Can Rumson boys lacrosse get a four-peat? Shore Conference Tournament semifinals preview
RUMSON — Three straight Shore Conference Tournament titles and the Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse team still wants more.
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This spring season isn’t like recent campaigns. Challenging themselves all season against high-level competition, the Bulldogs lost three straight games leading up to the SCT. One of those games being against Manasquan, snapping the Bulldogs’ 45-game winning streak against Shore Conference teams.
“Coming into the season we saw the tough schedule, those games make us play up to that level,” said junior Grayson Goldin. “I think there’s benefits to it, and then there’s negative parts because when we play other teams that aren’t as talented we kind of play down and that’s something that’ll kill us in the long run.”
Midfielder and senior Andy Croddick put the responsibility on himself and the offense. The losses only strengthen his team. And after a convincing 13-3 SCT quarterfinal win over Red Bank Regional on Tuesday, the Bulldogs are inching closer to getting a shot at a four-peat.
Shore Conference Tournament boys lacrosse Final Four
Thursday schedule
Christian Brothers Academy (14-5) at Rumson-Fair Haven (13-3), 6 p.m.
Holmdel (12-4) at Manasquan (12-1), 5:30 p.m.
No. 2 seed an unusual slot for Rumson-Fair Haven
Rumson will host against CBA Thursday. The No. 2 seeded Bulldogs aren’t used to the spot they’re in, but given the circumstances, they’re still confident.
“You’d like to be the one seed, but we’re not,” said R-FH head coach Marc Moreau. “But that’s all right. At the end of the day hopefully it’s just a different color jersey when it counts. We’re still hosting the semifinals on Thursday. That stretch we didn’t play very well, but we also weren’t 100% healthy.”
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Roster changes on offense and defense
Rumson-Fair Haven has made a lot of changes since the start of their season. Perhaps the biggest was their change at the net putting in freshman Seamus Gorman.
“He didn’t start in the beginning but he played strong against CBA and he’s played strong ever since,” said Andy Croddick.
“Very good, he’s still learning everyday, every game, every practice,” said Moreau. “He’s definitely been the most consistent, he’s definitely earned it, I think he’s going in the right direction.”
Despite the injuries and roster changes, one thing that has remained stiff has been their defense.
“The defense has by far been the most consistent part of our team the whole year. They show up and they’re ready to play every game,” said Moreau. "And we needed them to be like that today until we got going a little bit.”
Now with a look at CBA next, it looks like whoever wins may end up facing top-seeded Manasquan for the SCT crown - though upset-minded Holmdel still has a say.
The already established Rumson-Fair Haven team may not see themselves as underdogs, but they’re aware of what’s at stake.
“We don’t like those guys over there,” said Croddick. “They beat us this year so like I said, we just got to work as a team.”
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse: Shore Conference Tournament preview
