Rumson-Fair Haven’s lacrosse program is one with an established tradition and a championship history, and throughout the Bulldogs’ continual rise to power they’ve been fortunate to have one of the school’s all-time greats leading their offense.

Few have been able to accomplish what Robbie Garavente did as a four-year varsity player for Rumson, both individually and in what he meant for the team. The 2016 Shore Sports Network Player of the Year, Garavente turned in a career year to lead Rumson to another Shore Conference Tournament title and an 18-4 record. The senior attackman scored 54 goals and added 31 assists to end with 85 points, finishing among the top scorers in the Shore Conference.

A supreme scoring threat with the ability to take over a game, Garavente had 10 games scoring at least three goals and had multiple goals in 18 of 22 games. He played his best in Rumson’s biggest games, scoring three goals with three assists in an early-season win over perennial power Shawnee to get the Bulldogs' rolling. He fired in three more goals with one assist in a win over Christian Brothers Academy. He netted two goals in a game against St. Augustine and had a four-point effort when the Bulldogs played host to Bergen Catholic.

He was at the top of his game in a crucial Class B North showdown when Rumson took on an undefeated Ocean team with first place in the division in the line. Garavente was unstoppable, scoring a career-high seven goals in a 13-4 victory that locked up another division championship for the Bulldogs.

In Rumson’s run to its record sixth Shore Conference Tournament title and fifth in the last sixth seasons, Garavente had 11 goals and six assists in four games. He had a hat trick when Rumson edged CBA, 6-4, in the SCT semifinals, and scored three times in the championship game as Rumson beat Manasquan, 8-5, to bring home the conference title.

Photo by Robert Samuels/BooFace Photography.
Photo by Robert Samuels/BooFace Photography.
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Rumson would fall to Manasquan in the NJSIAA South Group II sectional final, but Garavente did his part with a pair of goals and had 10 points in four postseason games.

What Garavente accomplished over his career is quite impressive. He finished with 132 goals and 91 assists for 223 points to finish as Rumson's all-time leading scorer. His totals improved each season, from a nine-goal, 10-assist freshman season where he played in just nine games to a breakout sophomore season where he played 19 games and scored 27 goals along with 17 assists. In 2015 he scored 42 goals and had 33 assists to help Rumson win the NJSIAA Group I title, the first state title won by any Shore Conference boys lacrosse program. This season he set career-highs in goals, points and also ground balls (36).

During Garavente’s career Rumson went 71-18, won four Shore Conference division titles, three Shore Conference Tournament crowns, two NJSIAA South Group I sectional titles and one NJSIAA Group I championship. During that span Rumson lost to a Shore Conference team just four times.

Garavente was also selected as the Class B North Player of the Year and is a first-team All-Shore pick by the Shore Conference Lacrosse Coaches Association for the second straight year. He will continue his career at Lafayette College.

 

Lacrosse editor Bob Badders can be reached at badders@allshoremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights. 

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