Boys' Lacrosse Eyes Outright Inter-Ac Championship

It’s difficult to fathom that there would be any kind of disappointment after the Episcopal Academy 2025 boys’ lacrosse team won the Inter-Academic League championship for the first time since 1998. 

Twenty-seven years is a long time to wait in between titles. None of the players on the team were even close to being born, so there wasn’t a whole lot tying the 2025 team to the 1998 team. Last year’s team, though, didn’t break through the Malvern Prep and Haverford School stranglehold on the league. It earned a seat at the table as the three schools shared the championship. As it turns out, a partial title left the returning Churchmen fully hungry for an outright championship. 

“Last year, we won the Inter-Ac, but it was split three ways,” said senior All-Inter-Ac midfielder Jackson Orcutt, a University of North Carolina signee. “We want it to just be us this year. We have to take another step above, and we think that we can reach our potential.” 

“The fact that it was a three-way tie was satisfying, but we know we can do so much better,” said senior All-Inter-Ac defenseman David Brickman, a Georgetown University commit. “It’s just about putting the pieces of the puzzle together. We don’t see it as a target on our back. Rather, it makes us realize how much more it makes us want to win.” 

The team is off to a hot start, winning its first two games as it hit the road Wednesday, March 18, to face the Academy of the New Church. The squad tallied another impressive win, 17-3.

Senior midfielder Keegan Nash, a Rutgers University signee, led the way with three goals and three assists in Saturday’s 12-5 victory over nationally-ranked Georgetown Prep (Md.) in the IAC-Inter-Ac Challenge. Nash, a three-year starter, is one of the key components to what many consider the best senior class in the Inter-Ac. That group is a major reason why the Churchmen are being considered co-favorites with their reigning co-champions, especially if EA is going to upset the league’s traditional hierarchy. 

“Our senior class has grown up together, and we’re confident that this team can get it done,” Nash said. “We trust (EA head coach) Coach (Steve) Colfer, and we trust each other. Last year definitely puts more of a target on our back, especially since a lot of people still think it was a fluke. It makes our guys more motivated. We’re ready to take that step forward. We know we’re more respected, but I still think we’re very underlooked.” 

The Churchmen are slotted in at No. 14 in the latest Inside Lacrosse national rankings. There won’t be any sneaking up on anyone, but the team’s “We Not Me” mantra speaks volumes about how they expect to get to the top of the Inter-Ac. There’s plenty of individual talent, but that talent’s better when it works together. That was the strength of the 2025 team, and Colfer and his staff will need it to be once more. 

“I remember listening to a Super Bowl-winning head coach who talked about handling success, and he talked about how a ‘we not me,’ culture is so imperative in the years his teams had success,” Colfer said. “If the me’s take over and winning clouds the ability to be selfless, and it makes us selfish, then that usually means the season goes sideways. Winning is hard. Having back-to-back successful years is really hard, and you have to work that much harder. Others view you differently.” 

The Churchmen are going to score a lot of goals this year. Orcutt and Nash are well-established and with good reason. Orcutt, also an all-league football player, is as athletic a midfielder as there is in the country. He impacts the game all over the field, can play attack or midfield, and will usually demand an early slide from defenses because of his explosiveness. Colfer loves Nash’s work ethic and willingness to do anything the team requires. Nash is incredibly productive and is a perfect complement for Orcutt’s skill. 

Senior Villanova signee Parker Smith is another versatile player that can line up in a number of spots. He shoots the ball incredibly hard, isn’t afraid to get to dirty areas to make plays, and has made great strides in the two-man game to diversify his offensive game. Senior Fairfield signee Brody Garrison is another versatile offensive weapon who can play both attack or midfield. 

"He does a lot of the little things,” Colfer said. “He plays attack, midfield, takes wings, and he’s got excellent footwork. In tight games, we’ll use him as a defensive midfielder because he can cover really well.” 

Junior attackman Reid Dennis, he of the 31 goals a season ago, is off to a hot start. He plays much bigger than his size and is a demon on the ride for the Churchmen. 

EA has a great nucleus of returners on the defensive end, despite losing Inter-Ac Player of the Year Evan MacFarland, who has been an immediate starter as a freshman at Georgetown, and Penn State freshman Paul Bruder. Brickman is the No. 1 cover man who’ll be tasked with shadowing everyone’s top attackmen. A 6-3, 200-pounder, Brickman has the size, physicality, and toughness to thrive in the No. 1 role after spending much of the 2025 season as a No. 3. Senior Brown commitment Rees Piontek is a high-energy, high-compete long stick midfielder who excels off the ground and in transition. Sophomore Connor Song also figures prominently on the back end. Considered to be one of the elite players in the class of 2028, Song has incredible stickwork and takeaway ability. 

Sophomore Liam Titus and junior Trevor Cantlin will both see time in the cage this year. Titus has started the first two games as Cantlin recovers from an injury. Cantlin was the starter for the Churchmen a season ago, but Titus also saw time. Both have experience and figure to provide a steady presence in the EA cage. 

Colfer will have the luxury of having three capable faceoff midfielders to man the stripe this season. Junior Carson Jakuc had the hot hand in the season opener with an 11-for-16 day against the Perkiomen School. Saturday, it was sophomore Keehan Petock who shined with a 5-for-7 performance, complete with a goal. Junior Tripp Murphy is also in the mix, and that group, paired with LSMs Song and Piontek, will get the Churchmen’s offense the ball a lot. 

The talent and coaching to win that elusive outright Inter-Ac title is there. Colfer, who led Cabrini to the 2019 NCAA Division III national championship, is regarded as one of the very best coaches in Philadelphia and beyond. His staff is stocked with high-end coaches who will accentuate the players’ talents. As for the team? They know the expectations are high, and they’re completely on board with that. 

“We can expect a lot from this team,” Orcutt said. “We may not be a big name right now, but by the end of the season, we can be a big name and a top program for sure.” 

“We’ve been talking about how this is the year, and we have the talent to do it,” Nash added. “We have to stay locked in, and if we do that, we can definitely beat any team on our schedule.” 

By Matt Chandik