It was a banner weekend, as EA teams won six of the nine contests played against rivals The Agnes Irwin School and The Haverford School. The girls' teams won their overall competition, 3-1, to keep the Banner. The boys narrowly lost winning back the coveted Sweater, 3-2. EA/AIS photo gallery. EA/Haverford photo gallery.
Due to forecasted rain on Friday, boys' golf teed up the competition on Thursday, Nov. 10, at Merion Golf Club - West Course. The format for the match was better ball partner stroke play. Five pairs competed with the four best scores counting toward the final tally. EA came up short, 141-154. The duo of Grayson Jakuc '23 and Jack Logan '24 shot the team's lowest score of 37.
Girls' tennis served up the first victory against AIS with a 7-0 sweep, winning the three singles and four doubles matches played on Thursday. The Inter-Ac Championship team ended the season 12-0 in league play. Read more coverage by Philly Sports Digest, including interviews with the team captains.
As heavy rain moved in on Friday morning, girls' cross country, field hockey and girls' soccer started their contests with hopes of dodging the deteriorating afternoon forecast. Girls' cross country started off the day, racing through rain, mud, and fog. The girls placed 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 9th, and 10th. The team came up short with a final score of 31-24.
Girls' soccer wasted little time getting on the board early after Kate Dente '25 fired in a goal from an assist by Maya Bright '25. EA held onto the 1-0 lead to win the game. Goalie Maya Naimoli '23 notched another shutout.
After four quarters of soggy play, field hockey ended regulation play 0-0 against the Owls. During a driving rain storm, the team took the field for sudden death overtime. Three minutes into OT, Lex Ventresca '23 strategically passed to Kiley Gallagher '24 who powered in the goal for the win. Goalie Isabel Andrews had four saves.
With three of four wins for the day, the girls earned the Banner for another year.
Sunny skies returned on Saturday, Nov. 12, for the remainder of the boys' contests.
Boys' cross country started the record-setting day by winning the first eight spots. Aidan McHugh '23 (16:28.9) won the race, followed by Dakin Ebmyer '23 (16:44), and Dawson French '24 (16:51). All three runners set EA course records. EA runners also won 14 of the top 16 positions.
Surrounded by cheering fans in and outside of the Burke Natatorium, boys' water polo battled until the end against a powerful Haverford team. The squad lost the contest, 8-18.
Down two to one in the overall contest scoring, boys' soccer took the field energized to even things up. On an assist by David Knox '23, Ryan Sewell '24 scored early in the second half. Fueled by a packed sideline of enthusiastic fans, the team held onto the 1-0 lead for the critical win of the afternoon.
Tied up 2-2, fans headed to Smith Field for the final game of the day, football. Both teams started the day 9-0 as they battled for the Sweater and the Inter-Ac Championship. By the end of the half, the score was even, 7-7. The Fords scored in the 3rd and then again several minutes into the 4th quarter to make it 21-7. EA answered with a 90-yard touchdown return by TJ Cadden '23. With a missed extra point, the score inched to 21-13. Senior quarterback Nick Wolff came in for an injured Na'rome Rayborn '24 and threw for another touchdown to TJ Cadden. With seconds ticking away, the squad could not covert on the two-point conversion. To the disappointment of players and fans, the game ended 21-19.
Hear from the team captains, heading into the rivalry weekend, in the latest episode of EA Unlocked.