MIAA

MIAA A Conference playoff scenarios

5/8/2010

The two divisional setup adopted for MIAA A Conference lacrosse this year has created lots of excitement with regard to evaluating playoff possibilities, as the post-season seedings remain scrambled with each team heading into its final game, on Tuesday.

Following last week's action, which concluded late last night with Loyola edging Archbishop Spalding, 7-6, in Severna Park, five teams can sleep knowing they have reached the post-season, but only Boys' Latin (14-3, 10-2), which has clinched first-place in the Red Division, knows its seeding.

In the Black Division, St. Paul's and McDonogh have qualified for the playoffs, regardless of what happens Tuesday. Depending on the final day's results, however, Loyola could place anywhere from first through fourth, while Calvert Hall is holding out hope for a single scenario which could propel it into the post-season.

The four contenders will all go head-to-head with St. Paul's traveling to Loyola and McDonogh visiting Calvert Hall.

Here are the four possible outcomes and the resulting playoff seedings:

St. Paul's defeats Loyola and McDonogh defeats Calvert Hall
1. St. Paul's 10-3
2. McDonogh 9-4
3. Loyola 8-5
4. Calvert Hall 7-6 (out)

Loyola defeats St. Paul's and McDonogh defeats Calvert Hall
1. McDonogh 9-4 (by virtue of 2 wins over Calvert Hall)
2. Loyola 9-4 (by virtue of a win over Boys' Latin)
3. St. Paul's 9-4
4. Calvert Hall 7-6 (out)

Loyola defeats St. Paul's and Calvert Hall defeats McDonogh

1. Loyola 9-4 (by virtue of a win over Boys' Latin)
2. St. Paul's 9-4
3. McDonogh 8-5 (by virtue of a win over Boys' Latin)
4. Calvert Hall 8-5 (out)

St. Paul's defeats Loyola and Calvert Hall defeats McDonogh

1. St. Paul's 10-3 2. McDonogh 8-5 (1-1 vs. St. Paul's, win over Boys' Latin)
3. Calvert Hall 8-5 (1-1 vs. St. Paul's)
4. Loyola 8-5 (out, 0-2 vs. St. Paul's)

In the Red Division things are not as complicated. Behind BL, St. Mary's and Spalding are tied for second at 6-6. The two have split head-to-head and both have lost two games to the Lakers.

Spalding closes with a home battle with Gilman, a team which has been playing well of late and which has nothing to lose. St. Mary's goes on the road for a very tough rivalry game with Severn. If one wins and one loses, obviously the winner will become the second seed the loser the third.

If both teams win, all tie-breakers will be even and the second seed will be determined by a coin flip. If both teams lose, St. Mary's will be the second seed by virtue of a season sweep of Gilman.

The prize is a coveted place in the PNC MIAA Lacrosse Championships. The top seeds from each division will have a first round bye and advance directly to the semifinals at Towson University's Johnny Unitas Stadim, on Tuesday, May 18.

The quarterfinals will take place next Friday, May 14 with the second seed from each division hosting the third seed from the opposite side. The MIAA A Conference Championship Game will be played on Saturday, May 22 at Unitas Stadium, at 8:00 p.m.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated that St. Mary's would be the second seed in the Red Division if both St. Mary's and Archbishop Spalding won their final games, on Tuesday. This was incorrect. If both teams win, all tie-breakers would be even, and the second seed would be determined by a coin flip.