we didn’t have a set play.”
Eventually Wells Flinn got the ball at the top of the box, dodged toward the middle and when Malvern collapsed on him, he passed to Burt.
“I got the pass and shot it with four seconds left on the clock,” Burt said.
And when he scored, an ensuing celebration broke out.
“It felt amazing,” Burt said. “We haven’t swept Malvern since 2015 and there is nothing worse than losing to them.”
Malvern Prep is the defending Inter-Ac lacrosse champion and the Friars entered the rematch playing their best lacrosse of the season with a seven-game win streak.
“Even the first time we played them, sometimes you catch a team on the right day, but we know they are a super-talented and tough team and well coached,” Dawson said. “We knew this game would be a dogfight.”
It sure was, especially when Haverford found itself down 4-1 late in the first quarter.
In addition to Burt, the Fords got a clutch performance from McCarthy, the Duke commit and one of the best face-off performers.
“Ben McCarthy was awesome, we went down early 4-1 and he put us on his shoulder,” Dawson said.
McCarthy scored a goal with five seconds left in the first quarter. He then had another assist on a faceoff to make it 4-3 and then won another faceoff and Haverford went on to tie the score at 4-4. That got the Fords back into game.
Haverford School vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Highlights by Jack Verdeur
Haverford School vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Gallery by Jack Verdeur
McCarthy was 16-of-24 on faceoffs. He also had seven ground balls along with one goal and two assists.
As usual, this was a total team effort. Haverford School’s success has been due to its tremendous depth and balance.
Colin Zeller had two goals and one assist and Ryan DiRocco added two goals. Flinn contributed four assists.
Single goals were also scored by Evan Large, Brady O’Kane, and Gavin Cooper while Connor Nolen had an assist and three ground balls.
The win also took a major step toward earning the Inter-Ac title, which will be decided by which team wins the regular season, not the postseason tournament.
Colin Zeller #32 had two goals and one assist in 11-10 win vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Photo by Jack Verdeur
At 6-0 with four games left, the Fords own a two-game lead over Malvern Prep and Episcopal. Haverford is 3-0 against those two teams.
Just don’t tell Dawson his team is in the driver’s seat. He’s taking the one-game-at-a-time approach, not looking too far ahead, but his team is in a great position. And it largely came with the return to form of Burt.
It’s been a big year for Burt. Not only did he get the game-winner, but he was a starting cornerback on Haverford’s 10-0 Inter-Ac champion football team.
“I like playing football and it teaches you grit,” Burt said.
It’s the same grit he showed in coming back from his injury and leading his team to yet another monumental victory.
More from Haverford School
In the aforementioned 18-9 win over Episcopal Academy, Ryan DiRocco had five goals and three assists, while Aydan DiRocco added three goals and two assists and Flinn contributed three goals and one assists. Zeller and O’Kane had two goals and two assists while Jack Long scored twice.
Haverford School vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Gallery by Mike Nance
Inter-Ac Standings (includes games played through Saturday April 29)
Haverford School 6-0, 11-2
Malvern Prep 4-2, 9-6
Episcopal Academy 4-2, 10-6
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 3-3, 10-4
Penn Charter 1-5, 6-10
Germantown Academy 3-10, 0-6
Kempinski starring for Penn Charter
This has been a season marked by one difficult injury and/or illness after another for Penn Charter, but one of the bright spots has been senior midfielder Chet Kempinski.
“He’s tremendous, he’s such a great leader and a quality kid,” Penn Charter coach Pat McDonough said. “He works really hard and is that guy we rely on a lot.”
In a season in which injury and illness have really hurt Penn Charter, Kempinski has brought much needed stability. Last year he played attack, but has been needed to move to midfield this season.
Penn Charter senior midfielder Chet Kempinski - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
“We needed him in the midfield and he says’ ‘Yes, coach’ and he goes to the midfield,” McDonough said. “He’s just that guy, that will do anything you ask, and he has meant a tremendous amount to us.”
Kempinski says despite the injuries, the Quakers have shown a good competitive attitude.
“It’s hard when you have a bunch of guys out, but I really think guys have stepped up,” he said.
Kempinski will be headed to West Point, where he said he might try out for the team as a walk-or he may play club lacrosse, but academically, he will have a lot on his plate.
He said he will major in operations research with a minor in terrorism studies.
“It’s an awesome curriculum they have there, and I am super excited to serve my country,” he said.
Kempinski is carrying on a family tradition at West Point. His grandfather, Chester Kempinski, played football at Army, where he graduated in 1964 and then served two tours in Vietnam. One of his highlights was sacking Heisman Trophy winner and future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach in the annual Army-Navy game.
WPC senior Chet Kempinski #29 - PSD Photo by Zack Beavers
“He is very excited that I am going there,” Chet said.
Kempinski began playing lacrosse in the second grade.
“My dad brought me to a clinic and I loved it and have been playing ever since,” he said.
As excited as Kempinski is for the next phase of his life, he will miss Penn Charter, not only for lacrosse but the entire educational experience.
“It’s been a blessing to come to Penn Charter and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life,” he said. “I just want to give it up to the coach, the guys, the past players for making it such a great experience and I just hope to leave the program better than I found it.”
