New Jersey: Preseason Top Five Teams to Watch

With the 2025 spring season upon us, take a look at my breakdown of my preseason top 5 teams in NJ. With all of the talent in NJ it was tough to narrow it down to five teams, but these five all have the roster and championship pedigree to make deep runs in their respective groups down the line.   #1 Lawrenceville   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>2024 record: 19-1 X-Factor: [player_tooltip player_id='16729' first='Jake' last='Sturtevant'] (Jr.) Overview: Coming off back-to-back Prep National Championship titles, the Big Red will look to stay on top as they come into the 2025 season ranked among the top teams in the nation yet again. With the departure of multiple highly ranked recruits such as Timmy Piacentini, Connor Gately, and Kevin Morrow, among others, it will take guys like [player_tooltip player_id='14558' first='Sawyer' last='English'] (Brown), Ted Rawson (Syracuse), [player_tooltip player_id='16718' first='Hansen' last='Peck'] (Syracuse), and [player_tooltip player_id='16726' first='Adam' last='Ponting'] (Princeton) to lead the charge for an offense that averaged a little over 16 goals per game in 2024. [player_tooltip player_id='16729' first='Jake' last='Sturtevant'] (Michigan) is my X-Factor for the Big Red this season, as he has shown the ability to be a crafty playmaker off the dodge with great finishing fundamentals. With the ability to use either hand interchangeably and the flexibility to play either attack to midfield, I think the Virginia native could be gearing up for a big season ahead. Meanwhile, the Big Red will also look to some younger players to contribute, like sophomore goaltender [player_tooltip player_id='16730' first='Jett' last='Stake'], California-bred two-way midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='23757' first='Tate' last='Starr'], and Canadian talents [player_tooltip player_id='129327' first='Parker' last='Doyle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='16721' first='Malcolm' last='Richardson']. Every year, Lawrenceville puts an outstanding product on the field that combines discipline, toughness, and athleticism, which is tough to replicate, which is why they continue to rank atop the national polls year after year. Lawrenceville will begin its 2025 season on Friday, March 14th on the road to face highly ranked Calvert Hall of the MIAA. Notable Out of State Matchups: 3/22 vs. Boys' Latin (Md.) 4/2 vs. Malvern Prep (Pa.) 4/9 @ Brunswick (Conn.) 4/26 @ St. Anthony's (N.Y.)</li> </ul>   #2 Don Bosco Prep   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>2024 Record: 17-3 X-Factor: [player_tooltip player_id='14548' first='Brady' last='Scioletti'] (Sr.) Overview: Finishing their 2024 season by beating Seton Hall Prep 13-8 and being crowned Non-Public Group A State Champions, the Ironmen come into the 2025 spring season on the cusp of being nationally ranked in many of the Top 25 rankings that have been released. However, if Don Bosco's offense can produce the way it did a season ago when it averaged over 11 goals per game against a loaded schedule, then I think they'll be just fine. With starting goalie Colton Carfello having graduated, it seems like there will be a battle throughout the preseason between multiple interested parties, with Rutgers-bound [player_tooltip player_id='82243' first='Brody' last='Corey'] the headliner. [player_tooltip player_id='28069' first='Scott' last='Conte'] (Delaware) will be back at the X for the Ironmen this season after a terrific junior year, winning about 68% of his face-offs and contributing as a threat with the ball. The offensive side of the ball is headlined by my X-Factor, [player_tooltip player_id='14548' first='Brady' last='Scioletti']. At 6'3", the Duke commit has led his team in points the last two years and if you've seen him play, you know why. He is a dynamic lefty attackman who can do it all and constantly puts pressure on defenses. Another key piece to this offense this year will be midfielder Johnny Devir (Yale), who has put up 96 career points in his first two seasons and has been turning heads in the process with his dodging and shooting ability. Don Bosco will open its 2025 season at home against highly skilled Georgetown Prep (Md.) on Tuesday, March 25th. Notable Out of State Matchups: 4/2 @ Chaminade (N.Y.) 4/5 vs. Haverford (Pa.) @ Rutgers 5/3 vs. St. Anthony's (N.Y.) @ Iona 5/21 @ New Canaan (Conn.)</li> </ul>   #3 Summit   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>2024 Record: 20-2 X-Factor: [player_tooltip player_id='45416' first='James' last='Grainger'] (Jr.) Overview: The Hilltoppers' 2024 season got off to a rocky start with a 3-2 record through five games, losing to Westfield and being shut out by Delbarton. Fortunately, Summit got back on track by rattling off 17 wins in a row, capped off the season by beating Manasquan 7-6 in the Group 2 State Final and Union County rival Westfield 7-5 to claim the Kirst Cup for the first time. Summit will look for continued production from Cole Sabol, Tyler Sebastian (Hofstra), Jack Freeman, and Quinn Hynes on the offensive end after combining for 113 points a year ago. My X-Factor, [player_tooltip player_id='45416' first='James' last='Grainger'] played a huge role for the Hilltoppers as a sophomore, finishing second on the team with 41 points. The 3-star recruit has good size and speed to create space, with exceptional shot power and placement, as well as the versatility to create as a midfielder or attackman as needed. Defensively, Summit brings back a good amount of experience in Luca Avelino (Denison), [player_tooltip player_id='82261' first='John' last='Conniff'] (Providence), and