Somerset County Lacrosse Tournament Semi Final Preview

by NJ Athletics May 15, 2024

The Somerset County Tournament continues with a intense semifinal matchups between some of the state's best. Ridge will to take on one of the best teams in the state in Pingry while Bridgewater-Raritan and Bernards meet for the second time this season. The pool of teams remaining show a tough group of teams ready to battle.

Pingry vs Ridge

Pingry Big Blue

Pingry, sporting a robust 13-1 record, has demonstrated their resilience throughout the season. Their only setback came against Ridgewood in a 8-4 game, who at the time was considered the best in the state. Pingry has a powerful offense and we will be sure to see it on display. The Big Blue has over 170 goals on the year thus far and

Season Record: 13-1
Key Wins: Westfield, Ridge, Bernards
Key Players: Charlie Ackermann has been instrumental with 39 goals and 15 assists, while Dylan Blekicki has amassed 44 goals and 24 assists. Both players will be central to Pingry's strategy in the semifinal. Asher Ziv plays a vital role as he leads the team with 37 assists and adds 31 goals to the mix.

Ridge Red Devils

With a season record of 9-5, Ridge has had a mix of highs and lows. Despite 5 losses, this team has played at a high level all year. The Red Devils dropped a close game to Pingry earlier in the year with a score of 7-6. They will look to get their revenge this game.

Season Record: 9-5
Key Wins: Ocean City, Gill St. Bernard's
Key Players: Ryan Olivo with 25 goals and 17 assists and Johnny Kaiser contributing 16 goals and 23 assists are expected to lead Ridge's charge. David Hamilton’s goalkeeping could be a decisive factor in this game.

This rematch offers Pingry a shot at revenge and Ridge the opportunity to reaffirm their earlier victory. With both teams bringing strong offensive and defensive plays, this semifinal promises to be a highly competitive and thrilling encounter.

Bridgewater-Raritan vs Bernards

Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers

Bridgewater-Raritan has shown strong late-season form, pulling off crucial wins such as the 10-7 victory against Gill St. Bernard's and a 9-5 win over Ridge. They have shown they can rise to the occasion, particularly in high-stakes games.They are currently 6-1 in their last 7 games and are coming off their biggest win yet against St. Augustine. The Panthers are faced with a tough task, but definitely have the momentum on their side.

Season Record: 9-4
Key Wins: Ridge, Gill St. Bernard’s, St. Augustine
Key Players: Brody Nussman has been pivotal to their offense with his team leading 28 assists., Siblings Declan and Cameron Kurdyla have been great too as Declan leads the team with 15 goals, while Cameron in goal provides solid last-line defense with 144 saves this season. Daine Kostes has been a productive mid-fielder for the Panthers as well with over 100 face offs won for a 72% win rate.

Bernards Mountaineers

Bernards has been nearly flawless this season, with only one loss against a very strong Pingry team. They have repeatedly proven their dominance with high-scoring games totaling an astounding 213 goals on the year. They have previously beaten Bridgewater-Raritan earlier in the year in a 9-5 victory. The mountaineers have continuously rolled through opponents time after time and will look to do so here.

Season Record: 13-1
Key Wins: Ridge, Bridgewater-Raritan
Key Players: Charlie Hunnewell, leading with 29 goals and 40 assists, and David Brothers with a remarkable 43 goals and 38 assists, are the main threats that Bernards will look to leverage in this crucial semifinal. Goalie, Caden Kirst has been solid too holding opponents to under 4 goals allowed per game.

This semifinal is a clash of two of the county's best, with both teams having shown they can perform under pressure. Both teams have been on a roll and despite a match up earlier in the season, we expect this game to look a lot different for either team.