Boys Lacrosse: Rumson Rolls Past Rival RBC 9-1 to Take a Big Step Toward a Division Title

By Eric Black - Shore Sports Network contributor

RED BANK - After starting the season 0-4, the Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse team found itself in unfamiliar territory. The four-time reigning Shore Conference Tournament champs needed to rebound in a big way if they intended to win the tournament a fifth straight year. Nine games later, the Bulldogs are rounding into form as they look to defend their title.

Rumson dominated the second half on its way to beating Red Bank Catholic 9-1 on Wednesday for its fourth straight victory. The win gave the Bulldogs a perfect 6-0 record in their division, and puts them in control of their own destiny regarding the Class B North crown.

The Bulldogs (8-5, 5-0), ranked second in the Shore Sports Network Top 10, were paced offensively by juniors Griffin Schultz, (one goal, two assists) and Matt Waters (two goals), and sophomore Colin Pavluk (two goals). However, it was on the other side of the ball that saw RFH take control of the contest.

Defense was the name of the game for the Bulldogs, who held No. 7 RBC (8-3, 4-1) to its lowing scoring game of the year. Sophomore Conor Deverin was a stalwart in goal for Rumson, stopping nine shots in an impressive performance. The physical Bulldogs’ defense played a major role in stopping RBC as well, hindering the Caseys' offense and preventing them from getting good looks.

Waters kicked off the scoring for Rumson, netting a goal three minutes into the game. Three minutes later, it was Schultz scoring off a feed from Ryan Tuorto, pushing the Bulldogs ahead 2-0. Schultz’s goal prompted an RBC timeout with 6:37 left in the first quarter, and the timeout helped the Caseys stop Rumson's momentum, as neither team scored for the remainder of the quarter to keep the Bulldogs' lead at 2-0 after one.

RBC took control early on in the second quarter, and a solid offensive possession culminated in a Brett Habich goal two minutes into the period to cut the lead to 2-1, which is the way it remaining at halftime. Thanks to stellar play by Caseys goalie Matt Benjamin (11 saves), the Bulldogs were denied time after time at the goal. Not to be outdone, the Rumson defense was outstanding as well.

However, after halftime, Rumson took control of the game. It began just like the first quarter with a Waters goal a couple minutes in. The Bulldogs’ lead stayed at 3-1 until the 4:32 mark in the quarter, when the Rumson barrage of goals began.

Seamus Walsh started it for the Bulldogs, netting a goal off a feed from junior Henry Sillen. Senior Lucas Seckler and Pavluk soon followed with goals of their own, and the low-scoring defensive slugfest was suddenly a 6-1 game. Sillen assisted fellow junior Robbie Garavente just a few seconds into the fourth, and it was all but over. Rumson added two more goals in the fourth quarter to win going away.

The Bulldogs have now won eight of their last nine, and appear to clicking at the right time as the season winds down.

“We played a couple good teams in the beginning of the year, but we got over those losses and were able to regroup,” Schultz said. “We’ve won some crucial conference games, and it feels great to be playing well as a team with the postseason coming up.”

Rumson was coming off one of its biggest wins of the year on Monday against Princeton, when the Bulldogs pulled out a hard-fought 6-5 victory in quadruple overtime. Sillen, who hit the game-winning shot with 32 seconds left in the fourth overtime, believes that his team showed unbreakable focus and resilience in the win.

“It was a big game momentum-wise for us,'' Sillen said. "They were a good team, but we kept our composure. Our defense was great and coach had a great game plan for us. The win today against RBC was big, and now we have to keep our momentum rolling into the playoffs.”

Box Score:

#2 Rumson-Fair Haven 9, #7 Red Bank Catholic 1

RFH (8-5, 6-0) 2 0 4 3 – 9

RBC (8-3, 4-1) 0 1 0 0 – 1

Goals - RFH: Matt Waters 2, Colin Pavluk 2, Robbie Garavente, Griffin Schultz, Lucas Seckler, Bryan Hess, Seamus Walsh. RBC: Brett Habich.

Assists – RFH: Griffin Schultz 2, Henry Sillen 2, Ryan Tuorto.

Saves – RFH: Conor Deverin 9, Kyle Knapp 2. RBC: Matt Benjamin 11.