BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2028 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

Looneys does not have a 2028 team. FCA Blue was already a stacked team and now they have added all those HOCO Pink kids. They are better than the Crabs.
Looks like the AA teams in HOCO next spring will be FCA Blue, Next Level, Mad Lax, Crabs, Hawks, and maybe a couple others that are not on the level of the teams mentioned.

Couple of 27 Hawks held back to 28 this year. Not sure which ones but that was a really good 27 team.

The 27 hawks that are on the 27 team were playing up. 3 very good players plus about 8 other new kids. Hawks now have an A and B team which I don’t think happens often for the Hawks. They aren’t playing a fall league so it will be interesting to see how good they are.

Great scheduling by the HOCO officials to have the 28 Championship game right before the 27 Championship. It allowed the new FCA 28 team and Coach to catch up with their old team. By the our 27’s team count there are at least 7 kids who moved down. 5th grade must be tough in Baltimore

It is called holding them back to catch up with all the other holdbacks, Its spreading to all parts of country, join in or play D2

False. You must be a bitter Next Level parent. FCA Blue got better because of a large number of HOCO Pink kids joining the team, as well as the HOCO Pink coach taking over the team. Don’t be a hater.

I'm not sure I understand. Somehow this reads as if 7 FCA's from the 2027's were told to play in the 2028 championship game on the day of the game. Or the NL parent is saying they saw 7 2027's earlier in the season who switched to 2028 mid-season. Please explain.

HoCo Pink 2027 or 2028?

HOCO Pink 2028.

Too late for NL. If they thought FCA was using non-rostered kids, they had an hour to protest. HoCo has upheld these protests before with the most recent one coming in the last spring season played when MadLax played almost an entire roster of 2025's in the 2026 division, got caught and had to forfeit.

FCA 2028 did not have any non-rostered players on that squad. Congrats to them on beating NL. I would not attribute the strength of the team to adding HoCo pink players. I heard those players are not that strong. I think the core group from the summer is very strong especially at attack and F/O.

Only one 29 USS(28) player went to Hawks and one 29 went to the 29s.

It’s all True Annapolis made up of shore boys with a few AA kids sprinkled in.

Can someone explain how Madlax Capital lost 15-1 to 91 MD (per Tourney Machine) yesterday at the Fall Maryland Tourney.

They didn't. Flip the score to get the correct results: Madlax 15 to 1 for 91 MD.

Interesting scores from yesterday. Crabs haven't made the jump the way that FCA has. For now the Elite teams remain FCA, Madlax and Next Level.

My kid's team played and beat Crabs yesterday, but it wasn't a blowout and Crabs didn't look overmatched. I think they're up there with the other top teams in 2028.

Figured as much. Still surprised Madlax lost to Next Level.

Crabs will make the jump summer before 7th grade when they tell their 27s it’s time to become 28s. It’s the Crabs way.

Having seen the top 2028 teams now except the Hawks and True, I agree it looks like it is going to be a fight for between FCA, Madlax, and Next Level in the top division. FCA is very strong at face off, has two very good attackman and the rest of the team is solid. Next Level is the most balanced across positions and the deepest, especially in the midfield. Madlax defense is strong and the attack is very good at demolishing weaker defenses. But offense has trouble dodging and getting their own shot against stronger defenses.

Crabs and then Cavs probably next strongest. Not sure where Hawks and True will fall in this group.

Sounds crazy but is 100% true. My son plans 2026 (current 7th grade) and last summer the Crabs were awful, but this year are nearly competing with the Hawks for the top spot. Parents on the sidelines have confirmed that most of the roster are 2025s who moved down.

Can somebody explain how a travel club can influence families to actually repeat a year in school?

Very good assessment of the fall teams. Hawks got better with a few reclasses as well a solid goalie. With a few s/p and south river kids joining the group. Definitely an improved group. True got stronger only losing the one little attackmen. Deeper at all positions from a year ago. Both teams should help round out a great division.

It's going to be a fun spring at the 2028 level !

All travel clubs want holdbacks as players get closer to 7-9th grade. It isnt like it is a secret.

It isnt the travel club convincing them...It is the parent convincing himself that his son cant compete on age. Which is true for many. It isnt a great thing, but to compete in MD, it is almost always better to hold your child back, sad but true.

Not surprising. Almost every game these two squads have played resulted in a one goal difference. That is except for this past weekend, NL won by 4.

I thought surprising as MadLax killed Mesa (14-0), but then Mesa had a really competitive game against NL, despite the 9-4 loss. Maybe some of the NL kids had to leave early, as it was the last game of the day.

I am a current 2026 crab parent. We do NOT have 7 holdbacks lol. The team got better because it added new players (yes they were 6th graders last yr), we have new coaching; yes we have a couple holdbacks but so do other teams. What you are saying is simply not true.

There is no insight to youth lacrosse games. Teams can be on for a game and off for the next.

Probably just different personnel for different match ups.

Great fall season in the 2028 level in this region. FCA, Next Level, Madlax, Crabs, Hawks, and True all fielding strong teams. Probably Cavs and either Bethesda or Kelly Post rounding out the top division. Should be a very fun spring with this group.

Was NAL canceled for the 28's? It only shows 27's and above on Tourney Machine. Would have been a good chance to measure up vs the non MD and DC teams.

It's been a cluster. Still waiting to hear for other years and not move locations for the 3rd time.

Out of curiosity what was the score of the Madlax and FCA scrimmage this weekend if anyone knows?

ML won.

You are correct, you don’t have 7, you have 5 . They should change their jersey numbers.

7 if you include the two you had.

Is a blue and yellow Dunce cap included in the equipment give out with Crabs!!

FCA won the first half. MadLax fared better after FCA rotated everyone in.

Seriously? Madlax dominated possession for 80% of the game and the FCA goalie had no less than 20 saves. But believe what you want....work harder over the winter.

So who won?

FCA emptied the bench in the 2nd half?