By Rich Chrampanis
PISCATAWAY – Marc Moreau’s Rumson-Fair Haven boys lacrosse team is on a two-game losing streak but don’t think for one second that this is a struggling program. The Bulldogs head coach continues to mold RFH as an elite state power and back-to-back losses to nationally ranked teams will only help a talented team learn how to handle all comers when the post-season rolls around.
Following a 10-5 loss to New Canaan (Connecticut) High School over the weekend, RFH traveled to Rutgers University Monday night to take on IMG Academy. The Florida team is ranked 19th in the latest Inside Lacrosse National Top 25. RFH had the athlete factory on the ropes but fell short in a 7-6 overtime loss.
The Bulldogs scored back-to-back goals in the span of 18 seconds to take a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Phil Passalaqua gave RFH a 4-3 lead at the half. The second half saw Cole Cashion continue to establish himself as one of New Jersey’s best. The Yale commit finished the game with a hat trick as Rumson had the national power on the ropes with a 6-4 lead in the fourth quarter. RFH goalie Will Setteduccate made a couple of key saves in the second half as the recipe for a stunning upset was on the table.
But IMG’s Syracuse commit Jordan Vincent delivered a long stick goal with four minutes to go to knot the game at six. Rumson had the final possession in regulation with a chance to win the game but could not get a shot off, forcing overtime.
In the end, IMG’s Braden Erksa scored the game winner late in the first overtime period to give the academy a come-from-behind 7-6 victory.
The Bulldogs are currently ranked fourth in the latest New Jersey state lacrosse rankings and the loss at Rutgers did nothing to damage their Top 5 status. With an 8-3 record, the only losses have come against two nationally ranked out-of-state teams and a narrow 8-7 home loss to Seton Hall Prep which is also a Top 5 team in the Garden State. Prior to Monday’s game, RFH had played IMG twice in the last five years and lost by a combined score of 32-16. But this group of Bulldogs bucked the trend and almost upset a national program.
The Bulldogs will continue to prepare for the Shore Conference and state playoffs with intriguing out-of-conference games against Ocean City, Moorestown and Bergen Catholic. The respect for Rumson goes well beyond our backyard as the Bulldogs will look to build on this game and vie to be the best, not only in the Shore but the entire state.
The article originally appeared in the April 28 – May 4, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
