Lacrosse: NJSIAA Group I Final Preview, Rumson-Fair Haven vs. Mountain Lakes

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NJSIAA Group I Championship

Wednesday May 27 at Hopewell Valley High School, 5 p.m.

RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN

Head coach: Andy Eastwood, second season

Record: 17-6

Sectional seed: 3

Road to the final - first round: Defeated 14-Delran 14-1; quarterfinals: defeated 6-Delaware Valley 10-1; semifinals: defeated 2-Madison 6-5; South Group I sectional final: defeated 1-New Providence 12-8.

Key players: Robbie Garavente, Jr., Attack (42g, 33a); Henry Sillen, Jr., Attack (28g, 17a); Griffin Schultz, Jr., Attack (27g, 15a); Lucas Seckler, Sr., Midfield (26g, 6a); Cooper Cuje, Sr., Defenseman (24gb, 27 takeaways); Emmet Jennings, So., Defenseman (23gb, 18 takeaways); Jack Moore, Sr., LSM (32 gb, 5 takeaways); Ian Clarke, Jr., Defenseman (23gb, 5 takeaways)’ Bryan Hess So., Midfield (23g, 4a); Seamus Walsh, Sr., Midfield (11g, 6a); Lachlan Hull, Jr., Midfield (50gb, 3g); Charlie Curran, So., Attack (18g, 8 assists); Matt Waters, Jr., Midfield (12g, 5a); Butch Clark, Jr., F/O (52%, 31gb); Kyle Knapp, Jr., Goalie (.596 save percentage, 93 saves); Conor Deverin, So., Goalie (.697 save percentage, 106 saves); Colin Pavluk, So., Attack (16g, 3a), Ryan Tuorto, So., Midfield (5g, 6a).

MOUNTAIN LAKES

Head coach: Tim Flynn, 36th season

Record: 16-5

Sectional seed: 1

Road to the final - first round: defeated 16-Kittatinny 15-2; quarterfinals: defeated 9-Ramsey 16-1; semifinals: defeated 4-Pequannock 14-7; North Group I sectional final: defeated 2-Glen Ridge 8-7 in overtime.

Key players: Brad Smith, Sr., Attack (37g, 43a); Ryan Frawley Jr., Attack (45g, 22a); Zander Kotsen, Sr., Midfield (20g, 12a); Trevor Benedetto Jr., Attack (15g, 15a); Will Ratchford, Sr., Midfield (15g, 13a); Brad Landry, Sr., Midfield (15g, 7a); Chet Morgis, Jr., Midfield (10g, 7a); Brendan Monteleone, Jr. (10g, 5a); Kevin Beimfohr, Sr., goalie (.634 save percentage, 167 saves); John Becker, Jr. (66gb).

Outlook: Rumson and Mountain Lakes will meet to decide the NJSIAA Group I title for the second time in three seasons when they clash on Wednesday at Hopewell Valley High School.

For the Bulldogs it is their second sectional title in program history in just the third year since the NJSIAA expanded the state tournament to sectional tournaments rather than just one tournament for each group from the start. Mountain Lakes has won three sectional titles in that span, but that’s where the similarities end.

Rumson may be the standard in the Shore Conference, but the Bulldogs are the new kids on the block among 12 teams still playing. Rumson’s only trip to the Group I title game came in 2013, an 8-6 loss to Mountain Lakes.

Few programs in New Jersey can be mentioned in the same sentence as Mountain Lakes, and that starts with legendary head coach Tim Flynn. Earlier this season Flynn recorded his 600th career win in his 36th season as head coach. He is the first coach in state history to reach that milestone and one of just six coaches nationally to win 600 games. During his tenure Mountain Lakes has won 11 Morris County Tournament titles, 20 division championships and seven state titles. The Lakers are the two-time defending Group I champions.

Obviously Mountain Lakes is well-coached, and the Lakers are deep and skilled at every position as well. Senior attackman Brad Smith can score and feed with equal efficiency and has a team-leading 80 points, while junior attackman Ryan Frawley leads the team with 45 goals. Eight players have scored at least 10 goals for the Lakes and 10 total players have double-digit points. Senior goalie Kevin Beimfohr has been tough to beat with 167 saves and a .634 save percentage.

Rumson has balance as well, led by junior attackman Robbie Garavente, who has enjoyed a breakout season with 42 goals and 33 assists. Both totals lead the Bulldogs. Rumson has scoring depth as well with nine players above 10 goals and 10 players with double-digit points. Rumson’s defense is led by seniors Cooper Cuje and Jack Moore, junior Ian Clarke and sophomore Emmet Jennings, and has been rock solid most of the season. The Bulldogs have allowed an average of 5.4 goals per game and have surrendered 10 or more goals just five times. Junior Kyle Knapp and sophomore Conor Deverin have split time in goal all season, but it has been Knapp who has gotten the call during the state tournament.

Keys to the game: When Rumson has started strong it has usually been able to sustain that momentum for the entire game. That was the case during the sectional final when it jumped on New Providence 4-1 early in the second quarter. The last time Rumson started slow it was was run over by Southern, 16-6 in the Shore Conference Tournament final, so the Bulldogs know the first quarter will be key.

Mountain Lakes has a ton of depth, and while Rumson may not be quite as deep, the Bulldogs can roll out two lines of middies and not have a drop-off. Rumson’s middies, specifically senior Seamus Walsh, were great defensively against New Providence in holding the Pioneers to four goals through three quarters. The Pioneers also boasted 83-goal scorer Jack Harvey, and Rumson held him to two goals before he went off in the fourth quarter. A similar effort will be needed to attempt to contain Smith.

At this stage of the state tournament possessions are huge, and that’s where Rumson will need a big effort from its face-off group. Clark doesn’t have overwhelming numbers on draws, but he’s a battler who can do a good job tying up his opponent while his wing players come in and pick up the ground ball. That’s where Hull and Moore will have to be at their best for Rumson. Hull has been a ground ball ace for the Bulldogs all season, and they’ll need his best game yet.

Rumson is also a team that likes to create one-on-one mismatches on offense and dodge to create openings. Some teams have gone to a zone to prevent that, so the Bulldogs will have to continue to move the ball well as they did against New Providence.

This is a huge undertaking for Rumson for several reasons. The Bulldogs have just six seniors and entered the year with just four returning varsity players. They had some growing pains early in the season but have come on hot in the state tournament. No Shore Conference team has ever won an overall group championship in men’s lacrosse, and to do that Rumson will have to beat a legendary coach and an all-time program.

Simply put, Rumson will likely have to play the best game in program history.