Class of 2026: New Jersey Goalies to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following my piece on the <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/08/class-of-2026-new-jersey-face-off-specialists-to-watch/">top FOGOs in New Jersey for the class of 2026</a>, we continue with that same theme, but now with some goaltenders looking to make a big splash next spring as juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["45465"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da0583f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kievit has been the number one option in the net for Summit in the past two seasons, both ending with the Hilltoppers hoisting the state championship trophy in June. He finished with 121 saves as a freshman and topped that as a sophomore with 180 saves. Summit has always been known for its superior defensive strategy and for holding teams to low goal totals, but that starts with a goaltender who can make the tough saves in critical spots and someone who can take command. He does a good job of that, along with using solid technique, reading the opponent's shots, and making quick, acrobatic saves. Kievit should have a good amount of schools looking into him as he'll be looking for the 3-peat this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Matthew Hemenway","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"144","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Parsippany Hills","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Jersey Thunder","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da05969"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hemenway didn't get much playing time as a freshman, but he had an outstanding sophomore season for Parsippany Hills, totaling 222 saves at 58%. He took control of the defense and came up in clutch moments including in their first-round state tournament game against Columbia when he made 14 saves in a two-goal victory margin. He sees the ball well and after he makes the save, he's looking up right away to find a teammate for an offensive transition opportunity. He has a large frame at 6'3" and moves well from pipe to pipe and is athletic enough to get down quickly on low shots. He'll be looking to help his team avenge their quarterfinal loss from last spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brian Pierpont","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"144","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ramsey","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Mad Dog Blue","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da05a3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pierpont got a little taste of varsity lacrosse as a freshman, but as a sophomore, he stepped up and played great for Ramsey, finishing the season with a 60% save rate and a total of 213 saves. He plays a big role in the clearing game and is smart with the ball, he doesn't mind slowing it down, but if the opportunity is there, he will take it. He is athletic and can make the off-stick saves, along with stonewalling his opponent on the doorstep. He doesn't allow too many rebound chances for the opponent and does a good job of taking charge of the defensive unit. He'll be hungry to get back to the semifinals once again and get over the hump and win a state title next spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["17353"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da05a8e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='17353' first='Connor' last='Doel'] had an impressive freshman campaign with 149 saves, anchoring the Braves' defensive unit and he did much of the same as a sophomore, finishing with 176 saves. Whether playing for his high school or Leading Edge in the summers, he is smart in between the pipes and makes the right plays. He uses good technique and quick hands along with the ability to read the opponent's shots, and can get low or across the post to save an off-stick shot. In the clearing game, he exhibits patience and won't force balls into turnover scenarios. When getting pressured, he doesn't get flustered, but instead stays calm and trusts his stick skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Simon Hardiman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"144","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Montclair Kimberley Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Jersey Thunder","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da05b4f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hardiman has been brilliant in the cage for Montclair Kimberley in his first two years and finished his sophomore year with 196 saves to go along with two assists, falling short in the semifinals. He has shown to have great reaction time especially when opponents are in tight and has the athleticism to make some acrobatic saves. When clearing, he looks up right away for a teammate to get the ball up and out quickly to start the transition game. Hardiman is a very active goaltender and doesn't mind stepping out of the cage in order to make a save or help out his team. He also shows good control of the ball off a save, making it tough for teams to get rebound opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Shayne Boresen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"165","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"144","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Christian Brothers Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"BBL/South Shore","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da05bee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boresen has had two great seasons in the cage for Notre Dame High School, with 185 saves as a freshman in a down year. This past spring, he finished with 140 saves and came up short in the first round against Christian Brothers Academy, which is where Boresen is set to transfer to for his junior year. He has shown to be cool, calm, and collected in the net, and can stop a variety of shots. Whether they are coming from a distance or right on his doorstep, he uses his body well and tracks the ball right from the opponent's stick. He makes crisp and clean outlet passes to his teammates to set up fast break chances and when he's clearing the ball, he doesn't allow pressure to force him into bad decisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Luke Burns","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"144","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Pingry","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Mad Dog","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c636da05ca5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burns hasn't seen much action in his first two seasons, totaling 16 saves in each season so far, but with the departure of 5-star Graham Stevens (Harvard), the door is wide open. He is a dynamic player with his athleticism and stick skills in the clearing game. He shows good technique and positioning in the cage and a good range of motion, with the ability to come up with multiple stops in a quick sequence, and is willing to put his body on the line when needed. I do not doubt that Luke Burns will do enough to win the job this spring and help Pingry get back to the state title game for the first time since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->