Inter-Ac Notebook (4/28)
A spectacular goalie at Germantown Academy; a huge performance for Haverford School’s Meyer; SCH’s standout LSM; Banks leading Penn Charter; A tough schedule for EA and here comes Malvern Prep.
Photos/Videos: Marc Narducci, Mike Nance, Grayson Rupp
By: Marc Narducci
Germantown Academy’s Jack Donovan enjoying a senior season of big saves
The wins have been difficult to come by, although more frequently than a year ago when Germantown Academy went 0-16, but regardless of the opponent or score, senior Jack Donovan has been a tower of strength in goal for the Patriots.
Earlier this season in a 14-4 loss to Episcopal Academy, he recorded 28 saves and in a 21-4 loss to Haverford School, he had 20 saves.
These are two veteran teams and Inter-Ac contenders, and yet Donovan has come up big regardless of the score.
Germantown Academy senior captain Jack Donovan #12 - PSD Photo by Grayson Rupp
He also had 12 saves in a 6-3 Inter-Ac win over rival Penn Charter that gave the Patriots their fifth win of the season. That win, the first in the Inter-Ac this season validated the heard work the team has put in.
“The guys on the team really make it easy,” Donovan said. “We all know the struggles of last year, so we really came together this year, every practice, every play, we’re giving it all and we have just formed a great community.”
Even in defeat, the Patriots have been more competitive such as last week’s 7-5 loss at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
“They are a much-improved team and their goalie had a great game today,” SCH coach Brian Dougherty said.
Donovan said he thoroughly enjoys playing lacrosse and especially with his Germantown Academy teammates.
“Coming out here every day with this group of guys, it’s just hard not to enjoy it,” he said. “You just want to come out here and just be with the guys, so every second we’re on the field, it’s just a bunch of fun, always competing.”
Donovan’s presence on the program has been immense.
“Jack Donovan has had a monumental impact on our team,” Germantown Academy coach Billy McKinney said. “He is a natural leader that has been a reliable presence on our back line.”
Donovan has been a goalie since the sixth grade. His father was the coach of their Great Valley rec team, and their goalie had moved to a different district, so they were in search of somebody to play the position. So, his father asked him.
“I was like ‘Yeah, I’ll give it a try.’” Donovan said. “So that is how it all started.”
It’s certainly not the easiest position to play with shots whizzing by at dizzying speeds.
“I mean, you’ve got to love it,” he said. “You go out there every day, you get bumps and bruises, whatever, but it’ just something about the position that really stands out to me. And I just love making saves.”
That is apparent by the way he plays. And others have surely noticed.
Next year Donovan will be taking his talents to Michigan.
“When I went there on my prospect day, I played pretty well,” he said. “I just love the facilities and the coaches and everything there is great.”
McKinney says he was recruited by Michigan for a reason.
GA senior Jack Donovan talks about the Patriot's recent 6-3 win vs. Penn Charter - PSD Video by Grayson Rupp
Despite a close 7-5 loss to SCH, here are a number of key saves by Jack Donovan - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
Jack Donovan talks about his choice to attend Michigan - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
“He’s moving on to Michigan because he’s one of the best players at his position in the country and has completely lived up to that billing,” McKinney said. “We have a young group, and having someone in the cage that can erase a lot of mistakes has really helped our young kids play with confidence.”
Donovan is also a member of the GA golf team.
“I’m not very good, but I try,” he said smiling, adding that he shoots in the mid to low 40’s over nine holes, which doesn’t seem that bad.
“I feel that being in the golf course by yourself and being in a crease making saves has a lot of comparisons,” he said. “You have to stay even-keel, clam-headed and just go out there and give your best.”
And Donovan has certainly done that each and every game, regardless of the opponent or the score.
More on GA
In that win over Penn Charter, junior Paul Rambo led the offense with four goals.
The other goal scorers were junior Ryan Maxwell and sophomore Chris Weber, while freshman Landon Amorim contributed three assists. Donovan was a big part of the win by making 12 saves.
In the aforementioned 7-5 loss to SCH, Donovan made 18 saves.
Amorim scored two goals, while single goals were scored by senior Sean Walsh, Maxwell and freshman Kelly Matozzo.
Walsh’s goal cut the deficit to 6-5 with 7:31 left, but SCH would score an insurance goal with 5:06 remaining.
Penn Charter vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Photos by Grayson Rupp
Meyer leads Haverford over EA
In one its most impressive Inter-Ac performances, Haverford School earned a 16-11 win last week over Episcopal Academy.
Senior Griff Meyer (Virginia) was a dominant force, going 15 of 19 on faceoffs and earning 14 ground balls. He also scored twice.
