2026 MIAA Lacrosse Preview

by Nelson Coffin

While Calvert Hall, Saints Peter & Paul and Glenelg Country have had nearly a year to reign supreme in their respective MIAA lacrosse conferences, it’s time for the Cardinals, Sabres and Dragons to attempt another title run. 

None of those three banners were easily earned, owing to stiff competition from, respectively, Archbishop Spalding, Archbishop Curley and Key School.

Proof was in the proverbial pudding in the championship games, with Calvert Hall and Glenelg Country prevailing in overtime and Saints Peter & Paul winning by a slim two-goal margin.

Expect more of the same this spring, considering the level of competition bolstering each conference.

A CONFERENCE

Despite Calvert Hall’s run to the top of conference — and national rankings — last season, serious losses to graduation could make the 2026 Cardinals’ repeat bid more than a little tricky.

Nevertheless, coach Bryan Kelly’s team will recalibrate with a mixture of newcomers and holdovers to take on another daunting slate of opponents.

A seasoned defensive midfield figures to be Calvert Hall’s biggest strength, with seniors Jaxon Snelbaker (Drexel) Misha Mirozov (Navy) and Pike Perdew (Palm Beach Atlantic) and sophomore Carlton Saunders working in tandem with senior longsticks Jack Tanton (Towson) and Patrick Flatley (Adelphi) and sophomore sidekick Dom Chavis.

Seniors Johnathan Hottle (Drexel) and Jack Mansfield (Catholic) and juniors Bharat Mahanti (Navy) and junior Jacob Norris will man the defense in front of senior Greyson Enrique (Drexel). 

Faceoff specialists include junior Doreyen Jackson, sophomore Will Caputo and freshman Jacob Conville.

Senior Jack Williams (Yale) and juniors Cade Marechek, Matt Schoonmaker (Richmond) and Chris Steer (Virginia) will pace a midfield group that also includes the sophomore foursome of Connor Sullivan, Adam Heuston and twins Dieter and Declan Butler. 

Marechek, Heuston and sophomore Hutson Perdew will also join the attack in certain situations with seniors Ben Hanover and Mount St. Joseph transfer Ryder Scott (Drexel) and sophomore Caleb Kelly also being goal-oriented.

“It’s a new team,” Bryan Kelly said about the 2026 Cardinals, No. 3 in USA Lacrosse’s High School Boys' National Top 25 preseason rankings. “We have the pieces, but It’s a long way to go and we still have a lot to figure out.

Last year’s runner-up, Archbishop Spalding, will attempt to take one more step toward claiming the program’s first-ever A Conference crown — although the Cavaliers three-peated in the B Conference from 2000-2002.

Coach Evan Hockel can rely on a “humble and hungry senior class that is ready to lead,” with Class of 2026 standouts stationed in key positions.

It will start up top, with Brady Mollot (Maryland) and Adam Schwab (Tampa) showing sophomore Gavin Carpenter the ropes on attack while Brody Moss (Navy) and Chris George (Jacksonville) do the same for junior Zach Gutierrez (UMBC) in the midfield.

Carson Blair (UMBC) will pace the defensive middies with a trio of Navy commits, Jackson Hines, Sawyer Grant and Brady LaRochelle, stationed on close defense in front of either senior Colin Reilly or Broadneck transfer Braedon Golobloski in the goal.

Senior Cooper Johnson (Flagler) will draw face-off duties for a team that takes special pride in its riding and clearing.

St. Mary’s returns a strong core of experienced players this spring, according to coach Will Dalton. 

Juniors James Brimhall (Penn) and Connor Gale (Salisbury) will help lead the attack with seniors Chase Overend (Tampa) and Henry Dion (Tampa) “bringing experience and strong two-way ability” to the midfield, Dalton said.

The Saints also welcome back a three-year faceoff starter in senior Bradley Strong (2026), a key piece in controlling possession, Dalton added.