Big Win for the Quakers
Penn Charter earned its first Inter-Ac win of the season with an 11-8 victory over Germantown Academy. Junior Villanova commit Gavin Michener led the way with four goals and three assist. Casey Felter contributed three goals, while Kempinski added two goals and four assists.
Owen Black had a goal and two assists and Zack Curtain contributed a goal. Senior George Glomb, who is headed to Villanova, won 17 of 23 faceoffs, while classmate Noah Dacanay made nine saves.
In a 13-11 loss to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Felter and Black each had three goals. Lucas Weinstein scored twice, while Michener had a goal and three assists and Kempinski contributed one goal and one assist. Also scoring was Eian Kilpatrick. Glomb went 20-of-27 on faceoffs and Dacanay had 11 saves.
Penn Charter vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren
Haverford School moves up the national rankings
In the latest national rankings from NLFrankings.com, Haverford School has moved up to No. 5 in the third installment, which appeared on April 25. Malvern Prep was No. 19.
The No. 1 team in the rankings is St. Anthony’s of New York. On Saturday, May 6, St. Anthony’s will visit Haverford School in an 11 a.m. highly anticipated non-league matchup.
Malvern Prep Strong in Defeat
Malvern Prep, as outlined above, played one of its best games in just falling short to Haverford School, 11-10 in overtime.
Malvern Prep senior AJ Nikolic #13 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
Senior A.J. Nikolic, who is headed to Cornell, along with sophomores Michael Ortlieb and Jake Bickel, each scored twice. Sophomore Owen Mears had a goal and three assists and junior Ennis Udo had a goal and two assists. The other goal scorers were senior Dylan O’Connor and junior Nick Wehmeyer, while senior Chris Rabena made six saves.
In the earlier 10-7 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Rabena made nine saves. Udo, who is headed to Brown, had three goals and three assists. Ortlieb had two goals and two assists.
Episcopal Academy has a split
Besides the 18-9 loss to Haverford School, Episcopal Academy earned a 9-4 win over Germantown Academy.
Goalie Jack Guido had 12 saves, while Lucas Slate totaled two goals and three assists and Eddie Jones and Dylan Jaszcz each scored twice. Nick Wolf had a goal and an assist and TJ Lamb and Charlie Kraftson each scored a goal.
In the loss to Haverford School, Jones and Slate each had a hat trick. Lamb had two goals and one assist and Jaszcz totaled a goal and an assist. Kraftson had three assists.
GA competitive in defeat
Germantown Academy had two Inter-Ac losses this past week, but both games were competitive. The Patriots fell 11-8 to Penn Charter as Josh Gibbs, a Trinity commit, had four goals and one assist.
Rocco Ippoldo scored twice, and single goals were scored by Mac Jordan and Anthony Lara, while Walker Schwartz had two assists Sophomore goalie Jack Donovan made seven saves.
In a 9-4 loss to Episcopal Academy, Schwartz, who is a Cornell commit, scored a hat trick and Lara had the other goal while Gibbs dealt two assists and Donovan made eight saves. Dean Schacklett, who is headed to Ohio Wesleyan, went 9-for-17 on faceoffs.
Penn Charter vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Highlights by Lennie Malmgren
Strong improvement for SCH
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy continues its competitive season, splitting two games this past week. The Blue Devils fell 10-7 to Malvern Prep and then earned a 13-11 home win over Penn Charter.
Senior Brendan Dundas, who is headed to Monmouth, scored a hat trick against Malvern Prep. Single goals were scored by Neil Hutchinson, Finn Dougherty, Jake Olin and junior Ross Prince, a Georgetown commit. Prince was also 16-for-20 on faceoffs and had 10 ground balls while junior Hayes Schreiner (Penn State) made 13 saves.
In the win over Penn Charter, Dundas and Hutchinson each had four goals, Alec Tulio had two goals and two assists, Dougherty contributed one goal and three assists and Cole Carberry and Charlton McDevitt each scored once. Schreiner had another big game in goal with 20 saves.
SCHA Senior Brendan Dundas #10 - PSD Photo by James Quinn
The Blue Devils improved to 10-4 overall (3-3 in the Inter-Ac) with Saturday’s 13-11 win over Archmere Academy. This is a program that has shown great progress, especially after going 7-13, 2-8 last year.
“I am happy where we are but not satisfied,” coach Brian Dougherty said. “We had struggled the previous five years and as somebody who won six world championship rings it was kind of hard, but we are doing a great job this year.”
Whoa – six world championships?
It turns out that he won two while playing for team USA, two playing for the Major Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Barrage and one with the Long Island Lizards and one in 2001 with the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League.
What has been impressive about this year’s team is that the Blue Devils have just four seniors, Dundas, defensive midfielder Will Freeman, midfielder Neil Hutchinson, who is headed to Ursinus and defender Hunter Rexford, who will attend Haverford College.
“The seniors have been great,” Dougherty said.
A big assist has come from the junior class, where there are 15 players. So with so many players returning next year, the future is bright for the Blue Devils, while the present has them fielding one of the area’s most improved teams.