Archbishop Spalding Boys Lacrosse 2026 Season Recap: Cavaliers Battle Through Nation’s Toughest Schedule

Archbishop Spalding boys lacrosse did not have the same dream season it had in 2025, but the 2026 Cavaliers still put together a tough, meaningful and battle-tested year in one of the hardest high school lacrosse leagues in the country.

Spalding finished 11-7 overall and 9-1 in MIAA A Conference play, according to MaxPreps, while playing a national-level schedule loaded with elite private-school programs. The Cavaliers scored 179 goals and allowed 168, numbers that show how tight the season became. This was not a year built on blowouts every week. This was a season built on survival, adjustments, conference toughness and strong late-season play.

The Cavaliers opened the year with several difficult nonconference tests. Malvern Prep, St. Anne’s-Belfield, Western Reserve Academy, Bullis and Tabor Academy all gave Spalding early problems. That stretch left the Cavaliers with work to do before the heart of MIAA play. But Spalding responded the right way. Once conference play arrived, the Cavaliers became a different team.

Spalding won nine of its 10 listed region games and closed the regular season with four straight wins. The Cavaliers beat Gilman, Loyola Blakefield, Mount St. Joseph and St. Mary’s down the stretch, showing the toughness and depth that have made the program one of Maryland’s top high school lacrosse brands.

The season also came one year after Spalding’s heartbreaking 2025 MIAA A championship loss to Calvert Hall. That 2025 team reached elite national status and came within one goal of a conference title. The 2026 group had to reset after losing major senior talent, but the Cavaliers did not fall apart. They stayed in the MIAA A race, leaned on a strong senior class and continued to develop one of the best young defensive cores in Maryland.

Season Snapshot

Spalding finished 11-7 overall. The Cavaliers went 9-1 in region play, according to MaxPreps. They ranked among Maryland’s better teams late in the year and remained a dangerous opponent in the MIAA A Conference.

The Cavaliers scored 179 goals and allowed 168 on MaxPreps. That averages out to just under 10 goals per game offensively and just over nine goals allowed per game. LaxNumbers listed Spalding with 189 goals for and 171 goals against, but both sources show the same overall story: Spalding played a lot of close, physical games against excellent competition.

The Cavaliers’ biggest strength was their response. A 2-5 start could have turned into a lost season. Instead, Spalding won nine of its final 11 games. That says a lot about the coaching staff, the leadership and the team’s ability to keep improving.

Top Players and Key Names

Brady Mollot remained the headline name. The senior attackman and Maryland commit gave Spalding a true centerpiece on offense. Mollot entered the season as one of the most respected players in the country in the 2026 class. National Lacrosse Federation listed him as a five-star 2026 attackman committed to Maryland, and Inside Lacrosse also listed him among the top attack recruits in the class.

Mollot’s importance went beyond recruiting rankings. Spalding needed him to handle defensive attention, create offense and set the tone for a group that had to replace a lot from the 2025 team. Every MIAA A defense knew the offense would run through him. That made his leadership even more important.

Christopher George gave Spalding another major senior presence. LaxNumbers lists George as a 2026 midfielder committed to Jacksonville. In a league where midfield play decides games, George mattered because Spalding needed dodging, transition and two-way strength through the middle of the field.

Brody Moss also stood out as a senior midfielder. LaxNumbers lists Moss as a Navy commit. His athleticism and physical style helped Spalding compete in the middle of the field, especially once the schedule shifted into MIAA A play.

Sawyer Grant gave the Cavaliers a Division I defensive piece. LaxNumbers lists Grant as a Navy commit. Grant’s role mattered because Spalding faced elite offensive teams all season. Malvern Prep, Bullis, Calvert Hall, McDonogh and Boys’ Latin all force defenses to communicate, slide and recover.

Ryan Sullivan added another offensive option. LaxNumbers lists Sullivan as a St. Joseph’s commit. Sullivan gave Spalding another attack piece and helped prevent opponents from loading everything toward Mollot.

