First County Crown Propels Chatham (N.J.) in Public High School Boys' Rankings

Chatham (N.J.) had never won the Morris County Tournament in its 38 years. It has now. 

The Cougars unseated three-time defending champion Delbarton (N.J.), which has 21 Morris County titles, by pulling away from an 8-7 fourth quarter nailbiter for a 12-7 win behind five goals from Michigan commit Shep Boyd and Tucker McWilliams’ 11 saves. 

The tournament title was Chatham’s fifth win in a row to vault to No. 4 in this week’s USA Lacrosse Public High School Boys’ National Top 25, presented by CWENCH Hydration. The Cougars next face another Top-25 team, Shawnee (N.J.), which just handed Kingsway (N.J.) their third loss of the season behind Rutgers-bound Tyler Rotkowitz’s 300th career point.

Former national No. 2 Highland Park (Texas) fell in their state semifinals to Dallas Jesuit (Texas). Ponte Vedra (Fla.) won its state championship to take over as new South No. 1. Ponte Vedra finished with 21 wins this season.

Summit (N.J.) won the Union County Tournament, 10-5, over Scotch Plains-Fanwood (N.J.). It’s their seventh title in the last eight years. They host Ridgewood (N.J.) on May 16 in a top-flight Jersey matchup. Ridgewood lost to private Don Bosco (N.J.) for the second time this season, but it was closer this time.

Today’s top matchup comes in Connecticut where New Canaan (Conn.) will host Staples (Conn.). New Canaan comes in on a seven-game winning streak, but Staples beat them in their first meeting of the year, 11-8, back on April 16.  

Other notable developments:

—  Garden City (N.Y.) wraps up the regular season May 15 against Bethpage (N.Y.) before turning its attention to defending their Nassau County championship.

—  Massapequa (N.Y.) will play at Syosset (N.Y.) on May 15 in a regional and national Top-25 showdown. Massapequa comes off a 10-9 comeback win over Darien (Conn.) behind four goals from Rocco Spallina, three assists from Tyler Byrnes and Peter Konstantinakos’ eight saves. Massapequa trailed before scoring the only three goals in the fourth quarter to rally for the win.

—  Maryland's public school playoffs are in full swing. After capturing its Class 4A West I region with a 23-2 win over Clarksburg (Md.), Urbana (Md.) advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals with a 23-3 win over James Hubert Blake (Md.). They’ll face Leonardtown (Md.) on May 16.

—  Severna Park (Md.) opened the Class 3A state tournament with a 22-0 win over Rockville (Md.) in the quarterfinals. They face top-seeded Sherwood (Md.) in the semifinals May 16. Severna Park won their East II region final, 18-6, over South River (Md.). 

—  Kent Island (Md.) wrapped up a Class 2A East I region crown with a 13-6 win over Queen Anne’s (Md.). After stopping Hereford (Md.) 10-5 in the state quarterfinals, they face a great matchup with Glenelg High (Md.) in the semifinals May 16. Glenelg won the West I region, 19-9, over Walkersville (Md.). 

—  Broadneck (Md.) earned the 4A East I region, 22-2, over Glen Burnie (Md.). After a 23-7 state quarterfinal win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase (Md.), they face Montgomery Blair (Md.) next.

— Pittsford (N.Y.) faces three games this week to try to add to their perfect record. They’ll play back-to-back against Irondequoit (N.Y.) and Jamesville-DeWitt (N.Y.), then tackle McQuaid Jesuit (N.Y.) on May 20.

— Second-seeded Springfield-Delco (Pa.) opens its District 1 3A tournament today against 15th-seeded Souderton (Pa.). Fifth-seeded Radnor (Pa.) will host 21st-seeded Haverford High (Pa.) today. Top-seeded Downingtown West (Pa.) hosts 16th-seeded Garnet Valley (Pa.).

— In the regional rankings, the Northeast remained in order with Massapequa’s win over Darien the most consequential result, Chatham vaulted up the Mid-Atlantic rankings, Ponte Vedra leapfrogged Highland Park in the South, still perfect Stillwater (Minn.) moved up a spot in the Midwest after Worthington Kilbourne (Ohio) fell, and the West will be watching a huge showdown Friday when Torrey Pines (Calif.) hosts La Costa Canyon (Calif.).

By focusing exclusively on public school programs, these USA Lacrosse National Top 25 and Regional Top 10 lists (also found here in our rankings hub) highlight the best teams that have built powerhouse rosters through local development and strong grassroots efforts.

Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country, rankings and records reflect results as of previous Tuesday.

