Some of the Montclair Kimberley boys lacrosse team remember last season’s Non Public B final.
And now on Friday, June 2, the Cougars will get their chance to avenge the 2022 group title against Rutgers Prep as they fell 11-4 in a second-half rainstorm.
For the seniors like co-captains Evan Grossman and Jordan Fishback, they get another shot against second-seeded Rutgers Prep, this time on their field in the Non-Public B quarterfinals.
To get there seventh-seeded Montclair Kimberley had a dominant third quarter where they outscored 10th-seeded Dwight-Englewood, 11-0, in route to a 19-7 victory at home on Tuesday, May 30.
With the victory the Cougars won back-to-back games for the second time this season. Montclair Kimberley defeated River Dell, 11-8, on May 23.
Against Dwight-Englewood, seven different Cougars scored in the contest led by junior Nick Snyder and sophomore Henry McCann with five goals each. Freshman Charlie Wolff added three goals while both Grossman and sophomore Miles Black chipped in a pair of goals.
For Montclair Kimberley they have a younger group this season which has shown with a 5-12 overall record, but it was against some of the top teams in the state.
The Cougars are hoping for the experience that they have developed against quality and larger schools like Ridgewood, Randolph and Pope John will pay off in the state playoffs and against Rutgers Prep.
With a victory over the Argonauts, it would make it the first three-game winning streak for Montclair Kimberley this season.
Going into the match against Rutgers Prep, the Cougars have three players who have tallied 23 goals or more in Grossman (23), McCann (24) and Snyder (26).
In the back Montclair Kimberley freshman goalie Simon Hardiman will be severly tested in the nets. The freshman netminder made 10 saves against Dwight-Englewood. And the Cougars defense will be looking to put the clamps on Mac Priesing, Rutgers Prep’s top scorer with 40 goals.
While the Cougars has lost to Rutgers Prep the last two times, both in 2022, the MKA did take care of the Argonauts in the 2021 season where they defeated Rutgers Prep twice including the ’21 Non-Public B semifinal contest, 15-4. In the 2021 season, Montclair Kimberley lost to Pingry in the Non-Public B final.