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BOYS LAX: The Final Week of Regular Season Play Culminates with End of Season Inter-Ac Tournament

By Marc Narducci, 05/16/23, 8:00PM EDT

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Photos/Videos: Marc Narducci, Lou Rabito, Jack Verdeur, Ryan Nix & Lennie Malmgren

By: Marc Narducci

The final week in a storied career for Malvern Prep’s AJ Nikolic

This is the final week of a storied high school career of one of the great players in recent Inter-Ac history, Malvern Prep senior midfielder/attack AJ Nikolic.

He hopes to have two more games remaining in his career when the Inter-Ac holds its playoff, with the semifinals Wednesday and the championship Saturday, all at West Chester University.

Malvern Prep, the No. 2 seed will face No. 3 Episcopal Academy in the first Wednesday semifinal beginning at 4:30. The nightcap at 7 p.m. features No. 4 Springside Chestnut Hill Academy against No. 1 Haverford School.

Last year Nickolic and Malvern Prep ended the season in style with an 11-10 overtime victory over Haverford School in a classic Inter-Ac championship game.  Nikolic scored the game winner as Malvern Prep won both the regular season title and postseason tournament.

Nikolic, who is headed to Cornell, just added another accomplishment to his career when he scored a career-high seven goals in Friday’s 15-7 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

Malvern Prep senior AJ Nikolic talks about competing in this week's Inter-Ac tournament - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

He is certainly looking forward to the Inter-Ac playoffs.

“Personally, it is my last go-around at Malvern, so I am really excited and really want to go out on top and I think our team is excited and we are playing even more together, we mesh, we are jelling, and I am just excited,” Nikolic said.

Nikolic has recently been named to the 18th annual Senior All-America Lacrosse Game on July 29 at John Hopkins University.

The team is announced in four waves and two of them have been released. Haverford School midfielder Willis Burt has also been selected.

Nikolic was humbled to be named to the All-America Game.

“It’s an awesome honor and really happy my work has paid off but that is not really my goal for the season, I want to win, but I am excited for it and happy to be a part of it,” he said.

Nikolic understands the landscape, that Haverford School will be favored. The Fords went 10-0 in Inter-Ac play to win the regular season title.


Malvern Prep senior AJ Nikolic #13 will play in the senior All-America Game on July 29th - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

Yet Nikolic is only thinking about the semifinal against Episcopal Academy, a team the Friars beat 13-8 and 13-6 this year.

“It’s difficult to play a team three times, beat a team three times, but if we play as we did last time, we hope to have the same outcome as long as we play our game,” he said.

Nikolic made varsity as a freshman, but that season was lost to COVID, so he has enjoyed three outstanding seasons.

“He’s done a great job being a leader, a captain and done it with how he plays on the field,” Malvern Prep coach Matt Mackrides said.

Nikolic has enjoyed a great experience playing for Malvern Prep, giving him memories for a lifetime.

“I am really going to miss this place,” Nikolic said. “I’ve developed everything I know, all my friends, brothers, coaches and have known them for so long that it is going to be difficult to give up, but I am excited for the next step, and I can’t wait for it.”

Inter-Ac standings (through Saturday May 13)

Haverford School 10-0, 16-2

Malvern Prep 8-2, 14-7

Episcopal Academy 6-4, 12-8

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 3-7, 10-8

Penn Charter 2-8, 8-13

Germantown Academy 1-9, 4-13

One final tuneup

In its last game before the Inter-Ac playoffs, Malvern Prep scored a 12-5 home win on Saturday over Seton Hall Prep, which entered the game ranked No. 2 in New Jersey according to NJ.com.

Sophomore Mike Ortlieb had four goals and an assist. Other multi-goal scorers were Nikolic (three goals, two assists) and senior William Irish, who scored twice.

Burt’s All-American reaction

Haverford School’s Willis Burt had a similar reaction as Nikolic in being named to the All-American game.

“I am extremely excited,” Burt said. “I have been watching that game for a long time and it was a dream to be able to be part of it. This shows that all the hard work has paid off and I can’t wait to play with all the amazing players.”


Haverford School senior Willis Burt #17 was also selected to play in the senior All-America Game on July 29th - PSD Photo by Jack Verdeur

Lacrosse a family affair for SCH’s Brendan Dundas

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy senior attack Brendan Dundas is continuing a family tradition by playing the sport in college.

Dundas made a commitment in November of his junior year to attend Monmouth. That was a reward for Dundas for a sport he began playing at the age of four in his front yard with his father.

Ray Dundas, his father, was a player at Kutztown University.

His sister Danielle just finished her graduate year at Old Dominion University. Dundas said that over the years, he has worked out frequently with his sister.

“She was my role model growing up, and so was my dad” he said. “Her work ethic, I try to model my game after her being aggressive.”

Dundas, who lives in Doylestown, said that his initial connection to Monmouth was his club coach Nick Hreshko, who was a four-year starter at goalie there.

“He had a lot of success there and he kind of got me in the door there and immediately I just loved the culture that they built,” Dundas said. “Their coaches are great it’s a really nice campus and it all meshed together when I stepped on campus and made the decision pretty quickly.”


Springside Chestnut Hill Academy senior Brendan Dundas #10 - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito

With his career winding down, Dundas is thrilled to be competing in the Inter-Ac postseason tournament.

