The road ahead was definitely bumpy and the Cranford High School boys lacrosse team just could not seem to get out of all the numerous ruts this season. Despite constantly searching for the right formula for success, the Cougars finished the season with a 3-14 record.
The Cougars opened their season withthree straight losses – Livingston Lancers, Montclair Kimberley, Summit Hilltoppers – before stinging the Hanover Park Hornets, 14-8. But next came eight straight losses, which included a high-scoring, 24-13 setback to the AL Johnson Crusaders and ended with a 7-5 nipping from the Delaware Valley Terriers.
The second win of the season was over the Governor Livingston Highlanders. 7-4, in the first round of the Union County Tournament but a 171 trouncing in the next round was to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders. The Cougars’ final victory was a 173 harnessing of the Oratory Prep Rams but the GL Highlanders got even in the regular-season season finale, 109. The Cougars’ season ended with a 16-8 setback toAllentown in the South Jersey, Group 2 first round.
Junior attacker Ryan Gregersen definitely led the Cougars in scoring with 41 goals and 12 assists for 53 points and also scooped 17 round balls. Senior attacker Joe Brodbeck finished with 18 goals and 11 assists for 29 points and scooped 16 ground balls. Senior midfielder Lucas Caldwell netted 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points and was tied for third on the team with 21 ground balls.
Senior attacker Tommy McCarthy stuffed in 12 goals and added a pair of assists, while scooping six ground balls. Freshman midfielder Luke Owens contributed six goals, eight assists and 15 ground balls. Junior attacker Beckett Naughtman finished with seven goals, two assists and four ground balls. Sophomore midfielder Will Morgan finished with six goals, three assists and 15 ground balls. Junior Vince Otten had three goals and three assists and tied Caldwell for third in ground balls with 21. He also won 10 of 57 face-offs.
Another who contributed to the scoring was junior Braedan Waters with two goals and two assists. A group of defenders also managed to score. Senior Greg Reilly had a goal and an assist but tied for second on the team with 23 ground balls. Freshman Reece Icklan (3 ground balls) also had a goal and an assist. Senior Aiden Frese scored once.
Junior defenders Mason Mannix (13 ground balls) and Matt O’Donnell (9 ground balls) and sophomores RJ Schiffi (3 ground balls, 7-for-7 faceoffs) and Lucas Hoeffler (23 ground balls – 2nd) each added an assist. Freshman long stick middie Jared Acinapura tied senior Kevin Goldfeder with the most ground balls at 34.
The Cougars worked with three goalies. Freshman Ethan MacNab recorded 151 saves and yielded 114 goals. Junior Mark Doyle had 71 saves and allowed 78 goals. Junior Dylan MacNab recorded 15 saves and yielded 16 goals.
In the win over Hanover Park, Gregersen netted six goals and three assists. Brodbeck had two goals and four assists and Caldwell finished with three goals and an assist. The “slamfest” with the ALJ Crusaders had Gregersen stuffing in seven goals and adding a pair of assists. Owens scored twice and had two assists. The win over GL had Gregersen notching four goals and two assists. McCarthy scored twice and Nachtman scored once.
Brodbeck had four goals and four assists in the win over Oratory, while Gregersen had four goals and an assist, Owens had two goals and two assists, and Morgan had two goals. Gregersen fired in five goals against GL in the season finale and Otten had a goal and two assists. Against Allentown, Gregersen had three goals and two assists. McCarthy scored twice.
The Cougars most likely would continue searching for the right combination next year.
