As state playoffs have commenced and with tournaments ending in some places, we’re seeing some interesting matchups on the horizon. However, the most interesting one has to occur tomorrow as No. 1 Pottstown Hill School (Pa.) will take on No. 5 Villanova Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (Pa.) in a rematch of last year’s PAISAA state final. The Irish and the Rams played two taut classics last year with Notre Dame winning both by 1-0 scorelines. It will be interesting to see what we get this year.
Our RightToRightIsRight.com honorary No. 11 Team of the Week is Hood College, a small liberal arts school in Frederick, Md., who plays in the Mid Atlantic Commonwealth Conference. Hood has had its share of lean seasons in recent years, but last Saturday, with a 3-1 win over Eastern University, earned its first conference victory since 2006, when Hood was part of the Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference. The Blazers had lost 115 conference games in a row before its win over Eastern, but the team is poised to have its first winning record since 1999.
1. Pottstown Hill School (Pa.) 15-0
Hill’s attack goes through Riley Savage and Aubrey Turner, but any one of the 10 outfielders can score for the Rams at any time; they are a balanced and skilled group who will take on last year’s PAISAA champions tomorrow in a must-see game
2. Mamaroneck (N.Y.) 15-0
Tigers finished their regular seasons against Cross River John Jay and will embark on Section 1 Class A play later this week
3. Malvern Villa Maria (Pa.) 16-1
The Hurricanes, playing up in the District 1-AAA bracket as the state’s defending Class AA winner, will take on Lansdale North Penn (Pa.) in the octofinal round; North Penn’s female enrollment is five times larger than Villa Maria’s
4. Watertown (Mass.) 15-0
Raiders, despite graduating a scintillating graduating class, has been rolling; regular season ends with Wakefield (Mass.) and Melrose (Mass.) before state tournament play
5. Villanova Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (Pa.) 15-1
Prepped yesterday with a game against Cherry Hill Camden Catholic (N.J.) before taking on Pottstown Hill School (Pa.) tomorrow
6. Emmaus (Pa.) 20-1
The Hornets beat Easton (Pa.) Area 4-1 last week to win the East Penn Conference title; will start on their road to a possible 36th consecutive PIAA District XI title on Thursday against Bethlehem Liberty (Pa.)
7. Westport Staples (Conn.) 14-1
The Wreckers finished their regular season against Fairfield Ludlowe (Conn.) before embarking on their FCIAC tournament campaign
8. North Caldwell West Essex (N.J.) 14-2
West Essex compete in the Essex County Tournament this week before embarking on state tournament play
9. Manheim (Pa.) Township 20-2
The Blue Streaks bested Lititz Warwick (Pa.) 1-0 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League final and now have an absolute minefield in the PIAA District 3-AAA tournament; three state finalists from recent years are in their half of the bracket
10. Andover Phillips Academy (Mass.) 11-0
The Big Blue have conceded exactly one goal this entire month; they take on Cambridge Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Mass.) and Deerfield (Mass.) Academy this week
11. Hood College 9-6
Leading scorer Morgan Hackett, who has seven goals on the season, is from nearby Parkton Hereford (Md.)
Who’s out: None
And bear in mind: La Jolla Bishop’s School (Calif.) 18-1, Denver Colorado Academy (Colo.) 11-0-1, Greenwood Village Cherry Creek (Colo.) 12-1, Darien (Conn.) 11-1, Lewes Cape Henlopen (Del.) 12-1, Delmar (Del.) 12-1, Smyrna (Del.) 11-2, Winnetka New Trier (Ill.) 19-1-1, Christian Academy of Louisville (Ky.) 15-4-1, Cherry Hill Camden Catholic (N.J.) 13-1, Clinton North Hunterdon (N.J.) 13-3, Cary (N.C.) Christian 14-0, Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) 12-3, Worthington Thomas Worthington (Ohio) 13-5-1, Lititz Warwick (Pa.) 19-2, Millersville Penn Manor (Pa.) 13-4-1, Elliottsburg West Perry (Pa.) 17-2, Hummelstown Lower Dauphin (Pa.) 15-2, Lancaster (Pa.) Country Day School 17-0, Exeter Wyoming Area (Pa.) 16-0, Trinity Episcopal (Va.) 11-0-1, Yorktown Tabb (Va.) 14-0, Hartland Arrowhead (Wisc.) 12-2-2
