Haverford shows it belongs at the top

Hype can be a burden sometimes. It can become smothering as it creates distractions around its subjects.

For the 16th straight game, Haverford School backed up the hype. Saturday, the top-ranked boys' lacrosse team in the country downed Conestoga, the nation's No. 2 team, 11-6, in the marquee matchup of the 11th annual Katie Samson Festival at Radnor.

Fords coach John Nostrant praised the way his team places strangleholds on games, quickly building large leads and refusing to relinquish them. Behind a balanced attack, Haverford raced out to a 7-2 halftime advantage and kept the Pioneers at a distance through the second half.

He said he doesn't tell his players to ignore the hype surrounding the team, but to enjoy it.

"We're good and we're not going to apologize for being good," Nostrant said. "As long as we work harder than everybody else, I like our chances."

Offensive sparkplug Carl Walrath netted two goals for the Fords and added an assist. Both of his goals came from the X position, as the senior wrapped around from the back of the net to beat the goalie.

After Conestoga scored twice, on goals by Connor Frisina and Brad Lord, to get to within four in the third quarter, Walrath came from behind the net, dived under a defender and connect on a goal as he landed just outside of the crease.

That put the Fords ahead by 9-4 with 2 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the period.

Once again for the Fords, senior Conor Kelly was brilliant in net. He stopped 11 shots and helped kill two penalties in the first half.

With three minutes remaining in the second quarter, Kelly made a nice save and quickly launched the ball downfield to set up one of Zach Rego's two first-half goals.

The Katie Samson Festival raises money for the Katie Samson Foundation, which helps aid spinal-cord injury research. Samson's brother, Brian Samson, is the head coach at Conestoga (12-1).

The Fords improved to 16-0 this season and will maintain their top ranking in both the state by Phillylacrosse.com and the nation by ESPN. It's the second time this season that the Fords have knocked off a then-nationally ranked No. 2 team, having downed Darien (Conn.) on April 16.

Nostrant said he has heard from critics saying that teams in the Long Island, N.Y. area are better than the Fords. They already have defeated five of the state's top-10 teams and three out-of-state teams ranked in the nation's top 20.

"Bring on West Islip. Bring on Chaminade. I'll play them anywhere," the coach said, referring to two schools from Long Island ranked in the national top 10.

The cause. Before the game, both teams lined up at midfield for a ceremony honoring Katie Samson. A former goalie at Radnor High and Middlebury (Vt.) College, Samson was paralyzed in a sledding accident in 2000.

Samson was awarded the Jimmy Medal, which recognizes individuals who exemplify resiliency, empathy, humility, and loyalty.

"We're brought to tears all the time by how she perseveres and achieves and basically what her attitude is," said Katie's father, Peter Samson.

Haverford School   4322-11

Conestoga   2022-6

Goals: HS-Hup Hupfeldt, Gavin McBride, Brendan McGrath 3, Zach Rego 2, Sam Rohr, Carl Walrath 2, Matt Walters; C-Connor Frisina 2, Brad Lord 2, Kyle Morrison, Tanner Scott.

Saves: HS-Conor Kelly 11; C-Robbie Zonino 5, John Lopes 4.