Ranking the top boys lacrosse sophomores and freshmen in the Shore Conference
It's time to get to the sophomores and freshmen side of Shore Conference boys lacrosse this season.
There has been a good number of underclassmen that have already established themselves as game factors for their teams - consistent scorers, starting goalies, lockdown defenders among them.
More: VOTE: Who's the boys lacrosse Shore Class of 2024 senior Player of the Year?
More: VOTE: Who's the boys lacrosse Shore Class of 2025 junior Player of the Year?
Below are the top 15 sophomores in the Shore Conference and then there are more players that are on our Watch List. The stats are through May 9.
Then comes the top 10 freshmen and Watch List.
Sophomores
1. Luke Lydon, Rumson-Fair Haven, Attack
He's one of the top scorers on a Bulldogs team that's one of the best in the Shore Conference. He scored 33 goals and 10 assists this season. Approaching his 100th career point and has 18 ground balls this season. He had a season-high six goals against Shore last month. The only game he didn't score was against Manasquan, and the Bulldogs lost that game, which shows how much he means to his team as just a sophomore.
2. Finnegan Buchan, Holmdel, Attack
A consistent scorer that had an impressive freshman campaign, and has continued that stride. With 34 goals and 11 assists on the season, he's close to touching his 100th career goal as a sophomore. He had a season-high six goals against Wall and Middletown South. He's top three on the Hornets as a scorer, and he has gotten better throughout the season.
3. Gabe Pape, Red Bank Regional, Attack
Towards the end of this season, Pape has gotten more consistent as a scorer for the Bucs. In the last three games, he scored four goals in each matchup for wins. He had a season-high five goals against Shore last month. This season he has tallied 33 goals, 11 assists and 44 ground balls alongside his older brother Andrew who's a stud as well.
4. Jack Cannon, Holmdel, Midfield
One of the better passers and all-around players on the Hornets team. He's second on the team with 26 assists, he also has 21 goals on the season. He also tallied 24 ground balls for his team. Against Red Bank Catholic, Red Bank Regional and Shore he had a season-high three goals. He held his own against some of the top teams in the Shore Conference as not only a facilitator and scorer, but a defender as well.
5. Reid Spallone, Shore, Midfield
Has 24 goals and assists a piece so far this season to go along with 10 ground balls for the Blue Devils. Against Middletown South, he scored a season-high four goals. He leads the team in assists, and is top five in scoring. Perhaps the best two-way player on a team that's been challenged all season by solid teams.
6. Connor Doel, Manalapan, Goalkeeper
His first full season as goalkeeper and Doel has been playing stellar. He has played a big part in the Braves sitting at the top of the Colonial Division. He made 119 saves on the season through 13 games and let up 63 goals. Quick instincts, calm in tense situations, and has seven ground balls on the season.
7. Nicholas Caruso, Toms River East, Midfield
The five-foot-10 midfielder has tallied 38 goals and 15 assists on the season. He has over 100 career points thanks to his solid stick skills and knack for finding the net. In the season opener, he scored a season-high six goals against Ocean Township. He also has 38 ground balls for TRE.
8. Frank Tackett, Red Bank Catholic, Midfield
Leading goal scorer and point-getter on the Caseys with 34 goals and 16 assists to go with 27 assists. He had a season-high five goals against Ocean Township last month.
9. Caden Lucich, CBA, Attack
Within CBA's tough schedule throughout the season, the attackman has proved to be a solid contributing factor on one of the top Shore teams. He has 10 goals and four assists this season.
10. Braedyn Gialanella, Lacey, Attack
Already a 100-point career scorer, he's also approaching 200 career points. He scored 54 goals and 35 assists with a season-high eight goals against Marlboro. Strength in schedule and wins was the only thing preventing the attackman from going higher.
11. Jeff White, Jackson Liberty, Midfield
This season he tallied 34 goals, 18 assists, and 34 ground balls at the midfielder position. He had a season-high five goals against Brick Township and St. John Vianney.
12. Connor Holevinski, Ocean Township, Midfield
The midfielder tallied 27 goals and nine assists to go with five ground balls this season for the Spartans. She had a season-high five goals against Marlboro.
13. Wyatt Capro, Wall, Attack
A solid scorer for the Crimson Knights that has tallied 15 goals and six assists. He had a season-high four goals in a victory over Shore.
14. Joseph Muzzillo, Jackson Memorial, Midfield
For the Jaguars, he has tallied 16 goals, 11 assists, and 21 ground balls. He had a season-high four goals in a win over Barnegat.
15. Jack Barone, Donovan Catholic, Goalkeeper
He has made 96 saves in 12 games and let up 84 goals. The goalkeeper has played a big part in his team being at the top of the Freedom Division.
