Final 2025 Shore Conference Boys Lacrosse Top 10

At the end of most seasons, the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference is pretty clear.

This was not one of those years.

Deciding on the top boys lacrosse team in the Shore for the 2025 season came down to Manasquan or Rumson-Fair Haven. On one hand you have Rumson, the Shore Conference Tournament champion who beat Manasquan twice, including in the SCT final. On the other hand is Manasquan, which won the outright American Division title over the likes of Rumson, Christian Brothers Academy, Shore, Southern, Wall, Red Bank and Holmdel, and then captured the NJSIAA Group 2 state championship for the first time in program history.

Diving deeper, Manasquan had conference losses to Rumson (10-8 and 15-14 in overtime) with its two other defeats coming against South Group 3 finalist Moorestown and state No. 1 Seton Hall Prep in the Kirst Cup semifinals. The Warriors posted two wins over CBA and defeated South Group 4 finalist Southern plus Shore, Wall, Red Bank and Holmdel en route to the division title. Manasquan defeated Wall for a second time to win the South Group 2 sectional championship, then beat Hopewell Valley in the Group 2 state final. In the Kirst Cup, Manasquan defeated Glen Ridge in the quarterfinals and pushed top-ranked Seton Hall Prep to the edge in an 8-6 loss to the eventual champs. Glen Ridge knocked Rumson out of the playoffs in the South Group 1 semifinals.

Rumson played a great schedule that was headlined by the two wins over Manasquan, notably an epic comeback to win the SCT title 15-14 in overtime. The Bulldogs had conference losses to CBA (6-5 in overtime) and Shore (10-8) during a tough stretch in mid-April but rebounded down the stretch to win the SCT crown. The Bulldogs were the top seed in the South Group 1 section and the presumptive to win Group 1 until Glen Ridge stunned them in the sectional semifinals. Rumson also had quality wins over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Greater Middlesex Conference champion St. Joseph (Metuchen), and California power Marin Catholic. Of Rumson’s seven in-state losses, five came to teams that reached at least a sectional final, including Group 3 champion Summit and Group 1 champion Glen Ridge. Their two out-of-state losses came to national powers Manhasset (NY) and New Canaan (CT).

This was a difficult decision, and after much (too much) deliberation, we settled on Manasquan as the Shore Sports Insider Boys Lacrosse Team of the Year. The Warriors’ body of work was strong despite the two head-to-head losses to Rumson, and they put together a tremendous state tournament to win the program’s first state championship. Their blistering second half in a comeback win over Glen Ridge was impressive, and their battle against Seton Hall Prep, the No. 15 team in the country, saw the teams tied 6-6 late in the fourth quarter before the Pirates prevailed.

Check out the rest of the final Top 10 below, and thank you to everyone for following our coverage throughout the season.

 

Shore Sports Insider Final Boys Lacrosse Top 10

 

1. Manasquan (20-4)

After coming up just short last season, Manasquan ended years of state championship heartbreak by defeating Hopewell Valley, 13-5, to win the NJSIAA Group 2 title for the program’s first state championship. The Warriors then beat Group 1 champion Glen Ridge, 15-10, in the Kirst Cup quarterfinals and pushed eventual champion Seton Hall Prep to the brink in a gritty 8-6 loss. As mentioned above, Manasquan won the outright American Division title amongst seven other ranked teams. They also reached the Shore Conference Tournament final where they fell to Rumson-Fair Haven, 15-14 in overtime. Senior attackman Brandon Kunz, a Lehigh signee, had a great season with career-highs in goals (65) and points (94), senior attackman Ryan Aldi posted 58 goals and 85 points, senior midfielder Matt Schneider (Monmouth) scored 43 goals and finished with 65 points, and senior defenseman Parker Harms (Villanova) was outstanding in his own end and added 13 goals and nine assists as a dangerous transition threat. Kunz and Harms were selected as USA Lacrosse All-Americans. Senior goalie Pat Loxley (NJIT) turned in an All-Shore season in his only year as Manasquan’s starter, stopping 237 shots on a 65% save percentage. Manasquan will graduate an excellent senior class, but returns plenty of returning standouts such as Cornell recruit Jack O’Reilly, midfielders Lucas Longo and Dax Klein, attackman Kieran Schneider, FOGO Will Conway, and defenseman John Lake.

 

 

2. Rumson-Fair Haven (15-9)

It was an up-and-down season for the Bulldogs, but as usual, they found a way to remain an elite contender and win a championship. They shook off a tough stretch in April where they lost five of seven games and brushed off a three-game skid as the calendar turned to May. After losses to New Canaan (CT), Summit and Bridgewater-Raritan, Rumson rallied for a 10-8 win over Manasquan to ignite a seven-game winning streak that included an unforgettable 15-14 win over Manasquan in the Shore Conference Tournament final, giving the Bulldogs their 10th SCT championship. Their season came to an end with a 9-8 overtime loss to Glen Ridge in the South Group 1 sectional semifinals. Junior attackman Luke Lydon, a Boston University commit, scored a team-high 53 goals and 70 points, while senior defenseman Frank Argilagos, who will continue his career at Dartmouth, was selected as the Shore Conference Player of the Year by the coaches. Both were selected as USA Lacrosse All-Americans. The Bulldogs were a fairly young team this spring, and while the graduation losses of Argilagos, midfielder Grayson Goldin (56 points) and midfielder Britt Lumsden (47 points) are significant, an impressive group returns next season. Key returners for next season include Lydon, Joseph Whitehouse, Blake Ahmann, Liam Haggerty, Teddy Whitehouse, Kevin Collard, defensemen Toby Najenson, Danny Sullivan and John Paik, FOGO Jaden Cavise, and goalie Daniel Jaroschak.

 

 

3. CBA (11-10)

The Colts did not have a great conclusion to their season with a 1-5 record in their final six games, but a strong body of work and a head-to-head win over Shore has CBA in the No. 3 spot. Following a three-game losing streak in early May that included a stunning 10-6 loss to Red Bank, CBA answered with a 10-3 win over Wall in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The Colts then fell to Manasquan, 9-7, in the SCT semifinals and had their season come to an end via a 6-5 loss to Pingry in the second round of the non-public state tournament. CBA’s top wins this season include victories over two sectional finalists (Southern and Wall) as well as Rumson-Fair Haven and Eastern. A standout freshman class helped lead the way as attackman Jackson Chaney totaled a team-high 35 points and midfielder Danny Varone scored a team-leading 23 goals. Senior defenseman Quinn Kelly, a Harvard commit, turned in another outstanding season and was named a USA Lacrosse All-American. Senior midfielder Davis Campbell (Holy Cross) scored 21 goals. The Colts have a lot of young talent returning but will absorb some significant losses to graduation with Kelly, Campbell, defensemen Luke Krebs (Bryant), Jackson Gervais (Air Force), James Dunn and Michael Poskay, attackman Carter McGuire and midfielder Hunter Kilpatrick exiting the program.

 

 

4. Shore (12-6)

The Blue Devils scored an impressive 17-4 win over Toms River East in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals before falling to Rumson-Fair Haven, 16-7, in the SCT semifinals. As the No. 4 seed in the South Group 1 section, Shore won its first round game with a 15-4 win over Lower Cape May but lost to eventual Group 1 champ Glen Ridge, 8-4, in the quarterfinals. Despite the early exit in the state tournament, it was one of the best seasons in program history for the Blue Devils under longtime head coach Gregg Malfa, who earned Coach of the Year honors from the coaches’ association. Shore beat Rumson for the first time in program history, defeated South Group 4 finalist Southern, won division games over Red Bank, Wall and Holmdel, and beat a 17-win Toms River East team by 13 goals. Their losses were to Eastern, Group 2 champion Manasquan, CBA, Rumson, Bridgewater-Raritan and Group 1 champion Glen Ridge. Junior attackman Reid Spallone led the team with 70 points (38g, 32a) and senior midfielder Tucker Malfa scored a team-best 42 goals and was selected as a USA Lacrosse All-American. Senior FOGO Brendan O’Brien won 72% at the X and senior midfielder Lukas Villa totaled 31 goals and 51 points. Malfa, Villa, O’Brien, attackman Braden Miller and defenseman Will Turner will be tough to replace, but a strong group of returners led by Spallone, Jack Madalone, John Mazzacco, Brady McHugh, Cole Torres, goalie Joey Longo and twins Justin and Ryan Cregle should keep the Blue Devils in contention.

 

 

5. Southern (15-6)

It was another strong season for Ocean County’s flagship program as the Rams won 15 games and reached the South Group 4 sectional final. Their four conference losses came to the four teams ranked ahead of them and their other two losses came by one goal each to Kingsway, which was undefeated up to the Group 4 final. Southern fell to the Dragons, 7-6, in the sectional final. Along the way, the Rams earned notable wins over Toms River East, Wall, Holmdel, Red Bank, Middletown South, Ocean City, Allentown and Eastern. Sophomore midfielder Kyle Sininsky reached 100 career points thanks to a 46-goal, 87-point campaign that led the team. Senior Liam Griffin scored a team-high 43 goals and senior Joe Kessler added 40 goals. The sophomore attack duo of Shea O’Donnell (38g, 27a) and Cash McVey (25g, 23a) also turned in strong seasons. Senior FOGO Collin Markoski won 69% at the X and senior goalie AJ Mattern stopped 65% of shots faced with 129 total saves. Freshmen twins Niko Iliescu (attack, 10g, 25a) and Lukas Iliescu (defense) also impressed in their debut seasons. Southern graduates Griffin, Kessler, Mattern, Markoski, SSDMs Evan Wyrsch and Ryan Paliga, and defensemen Kody Wagner and Anthony Oddo from its starting lineup, but will return a very strong core with Sininsky, O’Donnell, McVey, the Iliescu brothers, goalie Nick Hughes and defenseman Broddie Miller.

