- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,129,699
- Reaction score
- 59
The NJSIAA boys lacrosse tournament gets underway on Wednesday for non-public schools and Thursday for public teams.
The 24-team statewide non-public tournament ends on June 9 at Kean University with the state championship. The public-school South sectional finals will be held on June 9 at the higher seed. The public state championships will be held on June 12 & 13 at The College of New Jersey.
Here is a look at the field.
Records and statistics are through May 25.
South Jersey first-round games
16) Egg Harbor at (1) Southern, (9) South Brunswick at (8) Lenape, (12) Howell at (5) Eastern, (13) Jackson at (4) Cherokee, (14) Marlboro at (3) Washington Township, (11) Cherry Hill East at (6) Manalapan, (15) Toms River North at (2) Kingsway
Defending champ: Kingsway
Favorite: Southern
Best first-round matchup: South Brunswick at Lenape. The Indians have battled through a rough Olympic American schedule but are looking forward to facing an unfamiliar nonleague foe.
Three stars:Ryan Glenn, Kingsway. One of South Jersey's top long poles, the senior is a true two-way threat. Robbie Finnegan. The Minutemen are hoping for a third meeting with Kingsway thanks to this senior's 90-point season. Chase Jenter, Eastern. With 28 goals, the Vikings' top scorer gives his team every chance to win.
Prediction: Kingsway. The Dragons are looking to repeat but will have to do it on the road, if the seeds hold. There's no reason they can't put everything together by the final.
South Jersey first-round games16) Highland at (1) Shawnee, (9) Hammonton at (8) Hightstown, (12) West Deptford/Gateway at (5) Toms River East, (13) Colts Neck at (4) Northern Burlington, (14) West Windsor South at (3) Mainland, (11) Toms River South at (6) Clearview, (15) Lawrence at (2) Moorestown
Defending champ: Shawnee
Favorite: Shawnee
Best first-round matchup: Toms River South at Clearview. The Pioneers rebounded from a 2-6 start to fight back to 8-8. A win here would insure at least a .500 record.
Three stars:Nolan Hughes, Moorestown. A 28-goal, 13-assist debut season for the Quakers season has opened eyes across South Jersey. Tommy McAneney, Shawnee. The Renegades' all-time leading goal scorer (233) and assister (150) is within reach of an astounding 400 career points. Ryan Scannell, Mainland. A nicely balanced 42 goals and 36 assists makes this Mustangs' senior a difficult defensive assignment.
Prediction: Shawnee. The Renegades have prepared all season to unleash their unmatched offense on this bracket.
South Jersey first-round games: (16) Ewing at (1) Ocean City, (9) Cedar Creek at (8) Barnegat, (13) Delran at (4) Wall, (11) Oakcrest at (6) Seneca, (10) Sterling at (7) Cinnaminson
Defending champ: Manasquan
Favorite: Ocean City.
Best first-round matchup: Sterling at Cinnaminson. A nonleague matchup pits two of South Jersey's most interesting mid-tier teams.
Three stars:Gavin Horner, Seneca. With 38 goals and 23 assists, the senior is the cornerstone of the Golde Eagles' attack. Jack Scherbin, Ocean City. The Red Raiders senior anchors the team's offense with 31- goals and 16 assists. Marco Zuccarrelli, Cinnaminson. A top South Jersey freshman scoring threat, the phenom leads the Pirates with 39 goals.
Prediction: Ocean City. The Red Raiders have been inconsistent at times, but those times are over once the playoffs start.
South Jersey first-round games14) Haddon Township at (3) Madison, (15) Rutherford at (2) Haddonfield
Defending champ: Glen Ridge
Favorite: Rumson-Fair Haven
Best first-round matchup: Rutherford at Haddonfield. This shouldn't be very close but it's a good way for the Dawgs to get their playoff feet wet.
Two stars:Mac Clancey, Haddonfield. A two-way threat, the Dawgs' leading scorer has 43 goals and 29 assists. Drew Groff, Haddon Township. The Hawks' leader has 41 goals and 21 assists this spring.
Prediction: Rumson-Fair Haven. Haddonfield has a real opportunity to steal this bracket but they'd have to do it on the road.
South Jersey first-round games: (19) St. Joseph Academy at (14) Rutgers Prep, (18) Immaculate Heart at (15) Paul VI, (4) St. Augustine, bye
Defending champ: Seton Hall Prep
Favorite: St. Augustine
Best first-round matchup: Immaculate Heart at Paul VI. The Eagles have a pair of 100-point freshmen in Tristan Keane and Miles O'Brien and a chance for playoff success before facing one of the state's best teams in the following round.
Three stars:Kieran MacDonald, St. Joseph Academy. A cool 54 goals make this senior a threat on every possession. Miles O'Brien, Paul VI. The freshman has 51 goals and 55 assists in his debut season. Ryan Wodazak, St. Augustine. THe Penn State-bound junior has shown the ability to take over games against any competition.
Prediction: The seeding committee did the Hermits no favors by ranking two teams the Hermits beat in the regular season ahead of them, but if there's any year for St. Augustine to win out, it's this year.
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at [email protected] and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Our South Jersey high school boys lacrosse 2026 tournament primer
Continue reading...
