Getting organized after graduating a devastating 1-2 offensive punch, along with several additional scoring threats, may have taken a while for the Westfield High School (WHS) boys lacrosse team this season. As always, the Blue Devils had to battle with top-10 teams all season long, and had a bumpy back-and-forth road in the first half but finally got into the groove to win eight of their last 10 games and finish with a 13-8 record and a No. 11 ranking.
Last year, the Blue Devil boys won the Union County Tournament (UCT) title, repeated as North Jersey, Group 4 champs and won the Group 4 title. They accomplished that task with the 1-2 punch of then seniors Garrett Ferguson, who broke the all-time WHS record with 80 goals, and Colin Coyle, who finished with 123 points (goals, assists). Additionally, they enjoyed the offensive efforts of seniors Billy Gerne and Luke Angelo.
(All rankings as of June 8)
This season the Blue Devils opened with a 12-9 loss to the Chatham Cougars (finish 17-4, No. 3) then followed with a 9-8 loss to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders (finish 184, No. 10). An 11-10 victory over the Seton Hall Prep Pirates (No. 2) was next then another 17-6 sinking of the Red Bank Regional Pirates followed before being sprayed, 8-7, by the Delbarton Green Wave (20-6, No. 5). A couple of easy wins, Montclair (174) and Pope John (13-3) followed.
After knocking off Shawnee (16-5, No 6), 12-9, the Blue Devils felt much better with a 5-3 record but the Summit Hilltoppers (finish 20-1, No. 1) sent them tumbling, 9-6. A 17-10 setback to the Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs (18-7, No. 8) was followed by a 6-5, overtime loss to the Ridgewood Maroon (won NJ Group 4, 18-5, No. 9) plunged their record to 5-6.
The second half of the season began with a 12-4 pounding of Pingry. After ousting the Cranford Cougars, 20-7, in the UCT, the Blue Devils were singed in the semis once again by the SPF Raiders, 9-8, in overtime. Six-straight wins would follow, beginning with a 9-8, overtime victory over Haddonfield. After beating St. Joseph (Metuchen), 11-6, the Blue Devils completed their regular season with a 13-4 triumph over the Caldwell Chiefs.
The NJ Group 4 Tournament was next and the Blue Devils made easy work over West Orange (22-0) and Hunterdon Central (18-1) before going into overtime to skin the Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers, 11-10, in the semifinal. The Blue Devils’ season came to a close with a 10-6 loss to Ridgewood.
The Blue Devils received the majority of their offensive production from three juniors and three sophomores. Junior attacker Koby Waldman (34 ground balls) led the team in points with 83 (35 goals – tied for 1st,
Photos at goleader.com Ballyhoo Sports 48 assists – 1st). Sophomore Patrick Smith recorded 32 goals and 32 assists for 64 points and scooped 15 ground balls. Junior midfielder Harrison Rekemeier (29 ground balls, 2-for-8 face-offs) recorded 35 goals (tie for 1st) and 24 assists for 59 points.
Sophomore Cooper Rosen recorded 31 goals and 14 assists for 45 points and added 17 ground balls. Junior midfielder Keiran Gerne (26 ground balls) finished with 25 goals and 16 assists for 41 points. Some defenders also added to the offense with senior Luke Spaide netting 11 goals and two assists to go with 62 ground balls. Seniors Ben Seward (61 ground balls) and Cooper Cimei (11 ground balls) each had eight goals and four assists. Junior Jack Schwarzenbek (45 ground balls) had three goals and two assists. Justin Giacalone (28 ground balls – GB) had three goals and two assists.
Trevor Bridge contributed five goals, an assist and four GB. Sophomore Casey Gilford (2 GB) scored three goals. Senior Cooper Chororos (10 GB) had three goals and two assists. Senior Kevin Reynders (25 GB) had two goals and two assists. Junior Matt Tardibuono had a goal and an assist. Juniors Blake Manson, Landon King and Justin Boufarah, along with freshmen Tim Carolan and Jacob Damji each scored once.
Of the face-off specialists, sophomore Cooper Richman (2 goals, 98 GB) won 163 of 332 face-offs. Senior Quinn Flor, who scooped 67 ground balls, won 6 of 12. Senior Oliver Kocaj (23 GB) won 41 of 75. Freshman Charlie Young (6 GB) was 9 of 16.
The Blue Devils outscored their opponents, 243-151, and junior goalkeeper Tyson Varner made 138 saves and yielded 147 goals. Senior Ryan Ricci made 10 saves, allowing one goal, freshman Harry O’Connor made 13 saves, allowing two goals, and senior Tom Holland made three saves allowing one goal.
The Blue Devils will return an abundance of scoring threats next year but will be working to fill the vacancies of a number of crucial defensive positions.
