Windmill Team of the Week: Toms River East

Every week this spring, Windmill Restaurants and Shore Sports Network will be selecting a Boys Lacrosse Team of the Week based on its performance over the past week.

The Windmill Team of the Week for Week 3 is Toms River East, which continued its solid season with a win over rival Toms River North and also defeated Jackson Liberty. Windmill and Shore Sports Network were at practice on Tuesday to present the Raiders and head coach Mike Alfieri with a special Team of the Week certificate and a $300 Windmill gift card.

Against Toms River North, the Raiders rallied from a three-goal halftime deficit by scoring eight times in the second half for a 10-6 victory. Evan Otten scored three goals and added one assist while Salvatore Esposito had a hat trick, Matt Gannon and Alex Smith each scored twice and Tyler Budrow made 12 saves.

Two days later, Toms River East took on a Jackson Liberty team that, despite its losing record, has played several close games and has lost to three top 10 teams by one goal. Gannon and Esposito each scored twice while Koehler Wagner had a goal and three assists to lead the way in a 9-6 win over the Lions that pushed Toms River East’s record to 4-2. Louie Gallo IV and Otten each had a goal and two assists and Budrow made 12 saves.

Early this week the Raiders defeated Middletown North, 7-2, to improve to 5-2.

Gannon and Esposito are tied for the team lead in goals with 15 while Gannon has a one-point edge for the team lead with 22 points.

Toms River East makes the rounds with both Brick high schools this week with a home game against Brick Memorial on Wednesday and a road game at Brick on Saturday. The Raiders also have a big game against Middletown South on Monday that will have substantial Shore Conference Tournament seeding implications.

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