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Boys' lacrosse: Haverford School wins Inter-Ac Challenge

Almost every member of the Haverford School lacrosse team was in position, piled on top of one another and smiling on the turf inside PPL Park in anticipation of a championship photo.

Players (from left to right) Jake Hervada, Ben Euler, and Sam Denious celebrate the Fords' victory in the final of the Inter-Ac Challenge at PPL Park . (CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer)
Players (from left to right) Jake Hervada, Ben Euler, and Sam Denious celebrate the Fords' victory in the final of the Inter-Ac Challenge at PPL Park . (CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer)Read more

Almost every member of the Haverford School lacrosse team was in position, piled on top of one another and smiling on the turf inside PPL Park in anticipation of a championship photo.

One important member of the Fords' victorious bunch was missing, however.

Junior goaltender Alex DeMarco was busy with a postgame television interview after the undefeated Fords beat previously unbeaten Hun School, 15-8, in the finals of the Inter-Ac Challenge.

Net proceeds from the four-day event will go to Thomas Jefferson Hospital's Comprehensive Concussion Center and the Wounded Warrior Project.

After DeMarco's 17-save performance in the finale, it was only fitting that someone else saved him from missing the photo.

"Wait for DeMarco!" a voice bellowed from the stands.His teammates were only too happy to wait.

DeMarco is "like a wizard in there," said junior Dox Aitken. "He bails us out all the time, and that's just what a great team does. If one part of the team isn't cutting it, another person does."

On Monday, though, the Fords had few weaknesses, if any.

Phil Poquie supplied four goals and was named player of the game. Aitken added three more goals while Grant Ament added three assists and a score.

Because of its tremendous offensive depth, Haverford School - the consensus No. 1 team in the country - has been celebrated for the points it tallies. Monday, however, DeMarco was the key.

Two back-to-back, point-blank saves with less than five seconds left in the first half preserved momentum and an 8-5 advantage at intermission.

"The first one, I saw the attackman drop his stick so I just went low," DeMarco said, smiling. "Then I just saw the rebound and just sprawled out and tried to cover the goal."

Four times in the second half, a DeMarco save led to an immediate transition break that led to a goal.

"Our transition game helped us a lot today for sure," said Chris Sabia, a defenseman whose third-quarter goal yielded a 9-6 edge after a DeMarco save. "[DeMarco] is huge. He's always coming up big when we need it."

The Fords will need his expertise one more time this season. Next week they will host Culver Military Academy with a second undefeated season in five years at stake.

"It's definitely a momentum starter," DeMarco said. "We have one more game Friday. . . . Hun is a really talented team, really talented on the offensive side, so this was a really good test to see how our defense would handle it."

Haverford School 2 6 2 5 - 15

Hun School 1 4 2 1 - 8

Hav.: Phil Poquie 4, Grant Ament, Noah Lejman, Forry Smith 2, Dox Aitken 3, Chris Sabia, Drew Supinski 3.

Hun: Chris Donovan 2, Owen Black 2, Robert Kuhn 3, Brendan Rooney.

Saves: Hav. - Alex DeMarco 17; Hun - Jon Levine 7