New Jersey: Previewing the Non-Public State Semifinal Games

The New Jersey private schools have completed three rounds now in the Non-Public bracket, with the second round and quarterfinal round both giving us some great lacrosse along the way. All four remaining teams have been ranked high in the state for the past few weeks and having shown exactly why they will put on a great show in both games.   With the top four seeds all still alive in the Non-Public bracket, I previewed the upcoming semifinal games for this group that plays on Friday, June 6th and then will eventually play the Non-Public state finals at Kean University in Union, NJ at 6:30 P.M. on Wednesday, June 11th.   #1 Delbarton vs. #4 Don Bosco Prep   Delbarton (19-2):   The Green Wave have been on a tear this season and are currently riding a 9-game win streak, with their last loss coming in early May. With matching up against top-tier out-of-state opponents throughout the season, Delbarton has shown that they can hang with some of the top teams in the nation and beat a few such as: Malvern Prep (P.A.), St. Anthony's (N.Y.) and Haverford (P.A.). Following a nail-biting Morris County Final win vs. Chatham, the Green Wave have rode that momentum right into the state playoffs where they have been steady and survived a bit of a scare in a two-goal win vs Pingry in the quarterfinals. After losing in the semifinals against Seton Hall Prep a season ago, head coach Matt Kovachik has his guys focused and determined to make it back to the top of the state in the Non-Public bracket. The defense, led by All-American long-stick midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='14545' first='Will' last='Pedicano'] (Duke) and senior net-minder [player_tooltip player_id='127081' first='Tanner' last='Shimko'] (Johns Hopkins) have held opponents to under 7 goals per game, shutting down many top recruits along the way. Pedicano has also contributed offensively in the transition game, tallying 15 goals and 9 assist on the year and with the production from guys like seniors Peter Falk (Trinity), Gavin Romweber (Middlebury) and Alex Schobel (Babson), the Green Wave will look to continue this winning streak, but for me it starts at the face-off X with [player_tooltip player_id='25528' first='Christian' last='Troczynski'] (Cornell) and [player_tooltip player_id='20954' first='Philip' last='Minardo']. When Delbarton is controlling the center X and able to control the time of possession, they are able to wear down defenders and put pressure on the opposition. Both FOGOs for Delbarton are the key for them to finish the season strong and go home with some new hardware for the trophy case.   Tournament Outcomes:   17-2, win vs. Rutgers Prep   9-7, win vs. Pingry   Don Bosco Prep (16-6):   Don Bosco Prep has had some hiccups here and there, but overall the Ironmen are playing a good brand of lacrosse and have stream-rolled opponents on their way to the semifinals. They've been matched up against very talented teams all season long and while they haven't came out on top in all of those matchups, they've fought hard and look poised to go back-to-back as state champions in the Non-Public bracket. Following their Bergen County Championship win over Bergen Catholic, they've lost against St. Augustine and New Canaan (Conn.), both by a score of 8-7, but in the state tournament, they have put up impressive goal totals, with thirty goals over two games. Key contributors in the tournament offensively have been juniors Brady Kushner (Loyola), Hudson Villaruel (Sacred Heart) and of course senior All-American selection, [player_tooltip player_id='14548' first='Brady' last='Scioletti'], who dropped 9 goals and 2 assists in the quarterfinal win vs. Immaculata. Scioletti has put up impressive numbers once again this year and has shown the ability to create for himself and others in the process. Senior FOGO [player_tooltip player_id='28069' first='Scott' last='Conte'] (Delaware) has done a solid job of handling his matchups at the face-off X, going 12 for 12 in the quarterfinals and over 70% win rate on the season. Defensively, upperclassmen goalies [player_tooltip player_id='82243' first='Brody' last='Corey'] (Rutgers) and James O'Hara (Siena) have stood tall in cage and have come up with big plays in the clutch when needed with stifling defense from guys like [player_tooltip player_id='45464' first='Michael' last='Marino'] (Richmond) and Carson Cherven (Tampa) and James Greenhut (Iona) among others. It will be a tough road ahead, but the Ironmen have been here before and are determined to finish their season with a win.   