FCA Invitational Features Historic and Top-Rated Programs Coming to USA Lacrosse

A busy slate of late winter and early spring games on Tierney Field at USA Lacrosse headquarters is highlighted this weekend with a high school and college lacrosse doubleheader in the FCA Invitational.

On Friday, two of Baltimore’s top boys’ high school programs — Calvert Hall and St. Paul’s — welcome some tough regional competition in the Lawrenceville School (N.J.) and Academy of the New Church (Pa.).

On Saturday, a Top 10 showdown in NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse — Salisbury vs. William Smith — will be followed by the lone NCAA Division I game of the season at Tierney Field — Hobart vs. Providence.

• Tickets for each day are $12 each (Live stream links also available).

The event came together as Corrigan Sports was looking to expand its events portfolio and Kelly Benefits, the event’s sponsor, was looking to connect high school and college lacrosse. USA Lacrosse became a perfect home for the two groups to work together for a marquee event showcasing different levels of the sport.

“From the facility and what everyone who works there does, it represents the whole game,” said Andy Bilello, VP of Events for Corrigan Sports.

Kicking off the event will be Calvert Hall and Lawrenceville. Calvert Hall, a perennial nationally-ranked program, has won three of the last five MIAA championships while Lawrenceville is on the rise. Lawrenceville, which has won the last two Mid Atlantic Prep League championships, is led by head coach Jon Posner, who built Culver Military Academy into one of the nation’s top programs before coming to Lawrenceville for the 2021 season.

Finishing off Friday’s schedule is St. Paul’s and Academy of the New Church. St. Paul’s is one of the sport’s traditional powers – boasting 20 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame members — and is ranked No. 22 in the Nike / USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll. Academy of the New Church has won eight straight Friends School League championships.

Saturday’s opening college game features 2021 NCAA Division III champion Salisbury testing itself against William Smith. The Sea Gulls are off to a 5-1 start this season and are ranked fifth in the Nike / USA Lacrosse rankings. William Smith, off to a perfect 3-0 start, is one spot back at No. 6.

The final game features two first-time visitors to Tierney Field — Hobart and Providence. Hobart, one of the sport’s most iconic programs, is one of 21 college programs honored with pillars that surround the facility. The Statesmen are off to a 3-3 start this season. Providence has won two straight games to improve to 4-3. The Friars are led by first-year head coach Bobby Benson, a gold medalist from the 2002 U.S. team who is very familiar with the facility through training camps in his role as a coach for the U.S. men’s Sixes team that competed in The World Games 2022.

The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum, located inside the IWLCA Building on the campus, will be open throughout the event. There is no additional charge to visit the museum.