Raiders boys earn top seed

Leonardtown, Huntingtown have high hopes in 4A⁄3A East

Friday, May 9, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by REID SILVERMAN Kenny Aicher and the Leonardtown Raiders are the top seed in the Class 4A⁄3A East region. The Raiders play Meade or Chopticon in the quarterfinals. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Last week, Huntingtown and Leonardtown squared off for the SMAC championship and the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A⁄3A East regional playoffs was up for grabs. And like last season, Leonardtown prevailed, capturing its fourth straight SMAC title and the No. 1 seed.

‘‘We feel that if we play Leonardtown lacrosse and play the way we know we can, that we have the potential to go on in the playoffs,” said Leonardtown head coach Matt Chew. ‘‘It’s up to [my players] and how they perform each game.”

Both the Hurricanes and the Raiders look to make some noise in the playoffs. As owners of the first seed, Leonardtown earned a first round bye and will face the winner of No. 8 Meade⁄No. 9 Chopticon, a game played Thursday that ended too late for inclusion in this edition, in the second round, scheduled for Saturday.

‘‘I think we’re hitting our stride,” said Hurricanes head coach Rodger Ganley. ‘‘I think we’re right where I think we should be. But, like I said, I would’ve liked to be the first seed going into the tournament.”

The Raiders should expect to face the Braves in the quarterfinal round, as Meade has only one win under its belt and will face a much improved Chopticon team. The game would give fuel to a long-time county rivalry between Leonardtown and Chopticon that was a bit subdued this season. Due to SMAC scheduling rules, the two teams met only once during the regular season.

If so, Leonardtown has a clear path to the regional semifinals, as it blew out the Braves in its only matchup of the regular season, 20-2.

The Raiders controlled that match, scoring eight goals in the first six minutes and 12 in the first quarter and after the game.

Chopticon head coach Mike Boyle admitted Leonardtown was a superior team and said his team has thrived against the ‘‘lower tier” of the SMAC and struggled against ‘‘upper tier” teams like Leonardtown.

‘‘We’re confident, but not ready,” said Leonardtown senior Stephen Norris. ‘‘We gotta get there. We’ve gotta work hard.”

If Huntingtown, the No. 4 seed, can also best its first two opponents, the Hurricanes and Raiders would meet again in the semifinals.

Leonardtown remains the only SMAC team to beat the Hurricanes this season and the matchup would create a heated fight for the right to play for the regional championship.

‘‘We might be back [at Leonardtown],” said Ganley, whose team combined with Leonardtown to commit 20 penalties in the second match between the two last week. ‘‘But it would be just another game. It’s going to be a hard fought game no matter what. If it means something or not, these guys are going to play their hearts out – both sides, both teams.”

Northern picked up a No. 5 seed in the 3A⁄2A East region and travel to fourth-seeded Easton for a quarterfinal matchup. In another quarterfinal game, Patuxent goes to Northeast of Anne Arundel County.

Calvert is the No. 7 seed in the 2A⁄1A East bracket and plays at second-seeded Queen Anne’s in the quarterfinals.