Boys Lacrosse: Standout performances from the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament

The first round of the NJSIAA Boys Lacrosse Tournament is in the books. Ten Shore Conference teams advanced to the quarterfinals while the other 13 saw their seasons come to an end. In both victory and defeat, there were multiple standout performances from the opening round.

Shea Brennan, Sr., Midfield, Wall
Brennan erupted for a career-high 11 points on six goals and five assists to power the Crimson Knights to a 15-3 win over Jackson Liberty in the South Group 2 playoffs. He has 36 goals, 36 assists, and 86 ground balls this season. Fifth-seeded Wall faces fourth-seeded Somerville in the quarterfinals.

Kyle Borenius, Sr., Goalie, Red Bank
Borenius made 18 saves when the Bucs dropped a heartbreaker, 7-6 in overtime, to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the North Group 3 opener. A defenseman by trade, Borenius stepped into the cage for the Bucs this season out of necessity and finished with 240 saves and a 57% save percentage.

Nick Carabetta, Sr., Attack, Manasquan
Carabetta tallied a game-high five points with two goals and three assists in the top-seeded Warriors' 19-1 wipeout of Absegami in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs. Carabetta has 14 goals and 15 assists this season. Manasquan hosts eighth-seeded Allentown in the quarterfinals.

Konnor Forlai, Sr., Attack, Southern
Forlai sank four goals and assisted on two more for a game-high six points when Southern rolled to a 15-0 win over South Brunswick in the South Group 4 playoffs. Forlai has tallied 22 goals and 26 assists this season. Southern will host sixth-seeded Lenape in the quarterfinals.

Braedyn Gialanella, So., Attack, Lacey
Gialanella led the Lions with three goals during their 25-5 loss to Shawnee in the South Group 3 playoffs. After an excellent 88-point freshman year, Gialanella had an even bigger year this spring with 63 goals and 40 assists for 103 points, tying junior Corey Smith for the team lead in all three categories.

Will Gilfillan, Sr., Midfield, Holmdel
Gilfillan continued his outstanding senior season with a 10-point game in the Hornets 18-3 shellacking of Cedar Creek in the South Group 2 playoffs. Gilfillan scored three goals and dished out seven assists to give him 43 goals, 69 assists, and a Shore Conference-leading 112 points this season. He is four points shy of 300 for his career. Holmdel hosts sixth-seeded Robbinsville in the quarterfinals.

Teague Hibbard, Jr., Midfield, Donovan Catholic
Hibbard delivered three goals and four assists to lead the Griffins in their 19-6 loss to state No. 2 Pingry in the Non-Public A first round. Hibbard had a great junior season with a team-high 63 goals plus 27 assists for a team-leading 90 points while also collecting 63 ground balls.

Matt Hillin, Jr., Goalie, Brick Memorial
The Mustangs fell to Northern Burlington, 13-10, in the South Group 3 playoffs but Hillin was exceptional with a career-high 28 saves to keep the Mustangs in the game throughout. He concluded the season with 251 saves and a 72% save percentage.

Matt LaBianca, Sr., Jackson Liberty
The Lions were overpowered by Wall in a 15-3 loss in the South Group 2 playoffs but LaBianca did his best to keep Liberty in the game with 26 saves. He posted 279 saves with a 71% save percentage this season and will graduate with 816 career saves and a 62% save percentage.

Luke Lydon, So., Attack, Rumson-Fair Haven
Lydon provided three goals and one assist to help lead a balanced Bulldogs' offense as they cruised to a 16-1 over Cinnaminson in the South Group 1 playoffs. Lydon has scored 37 goals and added 13 assists for the defending Group 1 champions, who will host Madison in the quarterfinals.

Anthony Macchio, Sr., Midfield, Manalapan
Macchio led the way for the Braves' offense with three goals and one assist during their 14-3 victory over Williamstown in the South Group 4 playoffs. He is up to 20 goals and 14 assists this season and has been an integral player for a Manalapan program that won its first division title this spring. The Braves will travel down the Turnpike to take on fourth-seeded Kingsway in the quarterfinals.

Ryan Martin, Sr., Attack, CBA/Carter McGuire, Jr., Attack, CBA
Martin fired in five goals and assisted on four more and McGuire tied his career-high for points in a game with six goals and one assist when the Colts surged past Notre Dame, 15-4, in the Non-Public A playoffs. Martin has enjoyed a tremendous season with 56 goals and 36 assists while McGuire has 21 goals and 8 assists. CBA will travel to Basking Ridge to play fourth-seeded Pingry in the quarterfinals, pitting the No. 2 (Pingry) and No. 11 teams in the state.

Joe Muzzillo, So., Attack, Jackson Memorial
Muzzillo led the Jaguars with three goals during their 10-7 loss to West Windsor-Plainsboro North in the South Group 3 playoffs. He finished his sophomore season with 20 goals and 11 assists.

Gavin Reid, Sr., Attack, Point Boro
Reid notched a hat trick for the Panthers in their 14-4 loss to New Providence in the South Group 1 playoffs. He finished the year with 43 goals and 11 assists in his only season as a starter and helped the Panthers to a 13-6 record.

Carson Spallone, Sr., Attack, Shore
Spallone's four goals and one assist led the way for the Blue Devils when they blew out Dayton, 15-1, in the South Group 1 playoff opener. He has 30 goals and 21 assists this season. Shore will host sixth-seeded Glen Ridge in the quarterfinals.

Nolan Thompson, Sr., Attack, Freehold Township
Thompson recorded a hat trick to lead the Patriots in their 22-4 loss to second-seeded Cherokee in the South Group 4 playoffs. He was second on the team this season with 33 goals and 45 total points.

Gerard Uzzolino, Fr., Attack, Toms River East
Uzzolino recorded eight points with three goals and five assists when the Raiders defeated district rival Toms River South, 19-8, to advance in the South Group 3 playoffs. Uzzolino has set a Toms River East freshman record with 55 points (28g, 27a) and will look to continue his superb season when the Raiders head south to face third-seeded Ocean City in the quarterfinals.

Peter Villare, Sr., Attack, Red Bank Catholic/Frank Tackett, So., Midfield, Red Bank Catholic
Villare and Tackett both registered a career-best nine points to help power the Caseys to an 18-2 opening-round victory over St. Joseph (Hammonton) in the Non-Public B playoffs. Villare had seven goals and two assists and Tackett tallied five goals and four assists. Villare has 40 goals and 13 assists on the season while Tackett has enjoyed a breakout season with 46 goals and 23 assists. RBC will travel to face second-seeded Rutgers Prep in the quarterfinals.