Seniors Connor McAndrews (Air Force) and Spencer Gale (Dickinson) join junior Scotty Hommel to anchor the defensive unit.

Several sophomores, including LSM Liam Buldoc, Cooper Kelly, Evan Wilhoit, Brody Fuller and Brooks Mueshaw, will youth and exuberance to the team with freshman JD Berry.

“We have a strong upperclassman group that understands the level of competition in the MIAA and what it takes to compete every week,” Dalton said. “At the same time, we have some talented underclassmen pushing for opportunities, which has made our practices extremely competitive. Our focus is improving day by day, week by week, and earning the opportunity to be on the field one game at a time.” 

McDonogh will feature some highly-touted performers in its quest to earn another title after Calvert Hall ended the Eagles’ three-year reign in a semifinal last spring.

To that end, a pair of senior Notre Dame commits, attackman Hunter Metz and FOGO Ciaran Sweeney, will figure prominently in a group that also features senior defender Mason Graham (Jacksonville), senior midfielder Harry Schneidwind (Syracuse) and junior attackman TC Goodman (St. Joseph’s).

“We have a competitive group that has worked hard in the offseason,” first-year coach and McDonogh alumnus Travis Holes said. “We’re excited about our leadership and the way this team plays together, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish this season.”

With the return of nine starters, Boys’ Latin may be the one of the most battle-tested squad in the conference despite boasting an overall youthful profile.

Juniors TJ Shaw (Georgetown) and Joey Keller (Loyola) will buttress the attack with sophomore Cooper Reed being a midfield mainstay.

Look for junior Quinn Lynch (Hofstra) to also make his mark.

Bryce Barrrett (Maryland) stands out as the lone senior on a backline that also features juniors Ryan Whitman, Matt Mereidth (Richmond), Colt Erdos and Sam Anecharico (Maryland). 

“We like some of the young faces,” coach Brian Farrell said. “If we are selfless and tough, we are in a good spot to compete.”

John Carroll coach Gunnar Waldt said that he is enjoying his job.

“This is a really fun group to be around this year,” he said. “These young men understand the value of work and enjoy being together.”

A solid senior core features attackmen Noah Harmel, Caden, Wyatt Shiflett and Caden Leonard (Stevenson), midfielder Leo Buono (St. Leo’s), FOGO Nate Shutt, defensemen Zach Droski (Stevenson) and Jake Wright and goalie Buster Barger.

Midfielders John Abromaitis, Mason Olszewski, Carson Clinton and Ty Rizzuto are part and parcel of a junior contingent that also lists defenders Christopher Allen and Jake Van Metre (VMI) and goalies Max Roemer and Owen Smith,  

Defensemen Nolan Marmen and Cade Salvatore, midfielder Lucas Lundquist and attackman Parker Mantegna are sophomores of high regard. 
 
Waldt said that the Patriots “came together as a family” in the offseason. 

“We've set a strong foundation and look forward to a promising season,” he added. “Our goal is to continue what we’ve done all fall and winter — be tough and together. We want to win the physicality battle and do the little things right, in each game we play. If we do those things, we will have a great season and accomplish our internal goals.” 

Replacing 19 seniors won’t be easy for St. Paul’s coach Steve Settembrino, whose Crusaders also return six starters to help ease the pain.

Junior Evan March (Maryland) and Ben Bowman (Towson) front the defense with classmate Cormac O'Day (Rutgers) also wielding a long stick.

Senior Bronson Burger (Mount St. Mary's) and junior Ryan Vizzcorondo (Denver) are midfielders of note as are juniors Cole Atkinson ( Mount St Mary's) and Connor Cook (Dartmouth) in the midfield and senior Beckett Ballenger at the face-off X.

Seasoned varsity performers March, Vizzcorondo, Cook and O’Day will be counted on to fill the leadership void this spring.  