Sophomores Watch List
American Division
Ben Breeden, CBA, Midfield
Sean Currie, CBA, Midfield
Colton Klobuchar, Holmdel, Defense
Jack Tiller, Holmdel, Goalkeeper
Marcus Cermele, Holmdel, Defense
Jack O’Reilly, Manasquan, Midfield
Will Conway, Manasquan, Midfield
Lucas Longo, Manasquan, Midfield
Rya Deverin, Red Bank Regional, Midfield
Chase Devlin, Rumson-Fair Haven, Defense
Luke Passalaqua, Rumson-Fair Haven, Defense
Joseph Whitehouse, Rumson-Fair Haven, Midfield
Toby Najenson, Rumson-Fair Haven
Finn Watson, Shore, Attack
John Mazzacco, Shore, Midfield
Dylan Cohen, Wall, Midfield
Patrick Freud, Wall, Midfield
Colonia Division
Leonardo Chamorro, Barnegat, Defense
Connor Maloney, Barnegat, Midfield
DJ Swierk, Barnegat, Goalkeeper
Cole Reinsdorf, Howell, Midfield
Elijah Coffman, Jackson Memorial, Midfield
Alexzander Mooneyhan, Howell, Midfield
Mike Kelly, Howell, Attack
Jason Benisch, Manalapan, Midfield
Ben Acquaviva, Middletown South, Midfield
Luke Gaffney, Middletown South, Midfield
Jackson O’Keefe, Middletown South, Midfield
Nick Prendeville, Point Pleasant Boro, Midfield
Colin Cummins, Toms River East, LSM
Ryan Grouss, Toms River East, FOGO
Benjamin Standfast, Toms River East, LSM
Constitution Division
Christian Casatelli, Colts Neck, Midfield
Andrew Dalton, Freehold Township, Midfield
Mason Trombetta, Marlboro, Midfield
Kevin Boone, Neptune, Defense
Brad Sattan, Middletown North, Midfield
James Knight, Ocean, Midfield
Mickey McGovern, Ocean, Defense
River Pinto, Ocean, Goalkeeper
Jack Varley, Ocean, Midfield
Max Menkowitz, St. John Vianney, Midfield
Luciano Formica, St. John Vianney, Goalkeeper
Cameron Esposito, St. John Vianney, Goalkeeper
Freedom Division
Nick Correia, Brick Memorial, Midfield
Jack Deufemia, Brick Memorial, Midfield
Shane Trautweiler, Brick Memorial, Midfield
Jake Agugliaro, Central, Attack
David Wentworth, Donovan Catholic, Attack
Jonathon Price, Lacey, Midfield
Kristopher O’Neill, Lacey, Defense
Ryan Gleason, Lacey, Attack, (33,24)
Steve Lindemann, Toms River South, Midfield
Freshmen
1. Seamus Gorman, Rumson-Fair Haven, Goalkeeper
The freshman took the starting job after a couple games in the season and has played stellar since. He hasn't let up double digits in goals for a single game this season. He made 60 saves in 10 games and allowed 46 goals. He made a season-high nine saves against Shore and New Canaan (CT). He's only going to get better as the Bulldogs face some of the top competition in not only the state, but the country.
2. Gavin Nascimento, Donovan Catholic, Midfield
The freshman is the second leading scorer for a Donovan Catholic team that is at the top of their division. He has tallied 40 goals and 35 assists to go with 45 ground balls. He had a season-high seven goals in a win over Lacey last month. By the time he graduates, he's likely to hit 200 career goals.
3. Gerard Uzzolino, Toms River East, Attack
The attackman was a consistent scorer for TRE out the gate of this season. He had a season-high four goals against Toms River North. This season he tallied 19 goals, 16 assists and 18 ground balls. A top three scorer on the team that is also surrounded by talented underclassmen.
4. Christian Balletto, Middletown North, Midfield
A consistent player for the Lions that can not only find the net as a scorer, but pass the ball to his teammates. He has 23 goals and 10 assists for his team. In the season opener he had five goals in a 14-5 win over St. John Vianney in April. He's second on the team in scoring.
5. John Little, CBA, FOGO
The top players on the CBA roster are grateful for the production Little has at the face-off specialist position. He won 67% of the face-offs this season and has scored four goals. Five times this season he won 80% or more of the face-offs. Not only is he able to give his team the ball, but he can also score as well.
6. Kyle Sininsky, Southern, Midfield
He shown signs that he can be a fantastic two-way player, and with a little more consistency, he has the potential to be an all-shore player. Sininsky tallied 15 goals and assists on the season.
7. Cash McVey, Southern, Midfield
An explosive scorer with flashes of putting points together in bunches. He had a season-high five goals against Middletown South. He scored 16 goals and five assists on the season.
8. Ryan Caruso, Toms River East, Goalkeeper
Caruso has had strong games this season showing that he can be a lockdown goalie. He had a season-high 16 saves against Southern. He made 105 saves, allowed 67 goals in 13 games.
9. Noah Fleming, Middletown North, Midfield
Was only held scoreless in one game this season. He scored 20 goals and 12 assists for the Lions. He had a hat trick against St. John Vianney, Marlboro, and Colts Neck.
10. Justin Valentino, Red Bank Regional, Midfield
Already a significant piece for the Bucs this season as he tallied 12 goals and 13 assists. He scored a season-high three goals against East Brunswick.
Freshmen Watch List
American Division
Turner Cooke, CBA, Attack
Mason Schlaefer, Manasquan
Kieran Schneider, Manasquan
Brady McHugh, Shore
Colonial Division
Nick Palmieri, Manalapan
Ryan Colacichi, Middletown South
Blake Engelken, Point Pleasant Boro, FOGO/Midfield
Colton Stecchini, Point Pleasant Boro
Joe Egan, Red Bank Catholic, Midfield
Mike Toth, Red Bank Catholic, Defense
Colin Heale, Toms River East, FOGO
Constitution Division
Hunter Reynolds, Neptune
Christian Loff, Neptune, Goalkeeper
Brayden Delavega, St. John Vianney
Freedom Division
Nick Pirone, St. Rose
Cole Russoniello, St. Rose
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Shore boys lacrosse top sophomores, freshmen in the Shore Conference
