Brian Deakyne and Brandon Gould | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
New year, new pecking order
The 2017 boys lacrosse is set to kick off, and a number of teams have hopes of being the last team standing on June 10 in the Tournament of Champions. For now, though, a familiar team starts at the top. See the entire preseason Top 20 below.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
20-Manasquan
Final 2016 record: 19-5
Final 2016 ranking: No. 23
Manasquan, which battled all season with Rumson-Fair Haven for Shore Conference supremacy and ultimately had the last laugh in the state tournament, will look to follow up a year in which it reached the Group 2 final with another solid run. Jarrett Birch (70 goals 28 assists) and Canyon Birch (61 goals, 12 assists) will both return for the Warriors this season. James Pendergist, who had 27 goals, will be a major player for Manasquan this season.
Boys Lacrosse season preview: Title contenders to watch in 2017
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
19-West Morris
Final 2016 record: 19-6
Final 2016 ranking: No. 11
West Morris, a 19-win team and defending Group 3 champion, will have plenty of pieces to replace this season but should still be considered a contender in Group 3. Garrett Izzo, who had 31 goals and 11 assists in 2016, will be the top returner for the Wolfpack. Cole Draghi and Jake Congdon will both be vital for West Morris this season
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
18-Sparta
Final 2016 record: 20-1
Final 2016 ranking: No. 15
Sparta opened the season with 20 straight wins before falling to Chatham in the North Jersey, Group 3 semifinals. Stelios Kroudis, who put home 80 goals last season, will return as one of the state’s best scorers, along with Jesse West, who finished with 64 goals and 36 assists last year.
Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
17-Northern Highlands
Final 2016 record: 15-4
Final 2016 ranking: No. 13
Charles Ratner (28 goals, 14 assists) and Ethan Plasker (25 goals, 35 assists) will be the key returners for a Northern Highlands team that only lost four games last season on its way to a place in the North Jersey, Group 3 final. Keenan Alward, who had 26 goals and 11 assists in 2016, will be a major piece for the Highlanders this year, as well.
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
16-Ridge
Final 2016 record: 10-7
Final 2016 ranking: No. 20
Ridge will look to reload after winning 10 games last season and senior Dan Skea, who had 23 goals and 10 assists, will be a big part of the offense. Ted Kapp, who added 12 goals, will also be a big piece for the Red Devils this spring.
Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media
15-Ramapo
Final 2016 record: 13-6
Final 2016 ranking: No. 18
Ramapo could be one of New Jersey’s best teams with its top two scorers returning in Andrew Robbins (47 goals, 23 assists) and Jack Griffin (38 goals, 34 assists). Blake Eischen (24 goals, 20 assists) will be a major piece once again for Ramapo this season.
Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
14-Hunterdon Central
Final 2016 record: 12-6
Final 2016 ranking: No. 17
Hunterdon Central, a semifinalist in North Jersey, Group 4 last season, will look to charge up the rankings this year behind 25-goal scorer Kyle Johnson.
Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
13-St. Augustine
Final 2016 record: 12-8
Final 2016 ranking: No. 16
St. Augustine, a 12-win team from last season that reached the Non-Public A semifinals, will need to replace the production of its three leading scorers. Chris Stach (17 goals, 31 assists) and Max Gravenstine (17 goals) will be solid producers for the Hermits this season.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
12-Westfield
Final 2016 record: 11-9
Final 2016 ranking: No. 14
Nick Bond, who had 34 goals, will return for Westfield this season to lead a team that finished with 11 wins last year.