Blake Connor gave the Cavaliers an experienced senior goalie option and is listed by LaxNumbers as a Salisbury commit. Goalie play is always huge in the MIAA A Conference because the shot quality is high and possessions can swing fast.

Carson Blair, Cooper Johnson, Brooks Cherneski, Trevor Brewer, Aiden Reinecker, Colten Eikenberg and Adam Schwab all gave the senior class depth. LaxNumbers lists Blair as a UMBC commit, Johnson as a Flagler commit, Cherneski as a Merchant Marine commit, Brewer as a Queens commit, Reinecker as a Christopher Newport commit, Eikenberg as a Mary Washington commit and Schwab as a Tampa commit.

The future also looks strong. Brady LaRochelle, a 2027 defenseman committed to Navy, became one of the key younger pieces. Inside Lacrosse describes LaRochelle as a physically imposing defender with size, strength and strong stick work around the cage. Jackson Hines, another 2027 player listed as a Navy commit by LaxNumbers, gives Spalding another major defensive/LSM piece moving forward. Colby Evans, listed as a Towson commit, and Braedon Goloboski, listed as a St. John’s commit, also point to a strong future.

Game-by-Game Recap

Feb. 28: Malvern Prep 13, Spalding 2

Spalding opened the season with a brutal road test against Malvern Prep. The Cavaliers lost 13-2, and the result showed how hard the early schedule would be.

Malvern Prep controlled the game and kept Spalding’s offense from getting comfortable. For Spalding, the opener became a measuring-stick loss. It showed the Cavaliers that the 2026 season would require a new identity after the 2025 championship push.

The score looked rough, but it came against a top-level program. Early-season losses like this can hurt the record, but they also force a team to clean up mistakes quickly.

March 5: Spalding 14, D.C. Everest 4

Spalding responded with a 14-4 win over D.C. Everest. The Cavaliers needed that kind of answer after the Malvern Prep loss.

The offense found rhythm, the defense settled in and Spalding controlled the game from start to finish. A 10-goal win helped reset the season and gave the Cavaliers their first victory.

This game mattered because it proved Spalding could still score in bunches. After only two goals in the opener, putting up 14 showed that the attack and midfield groups had the talent to produce.

March 10: Spalding 12, Kiski School 6

Spalding followed with a 12-6 win over Kiski School. The Cavaliers moved to 2-1 and showed more balance.

The offense again reached double figures. The defense held Kiski to six goals. That combination looked more like the type of team Spalding wanted to be.

The Cavaliers needed early wins before the schedule tightened. This was one of those games where Spalding handled business and kept momentum moving.

March 14: St. Anne’s-Belfield 14, Spalding 8

Spalding’s momentum stopped with a 14-8 loss to St. Anne’s-Belfield. The Cavaliers gave up too many goals and could not match the pace for four quarters.

The game showed one of Spalding’s early-season issues: defensive consistency against strong offenses. The Cavaliers had enough talent to compete, but they needed to limit runs and get more stops in key moments.

At 2-2, Spalding still had plenty of season left. But the road was not getting easier.

March 17: Western Reserve Academy 13, Spalding 1

The Western Reserve Academy loss was the toughest result of the season. Spalding fell 13-1, and the offense never got going.

For a program with Spalding’s standards, a one-goal offensive output stands out. Western Reserve controlled possessions and forced Spalding into uncomfortable spots.

This game could have broken the Cavaliers’ confidence. Instead, it became part of the early-season adversity that made the second-half turnaround more impressive.

March 20: Bullis 10, Spalding 8

Spalding played much better against Bullis but still lost 10-8. The Cavaliers competed, defended better and stayed within striking distance.

The loss dropped Spalding to 2-4, but the performance showed growth. Bullis is the type of opponent that exposes mistakes. Spalding kept the game tight and showed more fight than it had against Western Reserve.

Close losses can be frustrating, but this one looked more like a step forward than a collapse.

March 25: Tabor Academy 13, Spalding 8

Tabor Academy handed Spalding another 13-8 loss. The Cavaliers fell to 2-5 and had to face the reality of a difficult start.

