Rams Beat Hackley, Drop Contests to LiLu and Bronxville

The Rams started the week off on a high note with a dominating 11 - 1 win over Hackley, which happened to be the 400th win in Fordham Prep lacrosse program history.  The Prep went up big early and never looked back.  Kudos to Cash Berner ‘27 (Rye) and the Rams defense as they shutout the Hornets until the middle of the third quarter.  The rest of the week was tougher as the boys dropped three straight.  The Prep got an early lead on Long Island Lutheran, and the contest was all tied up at the half, before a strong third quarter by LiLu put them up three and a comeback from the Rams in the fourth came up short 8 - 6.  Iona Prep overwhelmed the Rams 14 - 3 and Bronxville followed 15 - 6 on Saturday’s soggy afternoon.  The Broncos opened up a big lead in the first half and although the Rams played them even in the second half they couldn’t overcome the hole from the first half.

Looking ahead this week, the Prep heads out to Long Island twice for games against St. John the Baptist and Chaminade.  St. John the Baptist comes into the game at 5 - 3, including a 16 - 7 loss to mutual opponent Long Island Lutheran.  This is the first game against the Cougars since 2021, a Fordham 14 - 10 victory behind Sean Miller 21’s 17 saves and Jack O’Leary 23’s 4G/1A.  The Rams have won four straight against St. John.  Chaminade comes into the contest at 5 - 1 and ranked #9 in the country with wins over Don Bosco (NJ), Stepinac, McDonough (MD), Salesianum (DE), St. Ignatius Prep, and a lone loss to Loyola - Blakefield (MD).  The Flyers took home a 15 - 2 win last season.

The Varsity stats are up on the website and can be found (here).

The coaching staff will once again be holding its lacrosse summer camp Monday 7/14 to Wednesday 7/16 and it is open to rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders.  Spread the word as it’s a great opportunity for future Rams to meet and learn from the staff, check out our facilities, and see all that the Prep has to offer.  Details can be found (here).

Save the date for our annual Alumni Game and Family BBQ on Saturday, June 14th.

Hackley Recap:  W 11 - 1

Drew Pagen ‘26 (Rye) got the Rams on the board seconds into the game, unassisted off a clear, and minutes later fed  Dima Athanason ‘26 (Mamaroneck) from X to make it 2 - 0.  On the next possession Sebastian Zarkowski ‘25 (Hastings-on-Hudson) drove down the alley and ripped a shot past the Hornets keeper and a second from Athanason ‘26 in the closing minute extended the lead to four at the end of one.    Early in the second quarter Pagen ‘26 netted one coming around from X, but after that both defenses bore down and yielded nothing to make it a 5 - 0 Ram lead at the half.

Pagen ‘26 lit the lamp again early in the third quarter off a rocker dodge jump shot and followed that up a minute later with another off a long clear pass to make it 7 - 0.  On its next possession the Prep took it to 8 - 0 off a repeat of Zarkowski ‘25 driving down the alley and depositing a righty runner.  Midway through the third it remained all Rams as a nice tic-tac-toe sequence from Pagen ‘26 to Zarkowski ‘25 to Brendan McGrath ‘25 (Bronxville) brought it to 9 - 0 before Hackley finally broke the ice with six minutes remaining.  The Prep slowed it down in the fourth quarter, netting two more from Pagen ‘26 and Athanason ‘26, for an 11 - 1 final.

Stat Line:  Pagen ‘26 5G/1A/5GB, Zarkowski ‘25 2G/3A/4GB, Athanason ‘26 3G/1A, B. McGrath ‘25 1G, Bracchitta ‘27 1A, Waters ‘27 4GB, Berner ‘27 11 saves

Long Island Lutheran Recap:  L 8 - 6

The Rams got on the board early in the quarter as a Ryan Bracchitta ‘27 (Scarsdale) clear helped an Aidan Pymm ‘27 (Rye) fast break which found Drew Pagen ‘26, who dumped it in.  But both goalies took over and stoned their opponents for the rest of the quarter.  The Prep made it 2 - 0 off a Dima Athanason ‘26 groundball scoop and score at 5:44 left and he followed it up with his second of the day off the ensuing faceoff, when Justin Villani ‘25 (Thornwood) got the win and dished it off on the break.  The lead didn’t last long as the Crusaders netted three straight to make it a 3 - 3 tie at the half.

Three and a half minutes into the third, the Crusaders took their first lead on a  man-up goal and extended the lead to two 30 seconds later.  They did a solid job of maintaining possession and dropped in one more before a Colin Waters ‘27 (Manhattan) clear and dish to Aidan Jedlika ‘28 (Crestwood) made it 6 - 4 with 1:44 left.  A late goal with six seconds left gave a three goal lead again to LiLu at the end of three.  After back and forth ball for the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter the Crusaders took their lead to 8 - 4 with just under three minutes remaining.  A great ride led to an Athanason scoop, break and tally and he followed that one up on the next possession to pull the Rams to within two with 1:13 left.  A few last minute shots wouldn’t fall and the clock ran out on the Prep and the Crusaders took the 8 - 6 win.

Stat Line:  Athanason ‘26, 2G, Pagen ‘26 1G, Zarkowski ‘26 2G/6GB, Jedlicka ‘28 1G, Gilbert ‘26 5GB, Bracchitta ‘27 4GB, Iannarone ‘27 4GB, Berner ‘27 12 saves

Bronxville Recap:  L 15 - 6

Bronxville broke the ice right off the opening faceoff and struck again with 6:44 left.  Three more straight by the Broncos over the ensuing time made it 5 - 0 at the end of the first quarter.  Ryan Brachhitta ‘27 gave the Rams their first goal a minute into the second quarter, driving down the alley and burying a high bouncer from 12 yards out but Bronxville answered immediately to extend the lead to five again.  Another three straight by the Broncos took it to 9 - 1 at the half.

The Prep struck first early in the second half when Drew Pagen ‘26 drove from X and fired a jump shot over the shoulder of the Broncos goalie.  After two Bronxville scores, Dima Athanason ‘26 did the exact same thing from X with 6:21 left to make it 11 - 3.  Athanson ‘26 then followed that up at the 2:12 mark with a rocket from far out that slipped by the Broncos keeper bringing it to 12 - 4 after three.  In the fourth quarter, two in a row by Bronxville was interrupted by late goals from by Pagen ‘26 and Aidan Jedlicka ‘28 for a 15 - 6 final.

Stat Line:  Zarkowski ‘25 2G/6GB, Athanason ‘26 2G, Pagen ‘26 1G/3GB, Jedlicka ‘28 1G, R. McGrath ‘25 4GB, Berner ‘27 12 saves