U.S. team pals square off as foes for a day Stars will be in the spotlight as Mt. Saint Joseph takes on Haverford. By Don Beideman Inquirer Staff Writer Two members of the U.S. under-21 and under-19 field hockey teams will be on opposite sides this afternoon as top seed Mount St. Joseph (22-1) takes on fifth seed Haverford (19-1) in the PIAA District 1 Class AAA semifinals at Conestoga.

The other semifinal pits No. 2 seed Council Rock North (16-3-1) against No. 3 Perkiomen Valley (20-2) at North Penn. Both games are at 3 p.m. The Magic's Katie Reinprecht and Haverford's Rhian Jones, good friends and club-team teammates, will be in the spotlight for their respective squads today. The Magic is looking for its second straight district crown. The top six district finishers make the state tourney. Haverford, now assured of its first state tourney berth, is just happy to be in the semifinals - considering it was not seeded in the top four, Jones said. "I know it's going to be tough playing Mount St. Joseph," the Duke-bound senior said. "For me it will be like playing against my club team, Mystx. [Mount] players like Katie, Laura Iacovetti, Julia Reinprecht, Colleen McGowan and Brittany Gavin are on my club team. "I think we're pretty well prepared to play them. The fact that we've gotten this far and we have only two club players on our team is a tribute to my mom's coaching," Jones said. Her mother, Linda, has been the Fords' coach for five years. Veronica Radice is the team's other club player, although four others have signed up to join. The Fords will be trying to avenge a 3-1 loss to the Mount in last years's quarterfinals. "Haverford's fast, and they're not going to be intimidated by anyone," said Tina Reinprecht, mother of Katie and co-coach of the Magic. "We've been practicing very hard. The kids aren't taking anyone for granted." Enjoyed the ride.

When Cardinal O'Hara took an early 1-0 lead against Archbishop Carroll in Monday's Catholic League championship game at Arcadia University, a couple of veteran Patriots knew their two-year title streak could be in jeopardy. Seniors Lauren Comly and Rachel Walsh, who had been around for their first title in 2005, weren't about to let a 1-0 deficit spoil their day. "We knew that goal could be the difference between winning or losing," said Walsh, who has committed to St. Joseph's. "It was definitely crucial." "We simply needed to get it back," added the American University-bound Comly, who had spent a frustrating day shooting on goal. At one point three of her shots off offensive penalty corners failed to find the mark. Although neither Comly nor Walsh found the net, they helped spearhead a pressure offense that provided the goals for a 3-1 victory and a third straight crown.

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The Inquirer TOP 10 Field Hockey TeamRecord Last week's rank in parentheses.

 1. Mount St. Joseph (1)22-1
2. Perkiomen Valley (2)20-2
3. Haverford (3)19-1
4. Villa Maria Acad. (5)17-3
5. Council Rock N. (6)16-3-1
6. North Penn (4)15-3-3
7. Methacton (NR)17-6
8. Merion Mercy (NR)15-5
9. Strath Haven (7)18-2
10. Arch. Carroll (NR)13-3-1
Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Christopher Dock 14-4, Hatboro-Horsham (12-5-1).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don Beideman