X-Factors On The Garden State’s Preseason Top 10 Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we inch closer to the start of the 2026 spring lacrosse season, check out my top 10 teams in New Jersey! Each team has an immense amount of experience and talent necessary to propel them to the state title games come May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To start we have my #6 to #10 ranked teams in the state, stay tuned for the reveal of my top 5 teams coming soon!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px">#6&nbsp;<strong>Summit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>2025 record:</strong>&nbsp;18-4<br><strong>X-Factor:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='45465' first='Robbie' last='Kievit'] (Sr.)<br><strong>Overview:</strong>&nbsp;The Hilltoppers had another outstanding season under head coach Jim Davidson, finishing as state champions for the third straight season and were able to pull out some close wins to end the season. They will be returning a decent amount of players, with one of the most notable being my X-Factor, senior goaltender [player_tooltip player_id='45465' first='Robbie' last='Kievit'] (Fairfield), who finished with 145 saves last season and will look to continue to anchor this elite defensive unit consisting of fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id='82261' first='John' last='Conniff'] (Providence), Ryan Bancone (St. Joe's) and Jake Reimold (Sacred Heart). Offensively, they are returning senior attackman and leading point scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='45416' first='James' last='Grainger'] (Washington &amp; Lee), who finished with 49 goals and 34 assists, with contributions from seniors Jack Freeman (Bowdoin), Quinn Hynes (Washington &amp; Lee) and sophomore Chris Davies who each eclipsed over 40 points last spring. At the face-off X, senior Andrew Smallwood (Lynchburg) will look to build off of his impressive performance from 2025, as he won 195 draws at a 57% win rate against a lot of tough competitors. With all of the returning talent for Summit, there's no reason to think they can't repeat as state champions for a fourth straight year.<br><strong>Notable Matchups:</strong><br>TBD</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px">#7&nbsp;<strong>Chatham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>2025 Record:</strong>&nbsp;15-6<br><strong>X-Factor:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='121759' first='Nick' last='Lagunowich'] (Jr.)<br><strong>Overview:</strong>&nbsp;The Cougars season ended in a 6-3 loss vs Summit in the North Jersey, Group 3 finals last spring, but they are recharged and hungry this season as they have many impact players returning on both sides of the ball, none more note-worthy than junior star attackman and my X-Factor, [player_tooltip player_id='121759' first='Nick' last='Lagunowich'] (Notre Dame), who finished his sophomore season leading the team in goals (69) and 2nd in assists (28) last spring. He will want to continue that production alongside fellow classmate [player_tooltip player_id='142783' first='Charlie' last='Dunn'] (Villanova) and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='35168' first='Shep' last='Boyd'] (Michigan) and Kyle Gibney (Vermont), all of which played huge roles offensively for Chatham and will need to lead the pack this spring. Defensively, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='82263' first='Lochlan' last='Mahoney'] (Rutgers) and Paul Kuppenheimer (Middlebury) will look to take charge and with Jean-Luc Marlin having graduated, senior net-minder Will Davenport could be in line to take the reigns between the pipes this spring. At the X, senior FOGO Colton Walsh (Mercer) will be a big contributor for the Cougars and will want to continue to stay efficient as he finished with 143 wins at a 54% clip as a junior. With a handful of impact upperclassmen on this squad, Chatham is in as good of a position as ever to make a deep playoff run and hoist a state title for the first time since 2016.<br><strong>Notable Matchups:</strong><br>3/24 vs. Westfield<br>3/28 vs. Rumson-Fair Haven<br>4/21 vs. Don Bosco Prep<br>4/25 vs. Seton Hall Prep</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px">#8&nbsp;<strong>Shawnee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>2025 Record:</strong>&nbsp;17-4<br><strong>X-Factor:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='31261' first='Thomas' last='McAneney']<br><strong>Overview:</strong>&nbsp;The Renegades will be out for revenge this spring after falling short to Summit in the state finals a year ago and they will be returning a wide range of key contributors that are ready to make it a season to remember. One of the biggest names returning will be my X-Factor, senior attackman [player_tooltip player_id='31261' first='Thomas' last='McAneney'] (Duke), who finished 2nd in goals (50) and led the team in assists (49) as he put together another phenomenal year alongside fellow attackman [player_tooltip player_id='35707' first='Tyler' last='Rotkowitz'] (Rutgers) who matched McAneney with 99 points on the