“It’s going to be a cool experience and a lot of exposure for our younger recruits coming up,” he said. “I like to think our class put us on the map a little bit for the next wave to come through and get the job done, winning an Inter-Ac title, if we can’t get it done this year."

End of an era at Penn Charter

Penn Charter coach Pat McDonough ended his coaching career in style. McDonough, who resigned after 22 years coaching Penn Charter, saw the Quakers win their final game, a 14-7 win over rival Germantown Academy.

McDonough is a 1990 Penn Charter graduate. His son Pat was a senior this season and will continue his education and lacrosse career at Catholic University. Another son, Connor, is a lacrosse player at Towson and his daughter Mackenzie is playing club lacrosse at Clemson.

“It’s with mixed emotions that I am leaving,” McDonough said. “It’s good for my family but I will miss it all.”

Then he quipped, “Maybe I will show up on the sidelines just to yell at the officials.”

What he will miss the most is the camaraderie with the players.

“The relationship with the guys is the biggest thing,” said McDonough, who played basketball and lacrosse at West Chester University. “And this has meant even more to me since I am a graduate of Penn Charter, but the relationship with the guys is the biggest thing.”


Penn Charter head coach Pat McDonough culminates career with a 14-7 victory against Germantown Academy - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

He got to go out a winner with Penn Charter beating its chief rival Germantown Academy.

The key to the win was senior Villanova signee George Glomb, who was an incredible 23 of 25 on faceoffs. Senior Owen Black (Delaware) had four goals and one assist. Casey Felter had three goals and one assist and senior Nick Walter (Air Force) scored a hat trick. Junior Gavin Michener (Villanova) had a goal and three assists while senior Chet Kempinski had a goal and one assist. Senior goalie Noah Dacanay made 15 saves.

Haverford School looking for second championship

This year the Inter-Ac regular season champion is crowned the league champion.

So the postseason tournament is more for pride, but there will be plenty of it.

Despite winning the regular season title, Haverford School, isn’t looking at the playoffs with any less intensity.

“We are taking every game just as seriously,” said Haverford School junior attack Aydan DiRocco. “Coach says there are no big games, we treat every game like a big one.”


Haverford School junior Aydan DiRocco #8 - PSD Photo by Ryan Nix

Haverford School ends unbeaten season with thriller

Haverford School went 10-0 in the Inter-Ac, but the Fords were tested to the limit in their final regular season game, beating host Episcopal Academy, 12-11 on Friday.

Colin Zeller broke an 11-11 tie with the game-winner that came with 1:15 remaining.

Ryan DiRocco had three goals and three assists, while Burt scored a hat trick. Zeller scored twice. Adding a goal were Brendan Leary, Brady O’Kane, Will Burfeind and Evan Large. Aydan DiRocco added two assists and the combination of Ben McCarthy and Griff Meyer went 19 of 26 on faceoffs.

“We didn’t play our best. but I am happy it happened now,” Burt said. “It grounded us a little bit.”

Strong showing in defeat for EA

Episcopal Academy coach Chris Bates isn’t into moral victories, but he felt his team played a great game in the 12-11 loss to Haverford.

The game-winner came with his team a man down.

EA trailed by as much as 10-5 before eventually tying the score at 11-11.

“I give our guys a lot of credit,” Bates said. “They fought all the way back from 10-5 and just kind of kept playing and I was proud of our guys.”

Bates feels it could provide momentum when his team faces Malvern Prep in Wednesday’s semifinal.


Episcopal Academy senior TJ Lamb #2 - PSD Photo by James Quinn

“Malvern thumped us twice and I think this a game we can compete and win,” Bates said. “We have shown great perseverance and I believe in this group.”

One of the standouts against Haverford was goalie Jack Guido, who made 17 saves. Senior TJ Lamb, a Cornell commit, had four goals and one assist. Charlie Kraftson scored a hat trick while Dylan Jaszcz had two goals. Eddie Jones and Jake Manion added a goal and an assist.

EA also scored a 9-5 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Lamb had three goals and one assist. Jones contributed two goals and three assists and Lucas Slate added two goals and one assist. Pat McDermott had a goal and one assist.

Ippoldo led GA in its final Inter-Ac game

Rocco Ippoldo, a Franklin & Marshall commit, was Germantown Academy’s leading scorer in the Inter-Ac finale against Penn Charter. He scored a hat trick. Other goal scorers were Matt McGettigan, Josh Gibbs, Walker Schwartz and Dean Shacklett.  Sophomore Jack Donovan made 16 saves.

Schreiner comes up big in defeat

Despite losing 15-7 on Friday at Malvern Prep, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy received a big game from junior goalie Hayes Schreiner (Penn State), who made 15 saves. Junior Ross Prince (Georgetown) was 11-for-20 on faceoffs and had eight ground balls.

Brendan Dundas, Neil Hutchinson and Finn Dougherty each had two goals, while Jake Olin scored the other.

Springside Chestnut Hill vs. Malvern Prep - PSD Highlights by Marc Narducci

In an earlier 9-5 loss to Episcopal, Dundas led the way by scoring a hat trick. Steve Pileggi and Cole Carberry were the other goal scorers.

Schreiner made 16 saves and Prince was 10-for-17 on faceoffs with eight ground balls.