Rams Take Two Out of Three In Rhode Island, Stepinac This Week

The Rams went 2 - 1 on their Spring Break trip to Rhode Island, narrowly missing coming home 3 - 0 with a one goal loss in their first matchup.  The 8 - 7 loss to Barrington High School, in the first game, could have gone the Prep’s way but the boys hit an astonishing five pipes in the contest.  The team rebounded with a great 9 - 6 win over Moses Brown, the #2 ranked team in the state, led by strong all around team offense and defense.  Justin Villani ‘25 (Thornwood) and Owen Iannarone ‘27 (Manhattan) dominated at the faceoff X and the Rams utilized the possessions with six different players scoring.  The game was tied 3 - 3 at the half until a third quarter goal from Aidan Pymm ‘27 (Rye) gave the Rams a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.  Versus Bishop Hendrickson, the game was tight in the first half until Fordham took a second half lead paced by Dima Athanason ‘26 (Mamaroneck) and Ryan Bracchitta ‘27’s (Scarsdale) hat tricks.  Cash Berner ‘27’s (Rye) 13 saves and multiple goundball wins by Sebastian Zarkowski ’25 (Hastings-on-Hudson) and Jakob Gilbert ‘26 (Bedford) kept the Hawks out of striking distance for a 12 - 6 victory.

The trip up to Rhode Island wasn’t just about the experience on the field.  The boys got a tour of Providence College and its athletics facilities from the school’s Athletics’ staff and finished with lunch in the student union.  The players and parents headed back to campus after the Moses Brown win to watch the Providence vs. St. John’s lacrosse game Friday night.  Many thanks to Matt Pymm P’27 and Jake Freel P’27 on coordinating and planning the days up in the Ocean State.

The Prep faces Stepinac tomorrow and then heads up to the Albany area to face Bethlehem High School on Saturday.  CHSAA rival Stepinac is 3 - 7 with four mutual opponents so far this season including a 13 - 7 win over LiLu, a 6 - 4 loss to Mountain Vista, and lopsided losses to Chaminade and Iona Prep.  The Crusaders have knocked the Rams out of the CHSAA playoffs three of the past four years so the Prep will be looking for some vengeance.  Bethlehem, of Section 2 upstate, comes into the game at 5 - 3.  This is the second meeting between the schools after Fordham hosted the Eagles last year, an 11 - 7 Rams win behind PJ Cunningham 24’s 5G/3A and James Spring ‘24’s 17/21 day at the faceoff X.

Be sure to check out the game highlights which lacrosse alum Nick Coppola ‘15 and his team have been putting together for the Prep throughout the season.  You can find the videos on the program’s Instagram and Twitter accounts (@fordhampreplax).

Congratulations to alum Sean Miller ‘21 (Rye) on his first collegiate victory in goal for Holy Cross.  Miller ‘21 made 11 saves to help the Crusaders take down UMBC 15 - 7.