Tournament Outcomes:   15-2, win vs. St. Joseph (Mont.)   15-4, win vs. Immaculata   #2 Seton Hall Prep vs. #3 St. Augustine   Seton Hall Prep (17-3):   Seton Hall Prep is in search of their first state title in over 10 years and this could be the year they get over the hump. Both sides of the ball have been terrific this season for the Pirates, letting only a singular team score double-digit goals and averaging just under 12 goals per game this season offensively. Since their last loss to Brunswick (Conn.), the Pirates have outscored their opponents 60-14 in four games and with the efficiency of their offense and their anchors defensively, they've handled business convincingly most of the season and will look to continue that success down the stretch. Upperclassmen FOGOs [player_tooltip player_id='24393' first='Lucas' last='Angel'] and Teddy Coyle have been an impressive as a duo to watch from the center X, both above 70% win rate on the year and both exert a lot of energy to help their team win possessions every time they step onto the field. With a ton of experience on the defensive side, guys like goalie Conor Keenan (Lafayette), and defensemen [player_tooltip player_id='45387' first='Sean' last='Hayes'] (St. Joe's), Michael Clifford (Colgate) and David Manzo (High Point) among other have really stepped up this season for the Pirates and have been holding down the fort and coming up with big stops for their squad which directly correlates to the offensive production that we've seen during this state title run. Senior attackman [player_tooltip player_id='127076' first='Nolan' last='Sabel'] (Villanova) has been outstanding this season, only nine points away from the century mark for the year and with his consistent play in the first two rounds, there's no reason to think he won't eclipse that feat for the first time in his career if the Pirates can get past St. Augustine. Sabel is feeding off of his other two teammates at attack: senior Joe DelMauro (Utah) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='24402' first='Owen' last='Dunleavy'], which have both combined for 106 points this season and both have done a good job of taking the reigns in games where Sabel is the focal point for the defense. The Pirates have a tough test in front of them this week, but they've been in this spot in the past and have the experience and toughness on their roster to continue to fight each game until the final whistle.   Tournament Outcomes:   15-3, win vs. St. Peter's Prep   13-1, vs. Bergen Catholic   St. Augustine (16-3):   Since being crowned State Champions in 2022, St. Augustine has stumbled in the quarterfinals and semifinals the past few years against some tough opponents. Last year, Seton Hall Prep eliminated the Hermits in a 12-1 quarterfinal loss and I'm sure that feeling has stayed with this group throughout the season, hoping for another crack at the Pirates. Following their 16-5 loss vs Episcopal (P.A.) in early-May, St. Augustine has knocked down teams like Westfield and Don Bosco Prep, before dropping a game to Delbarton most recently. They have the roster to reach the top of the mountain once again and with their two convincing wins early in this tournament, the Hermits will look to keep the momentum moving in the right direction. That will start at the face-off X with junior FOGO Chris Marino having a lot of success in the first two games of the tournament and having over 50% win rate for the year, they'll need him to perform well against Coyle and Angel for the Pirates. Defensively, senior net-minder Ben Zaitz (Elizabethtown) along with guys like defensemen Jack Gounaris (Air Force) and Gabe Beyer among others have done a great job of making life difficult on opposing offenses and being aggressive to force teams into turnovers and mental errors. Offensively, junior midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='79553' first='Ryan' last='Wodazak'] (Penn State) has been a star in the first two rounds of this tournament and with 40 goals on the season, he'll be looking to continue his hot streak down the stretch. Sophomore midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='121206' first='Brayson' last='Thurber'] and senior attackman Sebastian Varallo (St. John's) have also been big contributors for the Hermits, with Thurber leading the team in points this season and still so young with a lot of potential ahead. With the complimentary style of lacrosse that St. Augustine plays with on both sides of the ball, they will be a tough matchup for any team they face and will look to finish the season by adding another trophy to the case in Richland, NJ.   Tournament Outcomes:   9-4, win vs. Montclair Kimberley Academy   11-5, win vs. Gill St. Bernard's

The New Jersey private schools have completed three rounds now in the Non-Public bracket, with the second round and quarterfinal round both giving us some great lacrosse along the way. All four remaining teams have been ranked high in the state for the past few weeks and having shown exactly why they will put on a great show in both games.