Rams Fall to Stepinac in CHSAA Semi-finals to Conclude Season

****The Alumni Game and Family BBQ is scheduled for Sunday, June 12th at the Prep. We’d love to see a great turnout in the first year back from the two year COVID hiatus and the sooner we know numbers the better. To help with organizing and swag ordering for those playing, please register through the google form here.****

Unfortunately the Prep season came to an end with a loss to Stepinac in the CHSAA “AA” Semi-finals for the second year in a row. The Rams got first blood by scoring the opening goal but the Crusaders went on a run to take a 6 - 1 lead into the half. The Prep defense had its hands full in the second half as Stepinac continued to hold the majority of possessions and the Fordham offense couldn’t match the Crusaders output leading to a 12 - 4 final. Stepinac then went on to beat Iona Prep 6 - 5 to claim the first CHSAA “AA” City Championship in its history.

Congratulations to the following players who were recognized as All-CHSAA for their performance on the field this season:

1st Team

Charlie English ‘23 (Port Chester)

Jack Freel ‘23 (Manhattan)

Tommy Gies ‘23 (Rye)

Lewis Moore ‘23 (New Rochelle)

Jack O’Leary ‘23 (Rye)

2nd Team

Will Muccia ‘23 (Rye)

Jack Powers ‘23 (Manhattan)

Michael Semprevivo ‘23 (Port Chester)

Stepinac Recap: L 12 - 4

After stopping Stepinac on its first possession the Rams opened the scoring when Charlie English ‘23 drove from up top and found Jack Freel ‘23 sneaking from behind the cage to put the Prep up 1 - 0 early. The Crusaders roared back with two quick goals to take the lead and dropped in two more to make it 4 - 1 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams saw a multitude of possessions through the second quarter but the defenses and goalies were stingy, not allowing a goal until Stepinac notched its fifth with four minutes to go in the half. One more by the Crusaders extended their lead to 6 - 1 at the half.

The strong defensive play continued deep into the second half until the Crusaders scored with just over five minutes to go in the quarter to bring it to 7 - 1. A minute later Lewis Moore ‘23 blew past his defender and the ensuing slide to deposit a high to high shot and cut the Crusader lead to 7 - 2, where it ended after three quarters. Stepinac drew first blood in the fourth but Jack O’Leary ‘23 answered by backing up his defender and firing a lefty low bouncer to bring the score to 8 - 3. The Crusaders made it 9 - 3 but a tenacious ride by Jack O’Leary ‘23 and Jack Freel ‘23 caused a turnover by a Stepinac defensemen and led to an O'Leary ‘23 ground ball and feed to a cutting James Davis ‘24 for the Rams’ fourth goal. A goal by Stepinac off the ensuing faceoff made it 10 - 4 and two more late scores by the Crusaders took it to a 12 - 4 final.

Stat Line: O’Leary ‘23 1G/1A, Moore ‘23 1G, Freel ‘23 1G, Davis ‘24 1G, English ‘23 1A/3 GBs, Gies ‘23 4GBs, Lalonde ‘25 12 saves