Ridgewood Boys Blitz Chatham, Advance in Lax Tournament of Champions

You're next, Don Bosco.

A stingy defense and a first quarter scoring blitz led the Ridgewood boys lax team to upset Chatham 11-6 in the first round of the Tournament of Champions for the second time in as many years.

On Wednesday, the Maroons (14-9) will have an opportunity to exact revenge on a team that lately has supplanted Ridgewood as Bergen's best, a team that's had their number the last four matches.

If Ridgewood is going to be victorious on Wednesday against parochial power Don Bosco Prep, it might have to follow the blueprint of Saturday's win over Chatham.

At Kean University on Saturday, Ridgewood found itself ahead 6-1 by the end of the first quarter. Jason Gibson's prowess on faceoffs and crisp passing led to a rapid succession of goals. Owen Smith paced the offense with four goals and an assist, while Cole Miller added a hat trick.

Ridgewood's stingy defense for the sixth straight game held an opponent to fewer than seven goals, led by the state's top net-minder, Noah Pounds, who had 12 saves.

Once in the shadows of Bergen lacrosse prominence, Don Bosco has emerged as one of the state's best lacrosse programs. Last year, the team finished 18-1, losing the state championship to Delbarton. Bosco defeated Ridgewood twice last season.

The Iron Men are 17-2 this season, again defeating Ridgewood twice this year. 

Ridgewood and Don Bosco will square off at 5 p.m. at Kean University. Should Ridgewood be victorious, it will play the winner of Rutgers Prep and Ridge HS.