The 24-team statewide non-public tournament ends on June 9 at Kean University with the state championship. The public-school South sectional finals will be held on June 9 at the higher seed. The public state championships will be held on June 12 & 13 at The College of New Jersey.
Here is a look at the field.
Records and statistics are through May 25.
You must be registered for see images attach
South Group 4
South Jersey first-round games
16) Egg Harbor at (1) Southern, (9) South Brunswick at (8) Lenape, (12) Howell at (5) Eastern, (13) Jackson at (4) Cherokee, (14) Marlboro at (3) Washington Township, (11) Cherry Hill East at (6) Manalapan, (15) Toms River North at (2) KingswayDefending champ: Kingsway
Favorite: Southern
Best first-round matchup: South Brunswick at Lenape. The Indians have battled through a rough Olympic American schedule but are looking forward to facing an unfamiliar nonleague foe.
Three stars:Ryan Glenn, Kingsway. One of South Jersey's top long poles, the senior is a true two-way threat. Robbie Finnegan. The Minutemen are hoping for a third meeting with Kingsway thanks to this senior's 90-point season. Chase Jenter, Eastern. With 28 goals, the Vikings' top scorer gives his team every chance to win.
Prediction: Kingsway. The Dragons are looking to repeat but will have to do it on the road, if the seeds hold. There's no reason they can't put everything together by the final.
You must be registered for see images attach
South Group 3
South Jersey first-round games
16) Highland at (1) Shawnee, (9) Hammonton at (8) Hightstown, (12) West Deptford/Gateway at (5) Toms River East, (13) Colts Neck at (4) Northern Burlington, (14) West Windsor South at (3) Mainland, (11) Toms River South at (6) Clearview, (15) Lawrence at (2) MoorestownDefending champ: Shawnee
Favorite: Shawnee
Best first-round matchup: Toms River South at Clearview. The Pioneers rebounded from a 2-6 start to fight back to 8-8. A win here would insure at least a .500 record.
Three stars:Nolan Hughes, Moorestown. A 28-goal, 13-assist debut season for the Quakers season has opened eyes across South Jersey. Tommy McAneney, Shawnee. The Renegades' all-time leading goal scorer (233) and assister (150) is within reach of an astounding 400 career points. Ryan Scannell, Mainland. A nicely balanced 42 goals and 36 assists makes this Mustangs' senior a difficult defensive assignment.
Prediction: Shawnee. The Renegades have prepared all season to unleash their unmatched offense on this bracket.
You must be registered for see images
South Group 2
South Jersey first-round games: (16) Ewing at (1) Ocean City, (9) Cedar Creek at (8) Barnegat, (13) Delran at (4) Wall, (11) Oakcrest at (6) Seneca, (10) Sterling at (7) Cinnaminson
Defending champ: Manasquan
Favorite: Ocean City.
Best first-round matchup: Sterling at Cinnaminson. A nonleague matchup pits two of South Jersey's most interesting mid-tier teams.
Three stars:Gavin Horner, Seneca. With 38 goals and 23 assists, the senior is the cornerstone of the Golde Eagles' attack. Jack Scherbin, Ocean City. The Red Raiders senior anchors the team's offense with 31- goals and 16 assists. Marco Zuccarrelli, Cinnaminson. A top South Jersey freshman scoring threat, the phenom leads the Pirates with 39 goals.
Prediction: Ocean City. The Red Raiders have been inconsistent at times, but those times are over once the playoffs start.
You must be registered for see images attach
South Group 1
South Jersey first-round games
14) Haddon Township at (3) Madison, (15) Rutherford at (2) HaddonfieldDefending champ: Glen Ridge
Favorite: Rumson-Fair Haven
Best first-round matchup: Rutherford at Haddonfield. This shouldn't be very close but it's a good way for the Dawgs to get their playoff feet wet.
Two stars:Mac Clancey, Haddonfield. A two-way threat, the Dawgs' leading scorer has 43 goals and 29 assists. Drew Groff, Haddon Township. The Hawks' leader has 41 goals and 21 assists this spring.
Prediction: Rumson-Fair Haven. Haddonfield has a real opportunity to steal this bracket but they'd have to do it on the road.
NJSIAA Non-Public
South Jersey first-round games: (19) St. Joseph Academy at (14) Rutgers Prep, (18) Immaculate Heart at (15) Paul VI, (4) St. Augustine, bye
Defending champ: Seton Hall Prep
Favorite: St. Augustine
Best first-round matchup: Immaculate Heart at Paul VI. The Eagles have a pair of 100-point freshmen in Tristan Keane and Miles O'Brien and a chance for playoff success before facing one of the state's best teams in the following round.
Three stars:Kieran MacDonald, St. Joseph Academy. A cool 54 goals make this senior a threat on every possession. Miles O'Brien, Paul VI. The freshman has 51 goals and 55 assists in his debut season. Ryan Wodazak, St. Augustine. THe Penn State-bound junior has shown the ability to take over games against any competition.
Prediction: The seeding committee did the Hermits no favors by ranking two teams the Hermits beat in the regular season ahead of them, but if there's any year for St. Augustine to win out, it's this year.
Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at [email protected] and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Our South Jersey high school boys lacrosse 2026 tournament primer
Continue reading...