National Top 25

1. Garden City (N.Y.), 14-1 (1) 
2. Summit (N.J.), 13-1 (3) 
3. Urbana (Md.), 15-1 (4)
4. Chatham (N.J.), 12-3 (25)
5. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 15-2 (5) 
6. Radnor (Pa.), 14-4 (6) 
7. Severna Park (Md.), 16-2 (7) 
8. Massapequa (N.Y.), 13-2 (8) 
9. Kent Island (Md.), 15-1 (9) 
10. Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), 12-3 (10) 
11. New Canaan (Conn.), 11-2 (11) 
12. Darien (Conn.), 9-6 (12) 
13. Staples (Conn.), 11-3 (13) 
14. Ridgewood (N.J.), 11-4 (19)
15. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 21-2 (16)
16. Manhasset (N.Y.), 11-4 (14)
17. Mamaroneck (N.Y.), 11-3 (15) 
18. Highland Park (Texas), 18-2 (2) 
19. Northport (N.Y.), 13-2 (17) 
20. Syosset (N.Y.), 13-2 (18) 
21. Downingtown West (Pa.), 18-0 (20)
22. Wantagh (N.Y.), 11-3 (21)
23. Robinson (Va.), 15-2 (22) 
24. Pittsford (N.Y.), 14-0 (23)
25. Shawnee (N.J.), 10-3 (24)

Also considered (alphabetical order): Bayard Rustin (Pa.), Bridgewater-Raritan (N.J.), Broadneck (Md.), Cape Henlopen (Del.), Carmel (Ind.), Cherry Creek (Colo.), Downingtown West (Pa.), Fallston (Md.), Garnet Valley (Pa.), Hilton (N.Y.), Huntingtown (Md.), Kingsway (N.J.), Linganore (Md.), Madison (Va.), Manheim Township (Pa.), Penfield (N.Y.), Port Washington (N.Y.), Ridley (Pa.), Roswell (Ga.), Rye (N.Y.), Scotch Plains-Fanwood (N.J.), Smithtown East (N.Y.), Stephen Decatur (Md.), Torrey Pines (Calif.), Towson (Md.), Twin Valley (Pa.), Upper Arlington (Ohio), Victor (N.Y.), West Genesee (N.Y.), Westfield (N.J.), Wilson (Pa.), Wilton (Conn.)

Northeast Top 10

1. Garden City (N.Y.), 14-1 (1)
2. Massapequa (N.Y.), 13-2 (2) 
3. Cold Spring Harbor (N.Y.), 12-3 (3) 
4. New Canaan (Conn.), 11-2 (4) 
5. Darien (Conn.), 9-6 (5) 
6. Staples (Conn.), 11-3 (6) 
7. Manhasset (N.Y.), 11-4 (7)
8. Mamaroneck (N.Y.), 11-3 (8)
9. Northport (N.Y.), 13-2 (9)
10. Syosset (N.Y.), 13-2 (10) 

Mid-Atlantic Top 10

1. Summit (N.J.), 13-1 (1) 
2. Urbana (Md.), 15-1 (2) 
3. Chatham (N.J.), 12-3 (NR) 
4. Springfield-Delco (Pa.), 15-2 (3)
5. Radnor (Pa.), 14-4 (4) 
6. Severna Park (Md.), 16-2 (5) 
7. Kent Island (Md.), 15-1 (6)
8. Ridgewood (N.J.), 11-4 (7) 
9. Downingtown West (Pa.), 18-0 (8)
10. Robinson (Va.), 15-2 (9)

South Top 10

1. Ponte Vedra (Fla.), 21-2 (2) 
2. Highland Park (Texas), 18-2 (1)
3. The Woodlands (Texas), 18-3 (4) 
4. Roswell (Ga.), 20-1 (3) 
5. Jupiter (Fla.), 16-4 (5)
6. Lambert (Ga.), 19-1 (6)
7. Lucy Beckham (S.C.), 15-3 (7)
8. Middle Creek (N.C.), 19-4 (9)
9. Lassiter (Ga.), 16-4 (8) 
10. Hough (N.C.), 16-3 (10)

Midwest Top 10

1. Upper Arlington (Ohio), 15-3 (1) 
2. Carmel (Ind.), 14-1 (2)
3. Stillwater (Minn.), 11-0 (4)
4. Lake Forest (Ill.), 13-2 (5) 
5. New Albany (Ohio), 14-4 (6)
6. Hudson (Ohio), 13-3 (7)
7. Olentangy Liberty (Ohio), 13-5 (8) 
8. Worthington Kilbourne (Ohio), 14-4 (3) 
9. Farmington (Minn.), 10-0 (9)
10. Rockford (Mich.), 12-2 (10)

West Top 10

1. Cherry Creek (Colo.), 15-2 (1)
2. Torrey Pines (Calif.), 14-3 (2)
3. Arapahoe (Colo.), 15-2 (3) 
4. La Costa Canyon (Calif.), 12-6 (4)
5. Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.), 13-7 (5)
6. Mount Si (Wash.), 16-4 (6) 
7. Lakeridge (Ore.), 14-3 (7)
8. Park City (Utah), 14-3 (8) 
9. Lakewood (Colo.), 15-2 (10)
10. Eastlake (Wash.), 14-3 (9)