At that point, Spalding’s record did not look like a traditional power’s record. But context mattered. The Cavaliers had packed the early schedule with strong opponents, and those games tested a roster that had changed from the 2025 championship finalist group.

The key question became simple: could Spalding turn the season around once MIAA A play took over?

The answer was yes.

March 28: Spalding 18, John Carroll 13

Spalding opened league play with an 18-13 win over John Carroll. The Cavaliers needed offense, and they got a lot of it.

The 18-goal performance was Spalding’s highest-scoring game of the season. It showed that the Cavaliers could still create offense when they played with confidence.

The win also changed the mood of the season. Spalding moved into conference play and immediately found success. The Cavaliers did not play a perfect defensive game, but they won a high-scoring matchup and started building their league resume.

March 31: McDonogh 12, Spalding 11

Spalding lost a heartbreaker to McDonogh, 12-11. The result was close enough to sting, but it also showed that the Cavaliers could battle one of the conference’s best programs.

McDonogh has long been one of the standard setters in Maryland lacrosse. A one-goal loss against that type of opponent showed Spalding had improved from the early-season blowouts.

This was a loss, but it was not a bad sign. Spalding showed it could play MIAA A lacrosse at a high level.

April 7: Spalding 10, St. Paul’s 9

Spalding bounced back with a 10-9 win over St. Paul’s. This was one of the most important wins of the year because it came right after the McDonogh loss.

The Cavaliers found a way to win a one-goal game. That matters in the MIAA A Conference, where playoff races and seeding often turn on one or two possessions.

Spalding’s defense held up just enough, and the offense produced enough late-game answers. This win started a five-game winning streak and changed the direction of the season.

April 10: Spalding 11, St. Mary’s 7

Spalding beat St. Mary’s 11-7 at home. The Cavaliers held a quality league opponent to seven goals and continued their climb.

This was one of the cleaner wins of the season. Spalding did not need 18 goals to win. The Cavaliers defended, controlled stretches of the game and built a four-goal margin.

The win moved Spalding deeper into the MIAA A race and proved the St. Paul’s result was not a one-game bounce.

April 16: Spalding 14, Severn School 10

Spalding beat Severn School 14-10 and kept the winning streak alive.

This was another game where the offense carried a strong load. Severn scored 10, but Spalding had enough answers to stay in control. The Cavaliers’ ability to reach double figures became one of the biggest reasons for the turnaround.

The win also mattered locally. Severn is another Anne Arundel County program, and matchups like this always carry extra energy.

April 21: Spalding 8, Boys’ Latin 5

The 8-5 win over Boys’ Latin was one of Spalding’s best wins of the season.

Boys’ Latin is one of the premier names in Maryland lacrosse. Holding that program to five goals is a major defensive achievement. Spalding did not need a huge offensive night. The Cavaliers won with discipline, defensive toughness and timely scoring.

This game showed what Spalding could be at its best. The Cavaliers could grind. They could defend. They could beat a high-level opponent without playing a track meet.

April 24: Calvert Hall 14, Spalding 8

Calvert Hall beat Spalding 14-8 in a rematch of the 2025 MIAA A championship game.

The result reminded everyone that Calvert Hall remained a major obstacle. Spalding had played Calvert Hall to overtime in the 2025 final, but the 2026 meeting got away from the Cavaliers.

Calvert Hall’s offense created separation, and Spalding could not keep pace. The loss snapped the winning streak and gave the Cavaliers another lesson before the final stretch.

Still, Spalding did not spiral. That mattered.

April 28: Spalding 13, Gilman 6

Spalding responded with a strong 13-6 win over Gilman. This was one of the Cavaliers’ most complete games.

The defense held Gilman to six goals. The offense reached 13. That combination gave Spalding exactly the kind of bounce-back performance it needed after the Calvert Hall loss.

Good teams answer losses. Spalding answered this one with authority.

