Bulldogs Bite Back: Rumson Avenges Last Year’s Playoff Heartbreak, Advances to Sectional Final

RUMSON — Ever since Rumson-Fair Haven fell to Glen Ridge in last year’s South Jersey Group 1 semifinal, the Bulldogs had one date circled on the calendar. They wanted another shot at the Ridgers, and they wanted revenge.

Three hundred sixty-four days later, they got it.

Rumson-Fair Haven delivered a dominant performance Wednesday, routing Glen Ridge 19-4 to advance to the South Jersey Group 1 sectional final against the winner of Friday’s game between Haddonfield and Bernards, and erase the memory of last season’s heartbreaking defeat.

For a brief moment, however, it looked as though the matchup might live up to its billing as a heavyweight battle.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead behind first-quarter goals from senior Joseph Whitehouse, sophomore Liam Haggerty and senior Beau Devine. Glen Ridge responded with three unanswered goals of its own, tying the game at 3-3 with 1:17 remaining in the opening quarter.

That was when Teddy Whitehouse seized the momentum for good.

The sophomore attacked the cage, beat the goalie, and scored the go-ahead goal to put RFH back in front. The Bulldogs never looked back. From that point on, Rumson-Fair Haven’s offense was nearly unstoppable while its defense locked down the Ridgers.

The victory was another example of what has fueled RFH’s remarkable turnaround. After opening the season 1-5, the Bulldogs have now won 16 of their last 17 games. A major reason for that success has been the depth and unselfishness of their offense.

Unlike many teams that rely heavily on one or two stars, RFH can attack opponents from every angle. On any given possession, seven or eight different players are capable of finding the back of the net.

Leading that group all season has been senior Luke Lydon. Lydon scored twice Wednesday, pushing his season total to 101 points and continuing to prove why he is one of the Shore Conference’s most dependable players.

“Talk about someone you can count on every game,” said Bulldogs head coach Marc Moreau. “Luke does a really good job of letting the game decide how he is going to have to make an impact in it.”

Lydon emphasized that the Bulldogs settled in after the first quarter and began playing the style they expected.

“ We went up 3-0 and we realized that Glen Ridge could not hang with us,” said Lydon. “After we cut out the mistakes, we did what was supposed to happen and beat them.”

Lydon also reflected on a memorable day for his family. His sister Reese, a standout on the RFH girls lacrosse team, scored five goals in her own semifinal victory earlier in the day.

“Reese and I both being big names in the RFH program is awesome” said Luke Lydon. “Shoutout to our parents, they are our rocks and the reason we are both here.”

Teddy Whitehouse was another key contributor. The sophomore continued his steady growth with a hat trick and two assists, bringing his season total to 60 points.

Moreau has seen Whitehouse’s development firsthand throughout the season.

“Teddy has grown up with every game,” said Moreau. “He had a couple of goals today that he hasn’t had very often this year which is a sign of how hard he works.”

Whitehouse’s confidence and maturity have become increasingly evident as the season has progressed. Despite being just a sophomore, he consistently plays beyond his years and is emerging as one of the conference’s top young talents.

“Our coaches put in a great offensive gameplan today,” said Teddy Whitehouse. “We knew if we stuck to it we’d come out with the victory.”

His older brother, Joseph Whitehouse, continued his strong senior campaign with three goals while also playing outstanding defense.

“Joe is just steady out there,” said Moreau. “We know we can count on Joe in any of the moments.”

Whitehouse opened the scoring for the Bulldogs and once again showcased the versatility that makes the offense so dangerous. Beyond the statistics, his leadership and toughness stood out throughout the afternoon. On a hot day when cramping was a concern for many players, he continued to contribute on both ends of the field.

“I saw they shorted me on the first possession. I knew I had to go to the cage to get that first goal,” said Whitehouse. “It’s a result of our team offense, when one person scores we all score.”

The Bulldogs also received a significant boost with the return of sophomore Liam Haggerty.

Playing for the first time in nearly a month, Haggerty scored two goals and increased his season total to 27 points in just nine games.

“ I was very emotional pre-game,” said Haggerty. “It was a very emotional game and win.”

His return was welcomed by both teammates and coaches.

“It was huge to get Liam back,” said Moreau. “He is such a skilled and athletic player.”

Adding Haggerty back into the lineup makes an already dangerous Rumson-Fair Haven squad even more formidable as the postseason continues.

Motivation was never going to be an issue for the Bulldogs.

The memory of last year’s loss fueled them from the moment they arrived at the field. During warmups, both teams jogged side-by-side, each trying to outdo the other with its energy and intensity. It was an early indication that RFH was eager for another opportunity against the Ridgers.

“They stole one from us last year,” said Joseph Whitehouse. “It felt good to get them back.”

Lydon shared the same sentiment.

“We had this game circled for a year,” added Lydon “When we saw them on the schedule we knew what we had to do when they came down.”

One year later, Rumson-Fair Haven got exactly what it wanted and made sure there would be no doubt about the outcome.