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On Monday, PNC Bank announced a three-year deal to continue its support of regional high school lacrosse with the extension of its role as title sponsor of the PNC Invitational. The annual showcase features two games pairing four of the top nationally ranked high school lacrosse teams from the Mid-Atlantic.
For the first time in the events history, there will be a girls game played. Here are the 2017 games that are set for April 8 at Loyola University Maryland’s Ridley Athletic Complex.
The McDonogh girls will look to extend their national-record 155 game win streak as they compete against Good Counsel. Laxpower.com ranked McDonogh No. 1 in the country at the end of the season and the Eagles have won eight consecutive Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) titles. While Good Counsel was ranked fifth in the country.
McDonogh head coach Chris Robinson said it is an honor for his team to be apart of a great event.
“We are really excited to be involved in such a prestigious event,” he said. “What makes it even better is that we get to play against Good Counsel pitting one of the best programs in DC vs one of the best in Baltimore. Our regional rivalry has been going on for about a decade now and they are always a great opponent that we look forward to playing each year.”
The boys game pits Baltimore’s Loyola Blakefield against Bullis, the 2016 IAC champions from DC. Bulls ended the season ranked fifth in the country in the laxpower.com rankings and defeated Boys’ Latin convincingly, 16-10, in last year’s PNC Invitational.
“It’s a great opportunity for our program to play on a big stage against tough competition,” said Loyola Blakefield second-year coach and alum, Ben Rubeor. “PNC runs a high quality event, and we are privileged to be a part of it.”
“Lacrosse is a proud Maryland tradition and its popularity is spreading rapidly throughout the country,” said Laura Gamble, PNC regional president for Greater Maryland. “PNC is committed to supporting Maryland’s lacrosse legacy by bringing together regional powerhouses for a heightened level of competition among the schools and to bolster the sport throughout the region.”
Corrigan Sports Enterprises, Inc. (CSE), the sports marketing and event management firm that operates other high-profile events in the Baltimore area such as the Baltimore Running Festival and Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic, will host the PNC Invitational.
“It’s been a privilege to provide a Division I game day experience for the area’s premier student-athletes via this invitational,” said Lee Corrigan, president of CSE. “PNC’s support has helped grow the sport tremendously, and many players have developed into collegiate stars at their respective universities.”
For more information about the PNC Invitational visit www.pncinvitational.com.
