Prep Beats Kellenberg on Senior Night, Full Slate This Week

On Saturday the Rams took home a victory against Kellenberg, defeating the Firebirds 9 - 6 under the lights on Senior Night.  It was a great game to watch, the best all around team effort this season, and we had a robust sideline of family, alums, students, and friends.  In addition, 15 seventh grade boys and their families were there following our prospect event where they heard about the school and lacrosse program from the coaches, got a school tour, and ate dinner in the Commons before heading up to the game.  On the field the offense clicked for four quarters with crisp passing and solid ball movement as the short sticks worked the offense well.  Riding and clearing was solid but the defense was the deciding factor in the game.  

It’s easier to write up the offensive highlights, as that’s what shows up in the boxscore and the goal scorers usually get all the glory, but this game was an example of the defense playing extremely well and they deserve the lion’s share of the accolades.  Communication was great, slides were quick and physical, when the ball did make it inside the Firebirds were swarmed and rarely able to get shots off.   When they did, Cash Berner ‘27 (Rye) was a wall in the cage, consistently  denying Kellenberg and registering 13 saves.  So kudos and some praise for the poles and d-middies - Nick Dimitri ‘24 (Port Chester), Jack Lucchese ‘24 (Somers), Eamonn Curry ‘24 (Harrison), Bobby Brock ‘25 (Valhalla), Carter Remhild ‘25 (Manhattan), Rory McGrath ‘25 (Rye), Parker Kortye ‘26 (Manhattan), Jakob Gilbert ‘26 (Bedford).  

It was good to see the boys play so well after dropping their game earlier in the week to Iona Prep 16 - 4.  Inpatient possessions and not valuing the ball in the first half kept giving possessions back to Iona, allowing them to rack up goals and a lead that was too big to chip away at.  Hopefully we’ll see the Gaels again in the playoffs.

The Prep has a busy upcoming week with three games, starting with Hackley this afternoon.  The boys then head out to Long Island on Wednesday to face Inside Lacrosse #5 nationally ranked St. Anthony’s before traveling up I-95 to Greenwich High School on Saturday.  Hackley is 7 - 2 with its two losses against Riverdale Country School and Poly Prep, both of whom the Rams have beaten this season.  The Prep beat the Hornets 16 - 7 last year behind an eight goal effort by PJ Cunningham ‘24 (Bronx) and James Spring ‘24 (Bronxville) going 19 for 22 on faceoffs (recap).  St. Anthony’s is 8 - 2 including dominant wins against common opponents Iona Prep and Chaminade.  The Friars have won three straight against the Rams dating back to 2021 when they were ranked #1 in the country and twice in 2018, including a loss in the CHSAA playoffs.  Greenwich is 6 - 5 with a win against Mamaroneck and a one goal loss to Bronxville.  Last year was the Prep’s first game against the Cardinals and the Rams came away with the 14 - 12 victory on Senior Day on Murphy Field (recap).

We’re circling up the afternoon of Saturday, June 1st for the annual Alumni Game and Family BBQ event.  More details to follow but hold the date in your calendars.

Kellenberg Recap:  W 9 - 6

Both defenses started out strong not allowing any good looks as possessions went back and forth, until PJ Cunningham ‘24 drove from up top dodging past his man and giving the Rams their first score seven minutes in.  On the Prep’s next possession Dima Athanson ‘25 (Mamaroneck) swept from up top and around the cage and snuck a wrap-around goal past the keeper to make it 2 - 0.  On its first man-up opportunity Kellenberg delivered to cut the lead to one late in the quarter, but the Rams answered immediately when Cunningham ‘24 drove from behind off a restart and spun under a double team for a Prep 3 - 1 lead as the quarter expired.  

The second quarter started out like the first as both defenses continued to clamp down until five minutes in when Will Freel ‘26 (Manhattan) fed Cunningham ‘24 from behind who spun past his defender and added to the lead, 4 - 1.  Thirty seconds later Freel ‘26 called his own number driving to the cage from the sideline while drawing four slashing long poles (and a penalty) before muscling a shot past the Firebird goalie.  At 2:12 remaining the Rams took the score to 6 - 1 off Cunningham ‘24 driving from behind past GLE and depositing the rock in the back of the net.  A late Kellenberg score made it 6 - 2 at the half.

The third quarter was all defense as neither side could get anything past the respective defenses and goalies as the score remained 6 - 2 into the fourth quarter until Kellenberg cut the lead to three with ten minutes to go.  James Spring ‘24 won the ensuing faceoff and dished it to Freel ‘26 who finished the textbook fast break to make the lead four again at 7 - 3.  A Firebird and Athanson ‘25 man-up goal took it to 8 - 4 midway through the quarter but Drew Pagen ‘26 (Rye) finding Freel ‘26 on the crease a minute later extended the lead to five with 4:30 to go.  Two goals by the Firebirds in the waning minutes made it a 9 - 6 final.

Stat Line:  Cunningham ‘24 4G, Freel ‘26 2G/2A, Zarkowski ‘25 1G/1A, Pagen ‘26 1G/1A, Athanson ‘25 1G, Gafner ‘25 1A, Bracchitta ‘27 1A, Gilbert ‘26 6GB, Spring ‘24 1A/17FOW (90%)/14GB, Berner ‘27 13 saves

Iona Prep Recap:  L 16 - 4

After coming up empty on its first possession the Rams gave up a goal on an Iona fast break and the Gaels made it 2 - 0 off the ensuing faceoff.  A man up by the Prep at the seven minute mark came up empty but the defense was solid, keeping the deficit at two until Iona netted its third at 4:40.  The Gaels followed that up with another score on their next possession and a great look on a second Ram man-up opportunity was thwarted by a kicksave by the Gael keeper for a 4 - 0 score at the end of the first quarter.

A handful of inpatient possessions by the Prep gave the ball back to Iona and they took advantage, extending the lead to 6 - 0 by the 7:15 mark.  Four more straight from the Gaels took it to 10 - 0 at the half.

The Rams opened the second half with a quick score by PJ Cunningham ‘24 but Iona answered shortly after to make the lead 10 again at 10:27.  A rebound off a save into a Gael stick and putback made it 12 - 1 at 8:40.  Nothing was falling for the Rams as a nice fast break and shot up close was denied by the Gael’s keeper with five and a half to go.  Iona scored two more but with a minute left Cunningham ‘24 took a restart from the sideline burying a low bouncer to end the third quarter 14 - 2.  Iona grew it’s lead to 16 - 2 until the Prep got man-up at 3:13 and Cunningham ‘24 netted his third.  The ensuing faceoff was won by James Spring ‘24 and a quick pass to a Cunningham ‘24 sidearm rifle which went in offstick low cut it to 16 - 4, which was the final.

Stat Line:  Cunningham ‘24 4G, Spring ‘24 1A/6GB, Zarkowski ‘25 3GB, Cooleen ‘26 9 saves