Baltimore area’s top talent on display for 19th All-America Senior Lacrosse Games

The Baltimore area will once again be well-represented at the 19th Senior All-America Lacrosse Games, set for Saturday at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field.

Among the top 44 boys and girls selected to play in the prestigious North vs. South showcase games are five area boys and eight girls, highlighted by McDonogh’s All-Metro Player of the Year winners Luke Miller and Kate Levy . The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m., and the boys game follows at 8, with both televised on ESPNU.

Here are a few storylines to look for Saturday.

McDonogh boys’ across-the-board talent on display

In winning three straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference titles, what has helped separate the McDonogh boys from the lofty league competition is their talent at every layer on the field.

On Saturday, the Eagles will be represented at three positions, with Miller featured on attack, Ben Firlie at midfield and Max Allen anchoring the defense. In addition to their play, all three standouts brought leadership and other vital intangibles to help the Eagles stay on top in the MIAA.

“[The three selections] really shows how deep we were this year and not just good in one position. We were just good all around, and that really helped us prevail and win the championship again,” said Firlie, a four-year varsity player who finished with 28 goals and 11 assists as a senior captain.

“I grew up watching these games for I don’t know how long, and it was really surreal when I first learned the news I was selected and especially on the first wave. That was just such a huge honor for me. I couldn’t think of a better way to end the summer of my senior year playing in this game.”

Joining the McDonogh trio on Saturday are two league rivals, Loyola Blakefield defenseman Peter Laake and Boys’ Latin attackman Spencer Ford.

Connecticut power Brunswick joins McDonogh with three All-Americans set to play Saturday.

IAAM A Conference champion St. Paul’s girls get their defensive due

Defense took center stage as the Gators captured the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championship this spring, amplified in their 7-6 win over high-powered McDonogh in the title game.

On Saturday, St. Paul’s defender Kira Balis is primed to shut down the country’s most gifted offensive players. The All-Metro first-team selection helped limit league opponents to 5.25 goals per game, the lowest average in the past 15 years in the IAAM A Conference.

“Our coach [Mary Gagnon] always told us defense wins championships and we were the backbone of our team,” Balis said. “I feel like the attack fed off the defense’s energy and once we got started everybody was able to roll off of that energy.”

As for going up against the country’s top attackers on Saturday?

“Welcoming the challenge is a good way to think about it,” she said. “I’ll be ready for anything and I’m just excited to have the chance to play because it will make me a better player. I’m going in with a really good mindset knowing that I was chosen to be here, so I can go up with all of these girls.”

Loyola Blakefield’s Laake looks to thrive on another big stage

Laake enjoyed one of the finest performances of the MIAA A Conference season in the Dons’ heartbreaking 7-6 double overtime loss to three-time defending champion McDonogh in the quarterfinal round.

In addition to keying the team’s impressive defensive front, the All-Metro first-team pick also pushed forward to score two momentum-swinging goals in the Dons’ upset bid. On Saturday, look for Laake to have more game-changing moments during another big game.

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Area girls find college homes all over the country

The area girls set to play Saturday will be heading all over the country when they continue their careers in college.

Here’s a look at the players and their respective landing spots: Levy (North Carolina), Balis (Clemson), Severna Park midfielder Alyssa Chung (Navy), Archbishop Spalding midfielder Gabby Greene (Florida), McDonogh midfielder Amanda Lawson (Stanford), Notre Dame Prep goalie Emmerson Martin (Vanderbilt), Bryn Mawr attacker Alexia Reder (Syracuse) and McDonogh attacker Remi Schaller (Michigan).

Quick hits

On the boys side, McDonogh teammates Firlie and Allen will move on to Georgetown, while Laake and Ford are both Maryland bound. … For the girls, Chung is the lone area standout representing a public school. Her senior season was cut short with an injury but she was still a key piece in the Falcons’ run to another Class 3A state championship.

Senior All-America Lacrosse Games

Saturday, July 27, at Johns Hopkins’ Homewood Field

Girls: 5:30 p.m.

Boys: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPNU