From 1-5 to Champions: RFH Captures 11th SCT Title

WEST LONG BRANCH —Rumson-Fair Haven entered the season with lofty expectations, but after a 1-5 start, few outside the program believed the Bulldogs would still be standing atop the Shore Conference at season’s end. Inside the locker room, however, belief never wavered.

At the beginning of the year, Rumson-Fair Haven senior Joseph Whitehouse said after beating Southern, ‘We joked to ourselves we were the best 1-5 team in the country.”

On Thursday, the Bulldogs backed up that confidence in dramatic fashion, defeating CBA 9-8 to capture the Shore Conference Tournament title for the second straight season and 11th time overall.

The championship clash featured momentum swings throughout, but Rumson delivered timely answers whenever the Colts threatened to take control.

The Bulldogs welcomed back senior Blake Ahmann after he missed the teams’ first meeting earlier this season, and his impact was immediate. Just 1:06 into the game, Ahmann buried a bounce shot past CBA senior goalie Shayne Boresen to give RFH a 1-0 lead. The score held through the opening quarter before the offenses came alive in the second.

Senior attackman Caden Lucich tied the game for CBA just 1:17 into the second quarter, but RFH answered quickly. Less than a minute later, sophomore Kevin Collard finished a feed from senior midfielder Joseph Whitehouse to restore the Bulldogs’ lead. Forty-four seconds later, sophomore midfielder Teddy Whitehouse extended the advantage to 3-1, and Ahmann added his second goal of the half to send RFH into halftime leading 4-1.

CBA began to chip away in the third quarter when sophomore midfielder Daniel Varone scored with 10:55 remaining to cut the deficit to two. RFH responded again, this time through senior attackman Luke Lydon, whose goal with 8:15 left in the quarter pushed the lead to 5-2.

Sophomore Michael Marino extended the Bulldogs’ advantage to four with 5:36 left in the third on his second goal of the season, but that goal sparked a furious response from the Colts. Just 11 seconds later, dominant faceoff specialist John Little won the draw, raced downfield, and scored. Junior midfielder Christian Fox added another goal with 1:12 remaining in the quarter to pull CBA within reach entering the fourth.

RFH regained control early in the final quarter behind Ahmann, who completed his hat trick with 9:18 remaining. Varone answered less than a minute later, but Teddy Whitehouse responded 80 seconds after that to restore a three-goal cushion.

The biggest turning point of the game came moments later when CBA sophomore Jackson Chaney appeared to cut the deficit to two, but the goal was waved off because of a crease violation. RFH capitalized on the momentum swing immediately after, as junior defender Danny Sullivan went coast-to-coast and scored the first goal of his career, a play that ultimately proved to be the game-winner.

CBA refused to go quietly. Lucich scored with 4:41 remaining to trim the lead to three before the Colts mounted a frantic rally in the final minute. Varone completed his hat trick with 36 seconds left, and Chaney made it a one-goal game with just 13 seconds to play.

That set up one final faceoff.

Little secured his 15th win at the X and quickly found Varone, who fired a low shot toward the cage. RFH junior goalie Peter Kessler made the save, preserving the victory and the conference championship.

Kessler, who also missed the teams’ earlier matchup this season, finished with eight saves and delivered his biggest stop in the game’s defining moment.

“I just knew I needed to stay tall, stay calm, stay on my feet, and trust my instincts,” said Kessler.

The win carried added significance for the junior goalie after previous losses to the Colts.

“Losing three times to CBA really hurt me,” said Kessler. “Winning this one today meant the absolute world to me.”

Head coach Marc Moreau praised his goalkeeper’s mentality under pressure.

“The best thing you can say about Peter is that he has no memory,” said Moreau. “We have all the trust in him.”

Ahmann’s presence in the rematch also proved pivotal. The senior multi-sport standout scored three goals and helped set the tone from the opening whistle.

“It was a very emotional game for me,” said Ahmann. “Coming out and being able to get the first goal and set the tone was a huge moment in the game.”

Moreau emphasized Ahmann’s leadership and athleticism following the victory.

“Blake was one of the key players on a basketball team that went to the Group 2 state championship this year,” said Moreau. “He’s a great leader and a hard worker.”

Another major storyline was the impact of brothers Joseph and Teddy Whitehouse. Teddy scored twice while Joseph added an assist as the pair helped lead RFH to another title.

“My brother and I have such a special bond,” said Joseph. “We have been playing in the backyard since we were 4 and 2, we watch lacrosse all the time together.”

“It’s super special,” said Teddy. “I think I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”

Joseph also reflected on sharing the moment with his younger brother.

“It’s been really special to play with Teddy.”

Moreau credited the Whitehouse brothers as cornerstones of the program’s sustained success.

“We wouldn’t have any of the success we have had over the past four years without Joe,” said Moreau. “Teddy looks up to Joe,” Moreau added. “Teddy is going to be Joe, and the sky is the limit for him.”

With the victory, RFH secured back-to-back Shore Conference championships and now turns its attention toward the state playoffs carrying significant momentum.

“We build towards this every year,” said Moreau. “Whether we ultimately win it or not there is a process to what we do, and it is not a surprise when we get here, and it is not a surprise when we win.”

The Bulldogs are projected to open the South Jersey Group 1 playoffs on Thursday against New Egypt, while CBA has a first-round bye in the non-public bracket.