Elite Sports PT Shore Conference Boys Lacrosse Top 10 for May 30
The postseason is here and just 10 Shore Conference teams remain as we head into the second round of the NJSIAA Tournament. The Shore has some legitimate sectional and group state title contenders who will look to bring home the hardware over the next two weeks.
A lot has happened since our last Top 10, most notably the Shore Conference Tournament where Rumson-Fair Haven won its third straight title to continue its conference supremacy. Plenty of other results along the way, both in the tournament and in regular season games, have us making the most changes all season. There is no drama at No. 1 but plenty of movement from two through No. 10.
Elite Sports PT Boys Lacrosse Top 10 for May 30
1. Rumson-Fair Haven (17-4). Last week: No. 1
The Bulldogs rolled to their third straight and ninth overall SCT championship with a string of impressive victories, ultimately defeating Manasquan, 10-5, in the championship game. Rumson also defeated Donovan Catholic (18-2, Shore (12-2), and CBA (15-4) en route to their 38th consecutive win over Shore Conference opponents. RFH then opened up the South Group 1 state tournament with a 17-3 victory over Rutherford. After winning the Group 2 title last season and reaching the Tournament of Champions final, Rumson is looking for more hardware, a potential rematch with Mountain Lakes in the Group 1 final, and redemption in the Kirst Cup. Next game: Wednesday vs. Lower Cape May in the South Group 1 quarterfinal.
2. Manasquan (15-5). Last week: No. 3
The Warriors move up one spot after defeating rival Wall, 8-4, in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals. That victory avenged a 7-6 loss to Wall on April 19. Manasquan also defeated Jackson Memorial (18-1) and Holmdel (11-8) before ultimately falling to Rumson-Fair Haven, 10-5, in the SCT championship game. The Warriors also took on Mountain Lakes in a non-conference road game and suffered a 7-5 defeat to last season's T.O.C. champion. Manasquan is the No. 1 seed in the South Group 2 playoff section and opened the tournament with a 20-0 rout of Ocean. Big Blue could see Wall for a third time if both teams reach the sectional final, but first, they'll have to get past Seneca and either Holmdel or Allentown. Next game: Wednesday vs. Seneca in the South Group 2 quarterfinals.
3. Wall (14-5). Last week: No. 2
The Crimson Knights drop one spot after an 8-4 loss to Manasquan in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals. Wall defeated Howell (20-1) and Southern (12-5) in the first two rounds. Seeded No. 2 in the South Group 2 state tournament, Wall cruised to a 22-3 victory over Triton in the first round. The Crimson Knights have never won a state sectional title in lacrosse and are eying the trophy again this season. A potential rubber match with rival Manasquan in the sectional final would be a must-see game. Next game: Tuesday vs. Cranford in the South Group 2 quarterfinals.
4. Christian Brothers Academy (10-7). Last week: No. 4
CBA defeated Toms River East (20-6) and Red Bank (16-1) to reach the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals where the Colts suffered a 15-4 defeat to eventual champion Rumson-Fair Haven. They also had a 6-5 loss to Pingry in a tune-up game for the state tournament. CBA is the No. 8 seed in the Non-Public A state tournament and faces Bergen Catholic in the opening round. Next game: Tuesday at Bergen Catholic in the first round of the Non-Public A state playoffs.
5. Red Bank (14-4). Last week: No. 7
This is where the rankings start to get tricky. The Bucs move up two spots thanks to a victory over Southern (10-9) coupled with the cumulative results from the other five teams ranked sixth through 10th. Red Bank does have a loss to Shore but that was on April 5 and the most recent results take precedence in our Top 10. Red Bank suffered a 15-10 loss to Wayne Valley in the first round of the state playoffs to end its season but turned in a great season by going 14-4. Their three conference losses came against Shore, Rumson-Fair Haven, and CBA and they own key victories over Monroe, Holmdel, Red Bank Catholic, Allentown, Howell, Middletown South, Manalapan, and Southern. Next game: Season complete.
6. Shore (13-5). Last week: No. 6
The Blue Devils had a tough draw in the Shore Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed and were eliminated by No. 1 Rumson-Fair Haven in the quarterfinals. Shore scored a solid 10-4 win over Middletown South in the opening round. The team is back on the winning track after victories over Woodstown (13-1), Cinnaminson (17-1), and Monroe (6-4) heading into the state tournament. Seeded 7th in South Group 1, Shore started its playoff run with a 10-5 victory over New Providence to set up a quarterfinal matchup with No. 2 Glen Ridge. Next game: Wednesday at Glen Ridge in the South Group 1 quarterfinals.
7. Holmdel (16-4). Last week: No. 9
The Hornets are in the midst of the best season in program history and are one win away from advancing to the semifinals of the state sectional tournament. Holmdel was impressive in a 15-2 win over Point Boro in the first round and in an 11-8 defeat to No. 2 Manasquan in the quarterfinals. The Hornets followed with wins over Toms River North (14-3) and Jackson Memorial (19-7) before winning their opening-round game in the South Group 2 playoffs, 12-2 over Highland. One more win will likely give Holmdel another crack at Manasquan in the semifinals. Next game: Wednesday vs. Allentown in the South Group 2 quarterfinals.
8. Middletown South (10-6). Last week: No. 8
The Eagles stay put at No. 8 but did have two big wins with a 12-11 victory over Oratory Prep and a 14-9 triumph over then-No. 5 Southern. The Eagles were seeded ninth in the Shore Conference Tournament and dropped an opening-round game to Shore (10-4). They saw their season come to an end via a 15-8 defeat at the hands of Randolph in the North Group 3 state playoffs. Middletown South posted notable wins over Red Bank Catholic, Howell, Old Bridge, Manalapan, Oratory Prep, and Southern this season while all four of their conference losses came to ranked teams. Next game: Season complete.
9. Southern (12-6). Last week: No. 5
The Rams tumble four spots after suffering three straight losses. After an 11-7 victory over Red Bank Catholic in the first round of the Shore Conference Tournament, Southern fell to Wall, 12-5, in the quarterfinals. Losses to Red Bank (10-9) and Middletown South (14-9) followed before the Rams were able to rebound in the South Group 4 playoffs with an opening-round victory over Freehold Township. Southern is the defending sectional champion and is seeded fourth in the bracket. Next game: Wednesday vs. Monroe in the South Group 4 quarterfinals.
10. Red Bank Catholic (10-7). Last week: No. 10
It's been an up-and-down season for the Caseys with some important wins and tough losses sprinkled throughout, but they have as good a chance as ever to win a wide-open Non-Public B state bracket and secure the program's first lacrosse state title. After an 11-7 loss to Southern in the first round of the Shore Conference Tournament, RBC picked up a 7-5 win over Watchung Hills and a 7-6 win over Allentown heading into the state playoffs. They are the No. 5 seed in the Non-Public B bracket and will host a first-round game. Next game: Tuesday vs. Union Catholic in the first round of the Non-Public B playoffs.
Honorable mention (listed by winning percentage):
Jackson Memorial (11-5)
Barnegat (13-6)
Donovan Catholic (12-7)
Point Boro (11-7)
Toms River East (8-6)
Manalapan (9-7)
Middletown North (9-7)
Howell (10-10)
Freehold Township (8-9)
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