Boys Lacrosse 2017 preseason coverage: Links and preview schedule
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
11-Moorestown
Final 2016 record: 18-3
Final 2016 ranking: No. 12
Moorestown, which reached the Group 3 final last season, will return Frankie Labetti, a 54-goal, 20-assist scorer from last season. The Quakers will also return a ton of production in Quinn Willis, who had 42 goals and 16 assists and Will Corbi, who tallied 38 goals and 30 assists.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
10-Mountain Lakes
Final 2016 record: 18-6
Final 2016 record: No. 9
Mountain Lakes, an 18-win team last season, will need to replace the production left behind by Brendan Monteleone, Cade Siddron and Ryan Frawley, who combined for 122 goals last year. Hunter Batesko will be one of the top returners for the Lakers this season.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
9-Bergen Catholic
Final 2016 record: 15-7
Final 2016 ranking: No. 7
Shane Fable, who had 37 goals and 21 assists for a Bergen Catholic team that reached the Non-Public A finals, will be the top returning scorer for the Crusaders this year. Bergen Catholic will have plenty of holes to fill, however, in order to contend for a state championship this spring.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
8-Bridgewater-Raritan
Final 2016 record: 19-1
Final 2016 ranking: No. 3
After last season ended in disappointment, with Bridgewater-Raritan’s 42-game winning streak getting snapped in the ToC semifinals, Sean MacKinney will be the top returner for the Panthers after pumping in 31 goals as a junior. The Panthers will have plenty of holes to fill with the losses of Brian Kolen, Ethan Christensen, and Ryan Kaden.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
7-Montgomery
Final 2016 record: 16-4
Final 2016 ranking: No. 4
Montgomery, a 16-win team in 2016, will return two major pieces in Nico Ipeker (57 goals, nine assists) and Kyle Marrapodi (49 goals, 20 assists) with hopes of contending for a T of C title this season. Dan Engles, who had 26 goals and 11 assists last year, will also step into a major role this season.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
6-Pingry
Final 2016 record: 17-4
Final 2016 ranking: No. 2
Senior Jake Moss will be the top returner for a Pingry team that reached the ToC last season. Gone are the Big Blue’s top three scorers: Thomas Zusi, Austin Chang, and Ben Shepard. George Enman (21 goals, 18 assists) last year, will also be a major contributor for Pingry this season.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
5-Seton Hall Prep
Final 2016 record: 15-5
Final 2016 ranking: No. 8
Seton Hall Prep will return a pair of 43-goal scorers in Griffin Westlin and Jack Sarson and will start the season as one of the top teams in the state this year. Brian Tevlin, who had 32 goals and 31 assists will also return for the Pirates a year after reaching the Non-Public A semifinals.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
4-Chatham
Final 2016 record: 19-7
Final 2016 ranking: No. 10
Chatham graduated 72-goal scorer Austin Pierce, but still should be a major player in the ToC race this season with the return of Mac Bredahl. Thomas Berger and Ryan Decker should also contribute to Chatham’s success this season.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
3-Ridgewood
Final 2016 record: 16-2
Final 2016 ranking: No. 6
Senior Jack Kiernan will be the top returner for a Ridgewood team that won 16 games last season. The Maroons’ will need to replace the production left by the graduation of Kevin Mollihan (56 goals, 15 assists) and Cooper Telesco 48 goals, 17 assists). Dylan Peabody will step into a big role for Ridgewood this season.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
2-Summit
Final 2016 record: 17-2
Final 2016 ranking: No. 5
Summit, which lost two overtime games last season, will return Corey McManus as one of the state’s best attackers, along with Jack Johnson, who posted 21 goals and 12 assists.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
1-Delbarton
Final 2016 record: 22-2
Final 2016 ranking: No. 1
Delbarton, the defending Tournament of Champions winner, graduated its two best scorers from 2016 in Keegan Khan and Michael Rutter, but return Garrett Samuelson (29 goals, 10 assists) and Colin Crowley (27 goals, 21 assists) to lead the way this year.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
More boys lacrosse news on NJ.com
- Boys Lacrosse homepage
- Complete guide to NJ.com's preseason coverage
- Dates to keep
- Midfielders to watch
- Attackmen to watch
- Defensemen to watch
- Goalies to watch
Brian Deakyne may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Brandon Gould may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonGouldHS. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.
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