May 1: Spalding 12, Loyola Blakefield 5

Spalding beat Loyola Blakefield 12-5. This was another statement performance.

Loyola Blakefield is another traditional MIAA A power, and Spalding held the Dons to five goals. The Cavaliers’ defense again looked sharp, and the offense had enough balance to win comfortably.

The win also strengthened Spalding’s late-season profile. Beating Gilman and Loyola Blakefield in back-to-back games showed the Cavaliers were peaking at the right time.

May 5: Spalding 9, Mount St. Joseph 8

Spalding beat Mount St. Joseph 9-8 in one of its tightest wins of the season.

This was not a blowout. It was a grind. Spalding had to handle pressure, execute late and protect a narrow margin. Those are the games that reveal a team’s character.

The Cavaliers had already shown they could win with offense. This game showed they could win with patience and toughness.

May 7: Spalding 12, St. Mary’s 6

Spalding closed the listed schedule with a 12-6 win over St. Mary’s. MaxPreps lists this as a home conference win.

The Cavaliers finished strong and completed another convincing performance against St. Mary’s. The offense doubled up the Saints, and the defense held them to six goals.

The late-season run gave Spalding a strong finish after a difficult start. The Cavaliers won four straight to end the schedule listed on MaxPreps and won nine of their final 11 games overall.

What Went Right

Spalding’s biggest success was its response after a 2-5 start. Many teams would have folded after losses to Malvern Prep, St. Anne’s-Belfield, Western Reserve, Bullis and Tabor Academy. Spalding did not.

The Cavaliers found their identity in league play. They won close games. They beat respected programs. They defended much better down the stretch. The wins over Boys’ Latin, Gilman, Loyola Blakefield, Mount St. Joseph and St. Mary’s showed how much the team improved.

The senior class also gave the team structure. Mollot, George, Moss, Grant, Sullivan, Connor, Blair, Johnson, Cherneski, Brewer, Reinecker, Eikenberg and Schwab all gave Spalding college-level talent across the field.

That depth matters in the MIAA A Conference. One or two stars are not enough. Teams need attack depth, midfield depth, faceoff options, defensive athletes and goalie play. Spalding had enough pieces to remain dangerous even after losing key players from the 2025 team.

What Held Spalding Back

The biggest issue was the early hole. Spalding played a tough schedule, but the Cavaliers still had to absorb several losses before finding rhythm. The 13-2 loss to Malvern Prep and 13-1 loss to Western Reserve were especially tough.

The defense also had uneven moments. Spalding allowed 13 or more goals six times, according to the listed scores. Against elite teams, that is hard to overcome.

The Cavaliers also had some offensive dry spells against top opponents. The one-goal game against Western Reserve and two-goal game against Malvern Prep showed how difficult it can be to replace experienced scoring.

Final Takeaway

Archbishop Spalding’s 2026 boys lacrosse season should be viewed as a successful reset year.

The Cavaliers were not the 18-win national powerhouse that nearly won the 2025 MIAA A title. But they were still a strong, resilient and dangerous team in one of the nation’s toughest conferences.

Spalding finished 11-7, won nine of its 10 listed region games, closed the year with a strong late-season push and beat several of Maryland’s respected lacrosse programs. The Cavaliers also continued to show why their roster remains one of the most talented in the state.

Brady Mollot gave Spalding a high-end offensive leader. The senior class gave the Cavaliers college-level talent across the field. Young players such as Brady LaRochelle, Jackson Hines, Colby Evans and Braedon Goloboski showed that the future remains bright.

The standard at Spalding has changed. A winning season in the MIAA A Conference is no longer enough by itself. The Cavaliers want championships. They want to beat Calvert Hall, McDonogh and Boys’ Latin when it matters most. They want the first MIAA A title that has remained just out of reach.

The 2026 season did not end with that championship breakthrough, but it kept Spalding in the conversation.

That matters.

The Cavaliers took punches early, adjusted, won conference games and finished strong. For a program trying to stay among Maryland’s elite, that is a season worth recognizing.