Malvern Prep (Pa.) Grabs No. 1 Spot in USA Lacrosse High School Boys' National Top 25

One week into schedules opening around the country, and there’s a new No. 1.

Malvern Prep (Pa.) answered any doubts about some of the defense it graduated when it held off former No. 1 McDonogh (Md.) in a thriller, 11-10.

The Friars showed balance on offense and their defenders now taking on bigger roles this year stepped up to a great challenge from the Eagles. Malvern plays a loaded schedule that will have more tests ahead.

Another top-10 matchup looms this week with Culver Academy (Ind.) putting its unbeaten record on the line at St. Anthony’s (N.Y.). Will the Midwest Region frontrunner’s four games of experience show in what is the No. 2 Friars’ season opener? It’s showdowns like this that bring together great teams across regions that we love to see.

The Northeast Region mostly gets going this week to help clarify the national rankings. The Mid-Atlantic jumped into action with no major surprises and the ranked teams holding their spots, though several were challenged in tight contests. St. Ignatius (Calif.) is unbeaten to lead the West contingent.

We can’t wait to see how things shake out with the action heating up. Scroll below for this week's USA Lacrosse High School Boys' National Top 25, with each team's previous ranking denoted in parenthesis.

Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country, rankings and records reflect results as of previous Sunday. 

USA Lacrosse High School Boys' National Top 25

1. Malvern Prep (Pa.), 1-0 (7)    
2. St. Anthony's (N.Y.), 0-0 (2)    
3. Lawrenceville (N.J.), 0-0 (3)    
4. McDonogh (Md.), 0-1, (1)    
5. Loomis Chaffee (Conn.), 0-0 (4)    
6. Culver Academy (Ind.), 4-0 (5)    
7. Archbishop Spalding (Md.), 1-0 (6)    
8. Belmont Hill (Mass.), 0-0 (8)    
9. Salisbury (Conn.), 0-0 (9)    
10. Haverford School (Pa.), 1-0 (10)    
11. Taft (Conn.), 0-0 (11)    
12. Brunswick (Conn.), 0-0 (12)    
13. Bullis (Md.), 3-0 (13)    
14. Calvert Hall (Md.), 1-0 (14)    
15. Western Reserve (Ohio), 3-0 (15)    
16. Boys' Latin (Md.), 2-0 (16)    
17. Landon (Md.), 2-0 (17)    
18. Chaminade (N.Y.), 0-0 (18)    
19. Deerfield (Mass.), 0-0 (19)    
20. Georgetown Prep (Md.), 2-0 (20)    
21. Fairfield Prep (Conn.), 0-0 (21)    
22. Darien (Conn.), 0-0 (22)    
23. St. Ignatius (Calif.), 2-0 (23)    
24. St. Paul's (Md.), 1-0 (24)    
25. Garden City (N.Y.), 0-0 (25)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Delbarton (N.J.), DeMatha (Md.), Don Bosco (N.J.), East Islip (N.Y.), Gonzaga (D.C.), Half Hollow Hills (N.Y.), Lake Mary (Fla.), La Salle (Pa.), La Salle (R.I.), Loyola Blakefield (Md.), McQuaid Jesuit (N.Y.), Radnor (Pa.), Ridgewood (N.J.), Salesianum (Del.), Springfield-Delco (Pa.), Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.), St. Andrew's (Fla.), Staples (Conn.), St. John's College (D.C.), St. Mary's (Md.), Summit (N.J.), Torrey Pines (Calif.), Valor Christian (Colo.)