Rams Season Ends With Loss to Kellenberg in CHSAA Intersectional Playoffs

****Saturday 6/8 is the Alumni Game and Family BBQ. Please help us make the organizing easier by letting us know if you plan to play or attend by emailing fptopcornerclub@gmail.com. We already have alums from the classes of ‘91, ‘93, ‘95, ‘02, ‘06, ‘11, ‘14, and ‘16 committed, come out and represent your class.****

The Rams season ended with a tough, hard fought loss to Kellenberg in the CHSAA Intersectional playoffs. The game was much different than the teams’ regular season meeting as neither team had more than a two goal lead. Both defenses and goalies kept their respective squads in the game and it was a one goal game until the last minutes. The Prep possessed the ball and worked its offense well but in the end came up just short of the win.

Congratulations to Stephen Zupicich ‘19 (Bronxville) for being named a US Lacrosse All-American and to Ethan Tym ‘19 (New Rochelle) for being named the CHSAA AA LSM of the Year. Zupicich will be playing at Ohio State next year and Tym will be playing at Trinity College.

Congratulations to Colin Malarchuk ‘16 who picked up several accolades for his on field performance this season for Wesleyan University. Malarchuk was named a USILA All-American Honorable Mention, as well as to the NESCAC All-Conference 2nd Team, and the to the NEILA All-New England Team.

We are still in need more alums to play in the alumni game on Saturday June 8th. If we don’t receive more commitments this week we’ll be forced to cancel the event. If you plan to play please RSVP.

Kellenberg Recap (L 10 - 8)

The Rams dominated possession from the opening face and held the ball for three quarters of the first half. However, Kellenberg started out faster and got two quick goals in the first three minutes of the game before the Prep answered with Quinn English ‘19 (Port Chester) depositing a lefty shot to make it 2 - 1. Fordham evened it at 2 - 2 on a nice man up set when Jack Stroligo ‘19 (Sleepy Hollow) hit English ‘19 in front of the crease for a nice turn around shot. The Prep continued to possess well and move the ball around finding several opportunities that were thwarted by Kellenberg saves before Brendan Sowarby ‘19 (Manhattan) found the back of the net to take the lead 3 - 2. A failed clear and transition allowed the Firebirds to tie it up right as the quarter ended.

The Kellenberg goalie continued to make saves in the second quarter as the Rams offense pressured the Firebirds defense until James Cunningham ‘19 (Larchmont) beat his man on a one-on-one for the Rams to go up 4 - 3. Kellenberg answered at the 4:45 mark to tie it up but several saves from Will Rice ‘20 (New Rochelle) kept the score knotted up. The tie was broken just under the two minute mark when Mekhi Simpson ‘20 (New Rochelle) cranked one top corner past the Kellenberg goalie and the Rams took a 5 - 4 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter the possession clock flipped as Kellenberg held the ball for the majority of the time notching three straight goals, including two on man-up, to take a 7 - 5 lead. Fordham stopped the Kellenberg streak when Quinn English ‘14 made a nice cut to blow past his defender and score to take the Rams within one. A few minutes later Stephen Zupicich ‘19 checked the ball out of a Firebird player and James Cunningham ‘19 scooped up the post-yardsale groundball and brought it the other way helping set up a strike by Kelly Hughes ‘19 (Bronxville). Kellenberg scored one more before the quarter was over to make it their lead 8 - 7.

The Firebirds opened the fourth quarter with a score but the Prep responded a minute later when Quinn English ‘19 drove from X to net his fourth goal of the day and make it 9 - 8. The Kellenberg defense and goalie played solidly denying the Rams on several possessions. The Rams defense, lead by poles Zupicich ‘19, Ethan Tym ‘19, and Patrick McAllister ‘19 (Manhattan), caused several turnovers but 9 - 8 was as close as the Prep could get it. Kellenberg added one more at the four minute mark to take the 10 - 8 win.

Stat Line: English ‘19 4G, Hughes ‘19 1G, Cunningham ‘19 1G, Simpson ‘20 1G, Sowarby ‘19 1G, Stroligo ‘10 1A, Tym ‘19 8GB, Rice ‘20 4 saves