Rams Take Down Stepinac, Duffy Cup Versus Cardinal Hayes Tomorrow
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The Rams took down Stepinac on Tuesday, breaking an eight game regular season and playoff losing streak dating back to 2021. The teams were relatively even in several stats (groundballs, time of possession, faceoffs), but the Rams’ ability to clear the ball better (18 for 19), have more success on rides, and a few more saves made the difference in the game. The Prep got out to a quick 2 - 0 lead minutes into the game and extended it to 5 - 1 in the second quarter, however the Crusaders stormed back to make it 5 - 4 in the third quarter. The Rams couldn’t shut the door, only managing to take one or two goal leads through the middle of the fourth quarter before making a run and extending the lead to four and eventually winning 10 - 7. Fordham will face Stepinac again in the CHSAA playoffs May 14th and judging by the chippiness as the final whistle blew there’s no doubt the Crusaders will be looking for payback.
The Stepinac game ended up being the only contest of the week as the Prep’s scheduled visit to Bethlehem High School in the Albany area was cancelled due to impending weather.
Tomorrow, in the Battle of the Bronx, Fordham hosts Cardinal Hayes for the Duffy Cup, named in honor of John Duffy P’95, P’96, P’99 and the Duffy Family. John is a Hayes alum, as well as Prep parent, sending three sons (two lacrosse players) to the Prep and has been a long-time supporter of both schools and athletic programs. We will be honoring our nine Class of 2025 seniors at the game as well. The Cardinals are 11 - 3 on the season against various CHSAA “A” and “B” teams and NYC PSAL squads. St. John the Baptist is the only mutual opponent both teams have played this season with the game being a loss for Hayes and a win for the Rams. In the inaugural Duffy Cup last season the Rams won 14 - 8 behind a monster day from James Spring ‘24 (15/20 FO, 5G/1A/13GB) (recap).
St. Dominic hosts the Prep on Thursday and comes into the contest at 6 - 4, including a 9 - 4 loss to mutual opponent Stepinac. The Rams bested St. Dom’s 12 - 6 last year, but the schools swapped one goal games in 2023 and 2022, including a 2OT Fordham win in 2023. Fordham heads out to Long Island again Saturday to face Kellenberg to close out the regular season. The Firebirds are 7 - 5 with a 10 - 9 win over Stepinac, a 15 - 7 loss to Iona Prep, and a 19 - 13 win over St. Dominic. The Prep and Kellenberg have been battling it out the past couple years, trading wins the last two seasons - Fordham 9 - 6 in 2024 and Kellenberg 11 - 10 in 2023.
Best of luck to Prep current math teacher, lacrosse alum, and current Pace University assistant lacrosse coach Ryan Gorup ‘07 as he and the Setters face Molloy University in the first round of the D2 NCAA tournament. Pace is the #4 seed and host the #5 seed Lions on Wednesday.
Stepinac Recap: W 10 - 7
The Rams opened the scoring barely a minute in when Carter Remhild ‘25 (Manhattan) drove down the alley and found Dima Athanason ‘26 (Mamaroneck) cutting up around GLE from behind. Sebastian Zarkowski ‘25 (Hastings-on-Hudson) followed up a minute later on an assist from Drew Pagen ‘26 (Rye). The Prep defense was solid the next seven minutes, including a man-down stint, however Stepinac got on the board with 3:47 left. Zarkowski ‘25 made it 3 - 1 with just over two minutes left in the quarter, driving a couple steps down the alley and depositing a lefty shot from 12 yards out. Ryan Bracchitta ‘27 (Scarsdale) scored the first of his four on the day at the 8:20 mark of the second quarter, driving from up top and cranking one past the goalie to take the lead to 4 - 1. He followed that up with another, from Pagen ‘26, to give the Prep its biggest lead at 5 - 1 with just under three minutes left in the half. But the Crusaders didn’t wilt, notching two to close out the half at 5 - 3.
Stepinac continued its comeback in the third quarter bringing the score to 5 - 4 before Aidan Pymm ‘27 (Rye) grabbed a rebound off a Crusader save and dumped it into the back of the net. The Rams couldn’t pull away as the Crusaders scored a minute later to make it 6 - 5. At the 6:30 mark Athanason ‘26, driving from GLE, stuck it in for another two goal lead for the Prep, but once again Stepinac answered cutting the lead to 7 - 6 with 4:33 remaining in the third. Fordham had a few good looks, after some great rides, but Stepinac saves kept it a one goal game until Bracchitta ‘27 rolled off his defender and ripped one from 15 yards out with a minute remaining.
Neither team could get anything going in the fourth until halfway through when Pagen ‘26 found Remhild ‘25 from X, bringing the score to 9 - 6. Bracchitta ‘27 tallied his fourth of the day to bring the Rams lead back to its largest of the contest at 1:18 left in the game, and a late one from Stepinac made it a 10 - 7 final.
Stat Line: Bracchitta ‘27 4G, Zarkowski ‘25 2G, Athanason ‘27 2G, Remhild ‘25 1G/2A, Pymm ‘27 1G, Pagen ‘27 3A, Gilbert ‘26 3GB, Iannarone ‘27 11FOW/6 GB, Berner ‘27 10 saves