Leading the offense was senior Evan Large (Rutgers) who had four goals. Joining Meyer as two-goal scorers were Max Fertels (Washington & Lee) and Reed Campbell (Trinity College), while sophomore Conor Morsell added one goal and three assists. Senior Colin Decker (Williams College) made 12 saves.
Haverford School vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Photos by Mike Nance
SCH LSM made for his position
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy senior long stick middie (LSM) Trevor Saccomandi showed his true value to the team in one incredible play during last week’s 7-5 win over Germantown Academy.
Saccomandi not only made a steal in his team’s defensive end, but then completed an end-to-end rush by scoring a goal, charging right in on goal.
It showed both the defensive and offensive contributions that Saccomandi has provided to the Blue Devils.
Trev is a guy who kind of gets us going, he got a big-juice goal for us today (against GA),” SCH coach Brian Dougherty said. “He has a ton of caused turnovers out there and takes a lot of our faceoff wings, he faces off when we need to, he is kind of the jack of all trades out there and really does a lot for our team.”
Saccomandi began playing the sport in third grade and was a midfielder his first four years.
“And then one of my coaches put a pole in may hand and said ‘you are very aggressive,’” Saccomandi recalled. “And ever since I have been a LSM, running around the field.”
Next season Saccomandi will be taking his talents to Division I Albany.
Springside Chestnut Hill senior Trevor Saccomandi #16 - PSD Photo by Mike Nance
Trevor Saccomandi talks about the opportunity to play Division I lacrosse at Albany - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
“I always wanted to go D-1 for lacrosse and something I always said as a kid,” he said. “Now having the chance to go to a D-1 college is actually a check mark off my bucket list.”
Saccomandi actually went to Albany a few weeks ago for his official visit and his experience validated his choice.
“I felt when I went there, the guys were great,” he said. “I am really excited to be going to Albany next year.”
More on SCH
In the 7-5 win over Germantown Academy, junior Cole Carberry (Brown) and senior Griffy Whitman each scored twice, with junior Spencer Meile (Navy), Saccomandi and sophomore Joey Schreiber scoring single goals. Sophomore goalie Moe Sobel was strong in goal with 11 saves.
Springside Chestnut Hill vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Highlights by Marc Narducci
Tough sked for EA
Episcopal Academy had the toughest of weeks, having to face Haverford School and Malvern Prep in consecutive games.
The Churchmen lost, 16-11 to Haverford School, but received a hat trick from junior Keegan Nash (Rutgers). Junior Parker Smith (West Point) added two goals and junior David Brickman (Fairfield) enjoyed an all-around game, He scored twice, was 5 of 10 on faceoffs, and had seven ground balls and one caused turnover.
Single goals were scored by junior Jackson Orcutt (Georgetown), Colin McGrath and Bo McMenamin (who also had an assist) and senior Paul Bruder (Penn State), who added three ground balls and three caused turnovers.
Episcopal Academy junior Keegan Nash #6 - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
The week ended with a 15-6 loss to Malvern Prep.
Penn Charter update
Junior Michael Banks led the way with two goals for Penn Charter in a 6-3 loss to rival Germantown Academy. Sophomore Jack Sheward scored a goal and freshman Jake Walter had 10 saves.
Penn Charter junior Michael Banks #3 - PSD Photo by Grayson Rupp
Banks led the way with two goals in a 9-5 loss to the Academy of New Church. The other goals were scored by sophomore Christopher Perricelli, freshman Charlie McNamee and freshman Joe Curci. Walter again had 10 saves.
“Jake is a freshman and our original starter got hurt in preseason, so he has stepped in super well,” Penn Charter coach Conor Resch said of Walter.
In another note, Banks was the lone scorer in a defeat to Haverford School.
Big performance by Malvern Prep’s Ortlieb
Malvern Prep senior Mike Ortlieb (Duke) showed why he is among the top players in the area by totaling seven goals and two assists in a 13-8 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Sophomore Danny Lucovich scored a hat trick. Senior Jake Bickel (Georgetown) scored twice while classmate Owen Mears (Duke) contributed a goal and an assist.
Ortlieb recorded four goals in a 15-6 win over Episcopal Academy. That avenged a 6-4 earlier loss to Episcopal Academy.
Since that defeat, Malvern Prep has won five in a row in the Inter-Ac.
Which leads us to…
Malvern Prep senior Mike Ortlieb #9 - PSD Photo by Zack Beavers
Game of the Week
Thursday at 5 p.m. Malvern Prep hosts Haverford School as one of the best rivalries in any sport resumes.
Malvern Prep earned a 10-9 overtime win in the first meeting on Jake Bickel’s goal with 1:29 left in the extra period.
Both teams share the lead in the Inter-Ac with 5-1 records.