the anchor in goal, [player_tooltip player_id='45465' first='Robbie' last='Kievit'] (Fairfield). Additionally, after missing last season due to injury, Ryan Bancone (St. Joe's) will be returning for head coach Jim Davidson's defense. Summit's DNA has always been having elite defenses and every year, the Hilltoppers replicate the same defense and offenses still struggle to beat it. In 2024, their opponents averaged less than four goals per game while not letting a single team score double digits. They're a smart team that likes to play zone and has the athletes to press out on opponents, making them uncomfortable and forcing them into bad decisions. Summit's schedule has not be released as of the publishing of this article. </li> </ul>   #4: Seton Hall Prep   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>2024 Record: 15-7 X-Factor: [player_tooltip player_id='127076' first='Nolan' last='Sabel'] (Sr.) Overview: The theme this year for Seton Hall Prep will be redemption. After starting the season 2-5, dropping two games in Florida and losing a few close games to New Canaan (Conn.) and Westfield, the Pirates kept fighting and eventually clawed their way to the state final, where they would come up short against Don Bosco. Under first-year head coach John Svec, a longtime Division I coach, the Pirates will look to get back to the final round and win the Non-Public Group A state championship for the first time in over a decade behind a loaded crew of returning players. The Pirates will look for continued contributions from guys like [player_tooltip player_id='45387' first='Sean' last='Hayes'] (St. Joe's), Michael Clifford (Colgate), and senior goaltender [player_tooltip player_id='16502' first='Conor' last='Keenan'] (Lafayette), with junior [player_tooltip player_id='74240' first='John' last='Peoples'] also a candidate to clock minutes in net as well. Both [player_tooltip player_id='127099' first='Teddy' last='Coyle'] (Middlebury) and [player_tooltip player_id='24393' first='Lucas' last='Angel'] (Fairfield) will return at the face-off X this season with both having won over 60% of their face-offs in 2024. Offensively, there's going to be a tough time replacing the numbers Tyler Juhlin and Christian Schweiger combined for on attack, but Joe DelMauro (Utah) and [player_tooltip player_id='24402' first='Owen' last='Dunleavy'] (UMBC) may be poised to fill their shoes along with support from two-way threat Graham Coakley (Colgate), Charlie Killin (High Point), and my X-Factor, [player_tooltip player_id='127076' first='Nolan' last='Sabel']. The Villanova commit is a shifty point man for the Pirates' offense with good footwork and a hard shot, but his best attribute is that he is unselfish and has great vision and awareness at the midfield position. If this offense, which averaged over 11 goals a game in 2024, can get on track in the early part of the season, that could propel them to make a deep run once again this season. Notable Out-of-State Matchups: 3/29 vs. St. Anthony's (N.Y.) 4/17 @ St. Paul's (Md.) 4/19 vs. Fairfield Prep (Conn.) 5/13 @ Brunswick (Conn.) </li> </ul>   #5: Delbarton   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>2024 Record: 15-8 X-Factor: Asher Testa (Sr.) Overview: The 2024 season did not end the way head coach Matt Kovachik and his squad thought it would, as the Green Wave came up short in the state semifinals. Heading into 2025, Delbarton will come in determined and looking for revenge, returning a good amount of experience. They'll need [player_tooltip player_id='25528' first='Christian' last='Troczynski'] (Cornell) and [player_tooltip player_id='20954' first='Philip' last='Minardo'] to step up at the face-off X with the departure of Ryan Trafford, which I fully expect them to do. Defensively, they performed well in 2024, recording two shutouts (including Summit), holding opponents under seven goals per game on average. To drop that average even more, the Green Wave will need continued production from [player_tooltip player_id='14545' first='Will' last='Pedicano'] (Duke), [player_tooltip player_id='14583' first='Bo' last='Popham'] (Notre Dame) and Tommy Kovachik, among others, as well as Hopkins-bound [player_tooltip player_id='127081' first='Tanner' last='Shimko'] in goal. With a few significant pieces having graduated on the offensive side, guys like Jared Baudin (Lafayette), Andrew Johnson (Williams), [player_tooltip player_id='127095' first='Alex' last='Schobel'] (Babson), and [player_tooltip player_id='17442' first='Pierce' last='Bolger'] (Brown) will likely see some more playing time. Additionally, [player_tooltip player_id='127087' first='Gavin' last='Romweber'] (Middlebury) and Bobby Cusimano (Air Force) will be returning for the Green Wave offense, joined by my X-Factor Asher Testa. The 6'3 Colgate commit can beat a defense with or without the ball and is a smart player with great stick skills and vision. He'll need to step up into a big role and lead the charge back to the state tournament for Delbarton this spring. The Green Wave will have a tough test ahead of them when they go on the road to take on Haverford (Pa.) to start their season on Saturday, March 22nd. Notable Out-of-State Matchups: 3/22 @ Haverford (Pa.) 3/26 @ Brunswick (Conn.) 4/8 vs St. Anthony's (N.Y.) 4/26 vs Malvern Prep (Pa.)</li> </ul>   Teams also considered: Westfield, Ridgewood, Pingry, Chatham

With the 2025 spring season upon us, take a look at my breakdown of my preseason top 5 teams in NJ. With all of the talent in NJ it was tough to narrow it down to five teams, but these five all have the roster and championship pedigree to make deep runs in their respective groups down the line.