year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='31265' first='Brett' last='Lundberg'] (Duke) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='172978' first='EJ' last='Martino'] and Grayson Santucci will also be coming back and will want to build off of their 2025 production as well for this stacked offensive unit. With FOGO Lucas Estevez and goaltender Eddie Penberthy having graduated, it is unclear at this point who will take the reigns at the face-off X and in cage, but defensively juniors [player_tooltip player_id='165469' first='Nick' last='Carrero'] and [player_tooltip player_id='120763' first='Jackson' last='Hays'] will look to be the vocal leaders of that unit who allowed only three teams to score double digit goals against them a year ago. Shawnee is poised for another deep run in 2026 and will look to get off to a fast start this spring much like last year.<br><strong>Notable Matchups:</strong><br>3/31 @ Radnor (Pa.)<br>4/18 vs Westfield<br>4/25 vs. Garden City (N.Y.)<br>5/16 @ Chatham</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px">#9&nbsp;<strong>Rumson-Fair Haven</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>2025 Record:</strong>&nbsp;15-9<br><strong>X-Factor:</strong>&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='37838' first='Luke' last='Lydon'] (Sr.)<br><strong>Overview:</strong>&nbsp;The Bulldogs 2025 season came to a close after losing to 5th seed Glen Ridge in the South Jersey, Group 1 semifinal round in an overtime thriller, but they are ready for revenge and have a lot of experience on their roster this spring and will look to capitalize. My X-Factor, senior attackman [player_tooltip player_id='37838' first='Luke' last='Lydon'] (Boston University), will lead the charge offensively after finishing with 53 goals and 16 assists, leading his team in points with contributions from fellow classmates [player_tooltip player_id='17524' first='Joseph' last='Whitehouse'] (Washington &amp; Lee), Blake Ahmann (Haverford) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='165837' first='Teddy' last='Whitehouse'] who each also played a sizable role in Rumson-Fair Haven's success last spring. At the X, with Rory Keane having graduated, sophomore Jaden Cavise could take charge this season after tallying 55 wins at a 55% win rate last year. Between the pipes it will be a battle between sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='171576' first='Daniel' last='Jaroschak'] and Cooper Menkowitz for the starting role, with Jaroschak having seen more time last spring and tallying 46 saves. Defensively, the Bulldogs return multiple upperclassmen consisting of [player_tooltip player_id='82352' first='Toby' last='Najenson'] (Brown), [player_tooltip player_id='123622' first='John' last='Paik'] (Princeton) and [player_tooltip player_id='123612' first='Danny' last='Sullivan'] (Virginia), among others who allowed only six teams to score double digits goals on them last season and they will look to continue that efficiency this spring. The Bulldogs are primed for another strong playoff run this year and will look to get back to the top of the mountain for the first time since 2023.<br><strong>Notable Matchups:</strong><br>TBD</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px">#10&nbsp;<strong>St. Augustine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>2025 Record:</strong>&nbsp;16-4<br><strong>X-Factor:</strong>&nbsp;Chris Marino (Sr.)<br><strong>Overview:</strong>&nbsp;The Hermits had a great year last spring, but fell short of the ultimate goal in the Non-Public state semifinals vs. eventually champion Seton Hall Prep. With the returning talent, if they're looking to get over the hump and back to the state title game for the first time since 2011 against a loaded Non-Public bracket, it will have to start with my X-Factor, senior FOGO Chris Marino (UMBC), who tallied 152 wins at a 54% win rate last spring. If he is able to stay consistent, their offense led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='79553' first='Ryan' last='Wodazak'] (Penn State) and [player_tooltip player_id='173451' first='Sebastian' last='Varallo'] (St. John's) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='121206' first='Brayson' last='Thurber'] (Harvard) should be able to control the ball and produce at a high level much like last spring where each eclipsed over 45 points. Senior net-minder Kyle Helphenstine (Richmond) seems likely to take control between the pipes, recording 59 saves in 14 games played, while also splitting time with Ben Zaitz who has since graduated. Along with Helphenstine, seniors Gabe Beyer (Air Force), [player_tooltip player_id='141989' first='Jackson' last='Foley'] (NJIT), and Cole Schleicher (Stevens), among other will look to keep opponents at bay once again this spring after only allowing three teams to score double digit goals against them last year. With this team re-energized and hungry for a title run, they'll be a fun team to watch out for all spring.<br><strong>Notable Matchups:</strong><br>3/28 vs. Episcopal Academy (Pa.)<br>4/14 @ Moorestown<br>5/5 vs. Seton Hall Prep<br>5/20 vs. Delbarton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->