BY MIKE LIVINGSTON
NEWTOWN SQUARE – Malvern Prep is on a quest.
The program has achieved 13 Inter-Ac Championships since 2002 and four consecutive since 2018 (2018-2022, no championship in 2020 due to Covid).
2023 marked the first time since 2018 that Malvern Prep lacrosse did not end the season with an Inter-Ac Championship as they fell to the Haverford School. At the outset of the 2024 season, the goal was clear, to reclaim that title.
That mission continued Friday evening as the Friars faced off with the Churchmen of Episcopal Academy, taking down their Inter-Ac foe 13-4.
“Getting back to that Inter-Ac title has been our biggest goal,” said Malvern head coach Matt Mackrides. “To get there we’re going to need to win-out obviously, we got to do our job just like we did tonight. We’re going to need to do our job on Tuesday and obviously beat Haverford to make that stalemate and be co-champs with them. Getting back there however has been our biggest goal, no doubt.”
The Friars already dropped their first contest against the Fords 10-8 a few weeks ago but will have a chance at redemption Thursday when the two heavyweights faceoff again.
Until then, Malvern will need to win out their remaining games in the Inter-Ac while also preparing to beat Haverford if they want to be awarded co-champions. The game this past Friday night left no exception. This bout meant everything to the Friars- a must win indeed.
“We got a lot of energy to start off the game and that really helped,” said Malvern senior Hagan McTear. “We came out firing, right out of the gate and just came right down the field and scored, which was absolutely huge for us.”
McTear recorded a hat-trick in the evening while also helping Malvern to get out to a quick early lead. The Dickinson College commit scored his team’s first goal of the day just 1:13 into the game. Fellow seniors Roman DiBartolomeo and Ennis Udo both aided in the early effort giving Malvern the quick 3-0 lead just two minutes into the contest.
Sophomore Keegan Nash eventually got Episcopal in the game midway through the first quarter with a goal of his own to make it 3-1.
Malvern quickly struck back nonetheless with goals from junior Michael Ortlieb, senior John Bickel, and sophomore Daneil Riely to close the period with a 6-1 advantage.
Malvern Prep's Michael Ortlieb goal adds to 13-4 victory over EA. (Video/ Mike Livingston for PSD
Senior Hagan McTear #10 and Junior Michael Ortlieb walk off field together after satisfying victory. (Photo/ Mike Livingston)
“I’d say it’s been a huge emphasis for us to come out strong,” said Ortlieb. “Luckily we have great contributions from the face-off position which really helped us to kick start the transition game and we were just able to capitalize on all of that easily.”
The Friars continued to capitalize in the second period with goals from senior Brad Piffath and junior Ryan Sims to make it an 8-1 game at halftime.
As the third quarter began for Malvern, it was Logan Turley who made it 9-1, followed by Ortlieb and McTear, who both tallied their second goals of the day.
Nash struck again before the fourth period to make it 11-2 Malvern and bring in his second goal.
In the fourth and final period, it was McTear and sophomore Chase Deves that iced for the Friars with two more goals - McTear’s giving the senior the hat-trick.
With the win, Malvern moves to 12-2 on the season. As of now and barring an upset of huge proportions, Malvern sits in second place in the Inter-Ac behind the Haverford School.
As for Episcopal, the Churchmen will face an Inter-Ac contest against Penn Charter this week where they will attempt to keep a hold on their third-place bid.