NO. 13 DON BOSCO PREP VS. NO. 1 DELBARTON

Wednesday, May 29 At Livingston 5-DON BOSCO PREP (10-8) vs. 2-DELBARTON (16-2), 7:30 p.m. How they got there: Don Bosco Prep avenged a one-goal loss last month to Bergen Catholic in the quarterfinals, and then became an improbable threat to Delbarton's throne by shocking top-seeded and top-ranked Seton Hall Prep, 9-8, in the semifinals on Saturday. The Ironmen became the first New Jersey squad to upend Seton Hall's first this season, a feat that not even Delbarton could manage. Whether Seton Hall was looking a little beyond Don Bosco is both speculative and immaterial at this point. Fact is, Don Bosco went after the Prep with absolute conviction from the opening faceoff and quickly built a 3-0 lead. And even though Seton Hall would eventually tie the game at 7-7 and 8-8 early in the fourth quarter, the Ironmen had built up enough confidence to both hold the Prep at bay the rest of the way behind the defense of Michael Buschbacher, Luke Fortunato, Jason Haber and goalie Jack Bagin, and then figure out a way to finish off the job. Junior middie Nate Mazurek handled that business when he cranked in the winning goal with just 4.3 seconds left. Senior Reese Gerlach led the way in the upset with three goals while freshman Koleton Marquis - one of the unlikely young heroes of this unlikely story - netted two goals and assisted on one on the big stage. Delbarton looked as if it was ready to steamroll its way to the championship game after beating No. 2 Mountain Lakes, 14-12, for the Morris County Tournament title May 8, and then upsetting undefeated Chaminade (N.Y.), 12-9, three days later in the Green Waves' regular-season finale. But a 10-day layoff until the start of the non-Public A tournament seemed to dull some of those razor-sharp edges Delbarton had cultivated, and it found itself facing a three-goal deficit in the first half against St. Joseph (Mont.) in the quarterfinals May 22. Delbarton did spring to life in the third quarter with some snappy offensive play from C.J. Kirst, Mike Long and Tommy Jepson to close with a 12-8 win. The Green Wave were embroiled in another tough early struggle against No. 8 St. Augustine Saturday in the semis, trailing, 5-4, but again adjusted where needed and pulled off a 9-6 victory to reach their sixth consecutive Non-Public A final. Kirst and Long once against sparked the offense while Jack Coffey, Cole Krauss and George Johnson led a sturdy defensive effort around goalie Michael Riccardelli. Players to watch: One important player to watch for the first time this season is Don Bosco Prep senior middie Joey Corbett, who becomes eligible for the first time after sitting the first 18 games this season according to an NJSIAA mandate. Corbett, who transferred to Bosco as a junior, had played 18 varsity games as an eighth-grader at his original school in New York. The Michigan commit may or may not be ready to compete at a high rate of speed for four quarters, but his presence alone could bolster Don Bosco Prep's confidence. And Delbarton only needs to think about the Ironmen's last victim to shudder over an increased level of self-assurance. Delbarton lost, 13-9, to Seton Hall Prep on April 11. Reese Gerlach (27 goals, 17 assists), Nate Mazurek (20 and 10) and Matt Solleder (16 and 26) lead the offense for Don Bosco, though Solleder's availability is uncertain after he sustained an injury in the opening round against St. Joseph (Met.). Max Thomas, David Kyme, Billy Gaul and Koleton Marquis would attempt to pick up the scoring slack created by his absence. Wagner-bound faceoff man Matt Whelpey will be a concern for Delbarton, as the senior enters this game with a 74-percent success rate. Goalie Jack Bagin has been outstanding in the clutch throughout the tournament for the Ironmen. While Delbarton's explosive offense seems to be characterized by the playmaking artistry of Mike Long (54 assists) and the finishing finesse of C.J. Kirst (54 goals), it is a dangerous mistake to pigeon-hole their roles in formulating a defensive scheme. Both have proven the ability to thrive at the other's specialty, for instance when Kirst dished out six assists and Long scored six goals (he has 38 this season) in Debarton's 14-12 win over No. 2 Mountain Lakes in the Morris County Tournament final. Long and Kirst are hardly Delbarton's only offensive threats; they're just good enough to not be totally stopped by anyone yet. Jack Cerza has 26 goals and nine assists, Cecil Carter 17 goals, 12 assists, and Tommy Jepson 17 goals, eight assists. Cole Krauss, Jeff Douglas, Jack Coffey, George Johnson and Michael Jarmolowich anchor a defense that has allowed double-digit goals just three times this season, and all were against powerhouse opponents - Mountain Lakes, Seton Hall Prep and St. Anthony (N.Y.) Key factor. The start. Delbarton prides itself as a third-quarter team, and its results this season do back that up. For the most part. The Green Wave trailed by eight goals after one half against Seton Hall Prep April 11, and lost, 13-9, despite a markedly improved second-half showing. Delbarton trailed at the half in each of its last two games, but generated enough spark and stubbornness after intermission to prevail. It may not be accorded a similar luxury against a driven Don Bosco Prep team that has clearly developed a strong appetite for upsets. The prediction: Delbarton over Don Bosco Prep

NO. 13 DON BOSCO PREP VS. NO. 1 DELBARTON

Photo Credit: Don Bosco Prep Athletics