We’re down to five Shore Conference teams left in the NJSIAA Tournament as the 2018 season winds down. There were no major surprises last week but we do have to changes to the latest Elite Sports Physical Therapy Top 10, including one new team.

Wall, which set a school single-season record for wins and advanced to the sectional semifinals for the first time in program history, jumps up one spot to No. 4. The new team is Lacey, which had a great performance in the state tournament with a first-round win over Holmdel and hung with Rumson-Fair Haven for three quarters before falling to the Bulldogs in the quarterfinals.

Here’s the latest Elite Sports Physical Therapy Top 10.

Elite Sports Physical Therapy Boys Lacrosse Top 10
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1. Manasquan (18-2). Last week: No. 1

The top-seeded Warriors crushed New Egypt, 21-2, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs as junior attackman Canyon Birch scored 11 goals and added three assists. The Warriors then won a slugfest over Glen Ridge, 12-10, to advance to the semifinals. Birch now has 114 goals and 161 points this season. Junior Ryan Anderson netted three goals and seven assists in two games to increase his season total to 99 points. Manasquan will host Bernards in the sectional semifinals on Wednesday and, if victorious, will host the championship game on Saturday against the winner of New Providence and Madison.

 

2. Christian Brothers Academy (18-1). Last week: No. 2

CBA rallied for a 9-8 win over Non-Public B favorite Pingry thanks to a late goal by senior midfielder Luke Valentino, then started its state tournament with a 16-4 victory over Paul VI. The third-seeded Colts will host St. Peter’s Prep in the Non-Public A quarterfinals on Wednesday. A win would put them into the semifinals on Saturday against the winner of No. 2 Seton Hall Prep vs. No. 7 St. Joseph (Montvale).

 

3. Rumson-Fair Haven (12-9). Last week: No. 3             

The Bulldogs are the defending South Jersey Group 2 champions and began their title defense with a dominating 18-2 victory over Lawrence. Lacey gave Rumson a stern test early in their quarterfinal matchup, leading 4-3 after one quarter and entering halftime tied 7-7, but the Bulldogs used a 10-4 run in the second half to advance to the semifinals. Jack Whitelaw had a big game with a career-high five goals. Second-seeded Rumson will host third-seeded Wall in the sectional semifinals in a rematch of a Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal game won by Rumson, 10-9.

 

4. Wall (14-4). Last week: No. 5

The Crimson Knights continued their historic season by defeating Lower Cape May, 17-4, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs and then topping Cranford, 14-6, to reach the sectional semifinals for the first time in program history. The victory over Cranford also gave Wall a single-season school record 14 wins. Senior attackman Tim O’Hern had a big week with nine goals and two assists. Wall will face defending-champion Rumson-Fair Haven in the semifinals in a rematch of an SCT quarterfinal game won by Rumson, 10-9.

 

5. Southern (14-4). Last week: No. 4

The Rams won a defensive battle over Howell, 4-2, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs but fell to Monroe, 7-2, in the quarterfinals to end their season.

 

6. Freehold Township (12-5). Last week: No. 6

The Patriots lost to Washington Township, 9-4, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs to end their season.

 

7. Shore (16-4). Last week: No. 7

The Blue Devils defeated Cinnaminson, 16-3, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs to set a school single-season record with 16 wins. Their season came to an end, however, with a 15-7 loss to Madison in the quarterfinals.

 

8. Ocean (9-6). Last week: No. 8

The Spartans fell to Somerville, 19-3, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs.

 

9. Middletown South (15-4). Last week: No. 9

The Eagles pushed fifth-seeded Roxbury to the limit in the first round of the North Jersey Group 3 playoffs but fell to the Gaels, 7-6 in overtime. Middletown South finishes the season with a school single-season record 15 victories.

 

10. Lacey (9-7). Last week: not ranked

The Lions enter the top 10 this week following a 12-10 win over last week’s No. 10 team, Holmdel, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs. Lacey stuck with Rumson in the quarterfinals, leading 4-3 after one quarter and entering halftime tied at seven, but the Bulldogs pulled away in the second half to win 17-11 and stop Lacey in its tracks.

 

Dropped out: Holmdel (No. 10 last week)

 

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.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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