New Jersey Conference Tournaments: Outcomes and X-Factors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following my article covering the <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/05/new-jersey-county-tournament-outcomes-and-x-factors/">New Jersey County Tournament Outcomes and X-Factors</a>, we now take a glance at four conference champions, crowned in the recent weeks in the Garden State. And with the state tournament seeding having dropped, we can also preview what lies ahead for each of these hopeful teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of these teams have fought hard to get to the top of their respective conferences, and much like the county tournaments, the conference tournaments bring the juice and rivalries every year and is always an exciting time leading up to state playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px"><strong>Shore Conference Champion: Rumson-Fair Haven (13-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X-Factor:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='37838' first='Luke' last='Lydon'] (Jr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["37838"],"_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-682fbc427343d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rumson-Fair Haven has had a strangle-hold on the conference title in recent years, winning four out of their last five attempts. By outscoring their first two opponents 31-13, they glided into the title game against a tough and solid team of Manasquan, and with overtime goal scored by junior [player_tooltip player_id='17524' first='Joseph' last='Whitehouse'], the Bulldogs were crowned champions once again in a 15-14 OT win. After a semifinal exit a year ago, junior attackman [player_tooltip player_id='37838' first='Luke' last='Lydon'] put his team on his back and posted outstanding numbers in just three games. The Boston University commit put up 13 goals and 3 assist, four of which came in the title game. Lydon is a crafty attackman and uses his speed and stick skills to get past his defender and either find the back of the net or hit an open teammate. He can beat you with or without the ball and does a nice job of finding soft spots in the defense to let a step down shot fly. The Bulldogs earned the #1 seed in the South Jersey, Group 1 bracket and will face #16 seed Middle Township (13-4) in the first round on May 29th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tournament Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5/15 vs. Holmdel, 15-6 (W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5/17 vs. Shore, 16-7 (W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px"><strong>Greater Middlesex Conference Champion: St. Joseph (Met.) (16-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X-Factor:</strong> Nick Hengerer (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Nick Hengerer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_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":"143","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Joseph (Met.)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Upper Level","_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-682fbc4273567"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Joseph (Met.) captured their second straight conference title and did so by coasting to a victory in both of their tournament games, dominating East Brunswick 11-0 in the finals. With a big boost at the face-off X from freshman Sebastian Assuncao, who tallied 12 wins on 13 attempts in the final round, the Falcons were able to control the ball well and get quality possessions which explains the large scoring margins in both games. Offensively, senior midfielder Nick Hengerer put on a great performance in both games, totaling 8 goals and an assist, with four of those goals coming in the title game to help extend their lead. The Ursinus commit shows a lot of fight and heart when on the field and while he is usually under-sized compared to his matchup, he is a strong and tough player who fights through checks and has the ability to use both hands interchangeably, making it tough on his matchup. He isn't afraid of contact, in fact he invites it and then likes to roll off the defender for a quick shot which is very effective for him. The Falcons drew the 11th seed in the Non-Public bracket and will face the 22nd seed St. Joseph (Hamm.)(7-8) on May 28th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tournament Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5/10 vs. South Brunswick, 15-1 (W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px"><strong>Colonial Valley Conference Champion: Hopewell Valley (16-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X-Factor:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='48919' first='Luke' last='Caldwell'] (Sr.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["48919"],"_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-682fbc42735e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopewell Valley has had a fantastic season thus far, blowing out a good amount of opponents on their schedule, with their only two losses coming by a combined five goals. Having both senior attackmen Ryan Foret and [player_tooltip player_id='48919' first='Luke' last='Caldwell'] eclipsing over 100 points for the year has been a big boost for the Bulldogs offense and overall morale. Caldwell was lighting up the scoreboard in the three games played, totaling 13 goals and a pair of assists, with his dodging ability from X and the ability to use either hand, proving to be lethal to defend, finishing with 5 goals in the title game that turned out to be a nail-biting 9-7 win. Most recently, Caldwell connected on his 100th goal of the season in a 10-9 win vs. West Morris on 5/19, falling nine goals short of that mark just a season ago, but the Washington &amp; Lee-bound attackman has his eyes set on on the state title after losing in the semifinals last year. The Bulldogs have the #1 seed in the North Jersey, Group 2 bracket, facing Ocean Township (7-8) in the first round on May 29th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tournament Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5/10 vs. Steinert, 15-2 (W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5/13 vs. Princeton, 12-4 (W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px"><strong>Cape-Atlantic League Champion: Ocean City (9-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X-Factor:</strong> Jack Scherbin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Jack Scherbin","_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":"6'4u0022","_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":"142","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ocean City","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"SouthShore","_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-682fbc42736cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ocean City has now taken home the hardware for the fourth consecutive year in the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament, and while they've had their ups and downs this season, the Red Raiders caught fire in this years tournament, facing Mainland in a South Jersey rivalry with Ocean City having already beaten the Mustangs in double OT earlier in the year. The Red Raiders received solid production from sophomore Otter Donohue and senior Nolan O'Kane, but junior attackman Jack Sherbin showed but big for his team finishing the tournament with 7 goals and an assist, five of which came in the semifinal, and is able to affect the game in a number of ways. The 6'4" Margate, NJ native uses his size to his advantage and when shooting, does a good job of mixing up shot location and changing planes to challenge the goaltenders. He finished with two goals in the title game, including a nice step down rip early in the game to extend the Red Raider lead. Ocean City has snagged the 3rd seed in the South Jersey, Group 2 bracket and will face 14th seed Oakcrest (8-9) on May 29th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tournament Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5/19 vs. St. Joseph (Hamm.), 11-3 (W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->