By Jim Hintelmann
WEST LONG BRANCH – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School has developed one of the Shore’s outstanding sports programs, and girls lacrosse is right near the top as its impressive 9-6 win over Red Bank Catholic in Saturday’s Shore Conference Tournament title game is the latest example.
The Lady Bulldogs (19- 2) finished a dominating performance by winning their seventh straight SCT title against a talented RBC squad. Not only did RFH tie Shore Regional for most SCT wins with eight but it extended its remarkable win streak against Shore-area teams to 119.
“These girls have far exceeded my expectations,” said Rumson coach Amy O’Keefe. “We had several injuries early in the season but everyone stepped up and is working well together.”
RBC (18-4), which proved to be a major test for RFH, came close to upsetting the Bulldogs 11-10 in an early-season meeting and was ready once again Saturday with Riley O’Connor giving RBC a 2-0 lead in the first nine minutes with a pair of free position goals before RFH rallied with three straight goals to go in front, 3-2.
“They got ahead of us 3-0 the last time we played them,” said O’Keefe “ We tried not to fall behind, but were able to keep our composure both on offense and defense.” O’Connor tied the game with her third goal of the contest but Chase Boyle put RFH in front with a goal and then came a big play when RFH’s Jordan Johnson intercepted a clearing pass and got the ball to Allie McGinty who put it in with a minute left in the half for a 5-3 lead.
“It was nice to get that 2-0 lead,” RBC coach Troy Madison said, “but no one on the current team has been in SCT finals and Rumson was battle tested.”
RFH made it 6-3 early in the second half on a goal from Ava Poupard, but RBC’s Ava Smith took a pass from McKenzie Boyle and scored to make it 6-4 and Mackenzie Boyle (Chase’s sister) followed with another goal to cut the RFH lead to a goal.
Chase Boyle, however, passed to Cassie James who scored for a 7-5 Rumson advantage.
RBC stayed in contention a while longer as Ava Smith scored to make it 7-6 with 8:19 remaining, but RFH’s Sophia Passalaqua tallied a pair of insurance goals, the last with a minute left, to clinch it.
“It’s all about the trust and knowing when we should go to goal and when we shouldn’t go to goal,” Passalaqua said. “I knew I had the girl beat so I just took it. You have to be 100 percent in or other wise you’re not going to make that shot so that’s what I’ve had to do.”
Red Bank Catholic reached the finals after a dramatic 9-8 win over Manasquan in the SCT semi-finals thanks to a Mackenzie Boyle game-winning goal with 29 seconds left. The Caseys are the second seed in the upcoming Central Jersey Group 2 state playoffs.
“We threw away a couple of possessions and their goalie, Sophia Bocklage (12 saves), played a great game,” said Madison, “but we played as good a game as you could and that is all you could ask for.”
It was a special moment for Cassie James. The RFH senior captain scored a pair of goals on the turf at Kessler Stadium, her future college home.
“I cried after the game because I’m just so unbelievably proud of how we came together as a team,” James said. “I have no words. I’m speechless for the first time ever.”
With the SCT ended, both teams will be seeking sectional titles beginning this week. RFH, whose only losses were to state powers Oak Knoll and Moorestown, is the top seed in North Jersey Group II Section 2 and will play the winner of the Hackettstown-Voorhees game Friday.
RFH defeated Manasquan last season to win the Central Jersey Group 2 title but lost to Haddonfield in the Group 2 semifinal.