 

 

6. Red Bank (9-9)

The Bucs won five of their last seven games to close the season on a high note. The regular season was a true rollercoaster ride for Red Bank, as it lost its first four games, only to turn around and win its next four. A three-game losing streak followed, but then so did a three-game winning streak. A 10-6 win over CBA on May 5, its first in program history, got the Bucs rolling, and they followed with wins over East Brunswick and Barnegat before falling to Manasquan in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals. After closing the regular season with a 10-4 win over Middletown North, Red Bank then went on the road and beat Princeton, 13-4, in the first round of the North Group 3 state playoffs. State powerhouse and eventual Group 3 champion Summit ended the Bucs’ season with a 15-3 win in the quarterfinals. Junior attackman Gabe Pape, a Boston University commit, turned in an All-Shore season with 50 goals and 20 assists while sophomore Justin Valentino enjoyed a breakout season with 35 goals and 32 assists. The core of Red Bank’s team returns next season.

 

 

7. Toms River East (15-5)

The Raiders produced the best season in program history by winning 15 games, claiming the Colonial Division title, advancing to the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals, and reaching the South Group 3 semifinals. Toms River East lost to Southern in its first game but then rattled off 10 straight victories before a loss to Group 4 finalist Kingsway. In the state playoffs, East was eliminated by Group 3 finalist Shawnee. The Raiders had an electric offense that featured the top two point producers in the Shore. Junior attackman Nick Caruso led the Shore with 81 goals and 115 points and sophomore attackman Gerard Uzzolino totaled 114 points on 63 goals and 51 assists. Additionally, senior midfielder Nate Cummings hit 92 points on 49 goals and 43 assists. On defense, junior Colin Cummings picked up 109 ground balls and sophomore goalie Ryan Caruso had 163 saves with a 60% save percentage. Nate Cummings is a major loss along with fellow midfielders Tyler Godlesky and Ethan Kelly, but East will return most of its top players.

 

 

8. Wall (11-12)

Wall was inconsistent for most of the season and had some tough losses in one-goal games, but still managed to turn it on down the stretch to reach a sectional final. In the South Group 2 tournament, Wall defeated Absegami, Seneca and Ocean City to reach the championship game where it nearly upended rival Manasquan in a 9-7 loss. The Crimson Knights sealed a top-10 spot with wins over Red Bank, Holmdel and Middletown South, the latter of which avenged a loss earlier in the season. After missing most of his junior year with a shoulder injury, senior midfielder Michael Hoarle (Bryant), was excellent in his final go-around with 51 goals, 38 assists and 117 ground balls. Junior midfielder Patrick Freud had a team-high 89 points on 44 goals and 45 assists and junior attackman Wyatt Capro scored a team-best 54 goals and added 21 assists. Senior goalie Braeden Buckley made 230 saves, the fifth-most in the Shore. Hoarle will be a big loss along with Buckley, attackman Jackson Lemongelli (39g), and poles James Byrnes and Riley Cook. The Crimson Knights return a strong group of rising seniors and underclassmen with Freud, Capro, midfielder Dylan Cohen, defensemen Justin Davis and Brady Kurth and attackman Parker Quinn leading the way.

 

 

9. Holmdel (8-10)

The Hornets went on the road as the No. 10 seed in the North Group 2 section and defeated Somerville, 8-1, in the first round. They nearly upset the No. 2 seed but were defeated by West Morris, 10-7, in the quarterfinals to end their season. Junior goalie Jack Tiller recorded his 300th career save in the West Morris game and senior Jack Powers concluded his career as New Jersey’s all-time leader in face-off wins with 1,129. Notable wins for Holmdel were over Middletown South, Manalapan and Howell to solidify a top-10 finish. Junior attackman Finn Buchan had a team-high 49 points on 26 goals and 23 assists while senior attackman Brian Volpe totaled 30 goals and 46 points. Junior defenseman Marcus Cermele had an outstanding season with 107 ground balls plus 19 goals and 14 assists, while freshman Anthony Serini showcased his potential with a 28-point campaign. Holmdel returns several starters and may also get standout midfielder Jack Cannon back after the All-Shore quarterback and Dartmouth commit did not play this season.

 

 

10. Howell (14-5)

After a rare sub-.500 season last year, the Rebels bounced back to win 14 games, finish second in the Colonial Division and advance to the South Group 4 quarterfinals. Howell tuned up for the state tournament with wins over Steinert and Lacey and a loss to state-ranked Group 2 finalist Hopewell Valley. They defeated Lenape, 12-2, in the first round before losing 16-2 to Eastern in the quarterfinals. Senior midfielder Vin Meehan recorded his 100th career point in the win over Lenape. The versatile Meehan, who will continue his career at Division 2 stalwart Lenoir-Rhyne, scored 36 goals, added 26 assists and picked up 62 ground balls. Senior midfielder Nick Turturro scored a team-leading 42 goals and senior attackman Jayden Devino added 26 goals and 24 assists. Senior defenseman Colin Finnegan (Embry-Riddle) and senior goalie Adam Baker led the way on defense. The five aforementioned standouts will be challenging to replace as Howell will look to attackman Mike Kelly (30g) and midfielder Cole Reinsdorf (37 points) to help lead the way in 2026.

 

 

Honorable mention

Middletown South (9-8)

Barnegat (18-4)

Manalapan (11-11)