An experienced defense, featuring seniors Bing Burch (John Hopkins), Tyler McCottry (Ohio State) and Nevan McKneely (Air Force), figures to keep Loyola Blakefield in the hunt this season.

Burch and McCottry are returning to play with an aggressive style in front of goalie Reed Powell. 

“They are both smart, communicate well, and assertive,” coach Will Haus said about his top defensemen.

Burch contributed a goal, two assists, 30 ground balls and seven caused turnovers last season with McCottry (20 gb, 7 ct) close behind.  

“We return mostly everyone on the defensive end,” Haus said. “(We) need some improvements, but there is a ton of game experience on that end.” 

Bennett Cook, Cooper Lewis and Luca Ball will start on attack while Matt Kehring, Evan Baehr, Jacob Klein and Danny Lally pick up the pace in the midfield.

Alex Heil and Ben Winnie will join forces to take face-offs.

Gilman will rely on a strong face-off game to keep up with conference rivals this spring

“Returning Joseph Kim is a major plus for us,” Gilman coach Tony Incontrera said about the senior North Carolina commit, whose 60% win-rate marked his sophomore and junior campaigns. “He is extremely technical at the face-off dot, and he is one of the hardest workers on the team, both in the weight room and between the lines.”

Joseph, along with the four other captains — seniors  Cabot White (Bucknell), Austin Athanas and Chase Carpenter and junior Tommy Malfa — form a strong leadership group, the coach added.

Returning starters, attackman Connor Ward (Air Force) and LSM Alex Triplett and junior defenseman Jax Winstead, will also give the Greyhounds heft.

Severn’s playoff hopes will rest on the play of some experienced performers at both ends of the field.

Seniors Sam Long (Navy), Kevin Gattie (St. Bonaventure) and Gavin Gergar (Dickinson) will anchor the attack while senior Devlan Collier (Marist) will run on the first midfield with talented juniors Nick Todd (Georgetown) and Myles Goger (Johns Hopkins), coach Keegan Wilkinson said.

Senior Charlie Hellferich (Monmouth) will anchor the close defense with junior Connor Gattie (St. Bonaventure).  

They will be supported defensively by senior short stick Jack Fowler (Gettysburg) and junior pole Dawson Hair (Quinnipiac). 

“A key to a successful season for us will be our ability to improve statistically at face offs and to get stops defensively,” Wilkinson added. “Our philosophy will be built on having a team that plays with competitive edge and desire to represent the Severn community to the best of our ability.”

B CONFERENCE

With midfielder Caton Crowder (Randolph Macon), who tallied 53 goals last spring, being one of just two seniors, Indian Creek will need younger players to come through.

Sophomore goalie Gunner Klotz qualifies as one with that potential, considering that he made 200 saves as a freshman. Junior attackman Matt Berry is the team’s second leading returning scorer.

Freshmen, including attackman Ty Suriyachaiwat and midfielders Griffin Goodburn and Ethan Luciano, are seasoned club players.

“We are excited to see how quickly we can mature as a group and mesh our young guys with a few of our more experienced returning players,” coach Joe Casolino said. “The team has worked hard this offseason to be prepared for the challenges in front of us, so we are optimistic that we will continue to grow and give us an opportunity to be a factor in May.”

C CONFERENCE

Park School is looking to rebuild and reload this year, according to coach Josh Lauren.

The Bruins will be led by our senior captains, LSM Luca Titus, attackman Nolan Klaintman-Small and attackman/midfielder Asa Farmer (Virginia State). 

Junior attackmen Riley Shapiro and Bryce Byson and sophomore Archie Stewart lend more punch to the offense.

Defensemen Adien Roberts and Cross Levy are the most likely candidates to keep rival offenses in check. 

“We have a strong senior class and we have been working hard in the preseason,” Lauren said. “We are looking to compete for the MIAA C Conference Championship this year. It will take tremendous focus, commitment and discipline to reach our goals in the MIAA.”

(This story will be updated as additional reponses come in from coaches.)