Rams Beat Wilton in OT and Down St. Dominic's, Face Stepinac Tomorrow In Playoffs
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The Rams took home an exciting and memorable 5 - 4 overtime win against Wilton (CT) Saturday afternoon in historic Gaelic Park at Manhattan College. Cash Berner ‘27 (Rye) and James Spring ‘24 (Bronxville) were the difference makers with 14 saves and going 11/12 on faceoffs and also netting the winner in OT. The game was knotted up at one after the first quarter, but Wilton took the second quarter and entered the half with a 3 - 1 lead. The Prep stormed back in the third quarter to tie the game at 3 - 3 and both teams smacked each other around in the fourth quarter and found themselves tied up at 4 - 4 at the end of regulation. Spring ‘24 took the OT faceoff straight to the cage and fought through some serious stick checks to muscle off a shot to win it. We recommend you check out the great video footage of the goal (here) and (here).
On the day we honored lacrosse alum Chris Duffy ‘96, who lost his life on 9/11, and the Duffy family, it was a fitting finish for the first recipient of Chris’ #41 jersey in his memory.
Against St. Dominic’s, the Rams were patient with their early possessions getting up 4 - 0 on the Bayhawks, but the script flipped in the second quarter as St. Dom’s came back to tie it up. The Prep then scored two straight to take a 6 - 4 halftime lead and the game was tight with no more than a two goal differential until late in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was all Rams as they netted four unanswered for a 12 - 6 victory. Stepinac had the Prep’s number all game, taking a 6 - 0 score into halftime and eventually posting a 13 - 3 win. The Rams get another shot at the Crusaders as they play tomorrow in the CHSAA playoffs. Stepinac is 7 - 10 but has played a very strong schedule including wins over Wilton, Kellenberg, St. Dominic’s, and Bergen Catholic and losses to Bronxville, Chaminade, St. Anthony’s, and Scarsdale.
The JV squad has won three out of its last four, including a 6 - 4 win over Greenwich (CT), an overtime 12 -11 win versus Stepinac, and a 7 - 6 win over Pleasantville. They take on Stepinac again as well on Wednesday in the CHSAA playoffs.
Congratulations to Stephen Zupicich ‘19 (Villanova) on being drafted 22nd overall by the Whipsnakes of the Premier Lacrosse League. This past week Zupicich ‘19 was also named an Inside Lacrosse Second Team All-American and a USA Lacrosse All-American HM for his play this season for the Wildcats, leading the nation in caused turnovers and caused turnovers per game. He was also named First Team All-Big East.
The afternoon of Saturday, June 1st will be the annual Alumni Game and Family BBQ. Mark it on your calendar and be on the lookout for more details shortly.
Wilton (CT) Recap: W 5 - 4 (OT)
A PJ Cunningham ‘24 (Bronx) feed from behind to a cutting Will Freel ‘26 (Manhattan) opened the scoring three and a half minutes in and Cash Berner ‘27 was a wall making four saves before Wilton found the back of the net with 2:14 left in the quarter. A couple opportunities from each side came up empty and the game remained 1 - 1 at the end of one quarter. The Warriors owned most of the clock in the second quarter, scoring twice to take a 3 - 1 lead at 5:42 left and rode that into the half.
The third quarter saw the Rams scratch back, first at 9:28 left with Cunninham ‘24 driving and drawing a double team and then finding Ryan Brachhitta ‘27 (Scarsdale) who ripped a shot top corner. Alternating saves from both goalies kept it a one goal game until Bracchitta ‘27 delivered again tying it up 3 - 3 with 47 seconds to go in a man-up situation. The first half of the fourth quarter was some hard nosed physical play but the Rams broke the tie with 4:56 remaining as Dima Athason ‘26 (Mamaroneck) scooped up a loose ball in front of the cage and dumped it in. The lead was short lived as the Warriors tied it up a minute later. The Prep had a man-up opportunity with a minute to go and came up empty handed as the game went to overtime.
On the opening faceoff, James Spring ‘24 won it clean, sprinted straight to the cage, fighting off several stick checks and muscled a shot stickside past the Warrior goalie for the win 5 - 4.
Stat Line: Bracchitta ‘27 2G, Athanson ‘25 1G, Freel ‘26 1G, Cunningham, ‘24 2A/3GB, Pagen ‘26 1A, Spring ‘24 1G/11FOW (92%)/7GB, Berner ‘27 14 saves
St. Dominic’s Recap: W 12 - 6
A patient first possession led to a Will Freel ‘26 feed from behind to Will Leddy ‘24 (White Plains) who deposited the step down score. The Rams made it 2 - 0 twenty seconds later as Leddy ‘24 drove down the alley and faked a behind the back shot before scoring over the keeper’s shoulder. The Rams did a great job keeping possession and being patient on offense which led to a PJ Cunningham ‘24 score with 4:42 left taking the lead to 3 - 0. A minute later Drew Pagen’s ‘26’s (Rye) first score made it 4 - 0, but St. Doms got on the board off the ensuing faceoff to cut the lead back to three, where it stood at quarter end. The second quarter saw the Bayhawks settle down and get some offensive opportunities scoring three straight and tying it up at 1:46 left. But the Rams retook the lead as Pagen ‘26 netted his second off a fast break feed by Cunningham ‘24 with 1:30 left and Cunningham ‘24 added another with 44 seconds left to end the half 6 - 4 Fordham.
The Prep started off the second half scoring on a Cunnigham ‘24 tally which was answered immediately by St. Doms for a 7 - 5 score at the 10:22 mark. Both defenses then clamped down allowing nothing until the Bayhawks cut the lead to 7 - 6 with three minutes left. Ryan Bracchitta ‘27 took the lead to two again with just over a minute on a nifty toe drag past his defender for 8 - 6 score at the end of three quarters. The fourth quarter was all Rams as the Prep put in a goal every few minutes to bring it to a 12 - 6 final.
Stat Line: Cunningham ‘24 5G/1A, Pagen ‘26 3G/1A, Leddy ‘24 2G, J. Villani 1G, Bracchitta ‘27 1G, Freel ‘26 4A, Spring ‘24 1A/14FOW (70)%/12GB, Berner ‘27 6 saves
Stepinac Recap: L 13 - 3
After a couple of unsuccessful possessions by each team, Stepinac opened the scoring four minutes in before making it 2 - 0 at the five minute mark. A couple saves by both goalies kept the lead two until the Crusaders netted their third with 30 seconds left in the quarter. Both goalies opened the second quarter by denying the other teams’ offense as Cash Berner ‘27 kept tallying saves on his way to 10 in the half, but halfway through the quarter Stepinac netted it’s fourth to make it 4 - 0. Two straight from the Crusaders took it to 6 - 0 at the half.
An early Stepinac goal was answered immediately by Drew Pagen ‘26 driving from up top to get the Rams on the board two minutes into the third quarter. Two more in quick succession gave the Crusaders a 9 - 1 lead at the nine minute mark. Stepinac dominated possession in the quarter and took advantage, extending the lead to ten by quarter end. A great ride early in the fourth quarter led to Ryan Bracchitta ‘27 feeding Dima Athanson ‘26 to take the score to 11 - 2. Another two from Stepinac and one from Bracchitta ‘27 made it a 13 - 3 final.
Stat Line: Pagen ‘26 1G, Athanson ‘26 1G, Bracchitta ‘27 1G/1A, Spring ‘24 1A, Kortye ‘261A, Berner ‘27 13 saves