Ranking compiled by Unsettled Situation hosts Steve Manitta & Sal Marinello.

The season is getting closer as March comes to a close, and we still have plenty of teams that should be on your radar this season. Take a look at our next five:

For a video breakdown of these teams, check out the second episode of Unsettled Situation here: https://www.youtube.com/live/U0a1IFhkqpo?si=NaF_b4el3Z0vjx0g

#15 Ridge:

  • Lost to the Chatham Cougars 10-5 in the Group 3 North Final last season.
  • Head Coach Kenny Marsh, 20 seasons at Ridge.

Top Returning Players:

  • Senior face-off specialist Bastian Chorazykiewicz brings a cyborg-like ability to the X, and won over 70% of draws last season.
  • Junior Dave Hamilton returns in the goal after being last season’s starter and gathering over 150 saves as a sophomore.
  • Seniors Brandon Laffey (40 pts), and Ryan Olivo (57 pts) will be the top returning Red Devils on offense. They’ll be joined by juniors Josh Kaiser, and Dan Caesar who combined for 40 points as sophomores last season.

Top games of the 2024 schedule:

  • April 4 @ Ridgewood
  • April 22 vs Bernards
  • May 11 vs Shawnee

Though they lost dynamic attackman Collin Ward and his 70 points in 2023, Ridge will return a stable of confident players for the upcoming season and will be a tough draw for their opponents.

#14 Chatham:

  • 2023 Group 3 North Champions, lost Group Final to Shawnee.
  • Head Coach Christian Scarpello 3rd season, member of the PLL Philadelphia Waterdogs.

Top Returning Players:

  • JP Lagunowich (45 pts), and Charlie Lowe (33 pts) are the lone returning starters on offense, but several familiar names and some new ones will be sure to make their mark for the next generation of Cougars.
  • Junior Joey Lavato and senior Will Walsh bring football success to the team as defensive midfielders. 
  • Defensively, Chatham returns an athletic experienced group. Seniors Thomas Hung, Owen Irish, and Matt Cline join returning starters Lochlan Mahoney and Carter Newman.

Top games of the 2024 schedule:

  • April 9 @ West Morris Central
  • April 24 @ Summit
  • May 14 @ Darian (CT)

The offense may have a new look, but the carry-over veteran experience looks poised to lead the charge in front of an experienced defense.

#13 Shawnee:

  •  Beat Moorestown 9-8 in the South Jersey final & Chatham 11-8 in the Group 3 final.
  • Head Coach: Don Green, sixth season at Shawnee, previously head coach at Robbinsville.

Top Returning Players:

  • Sophomore Tom McAneney notched 82 points last season including 52 goals. He’s a much-needed threat on a team that graduated 240 from last season.
  • Sophomore Tyler Rotkowitz will look to pair with McAneney and build off of his 36-point freshman season.
  • Junior Lucas Estevez will slot in as FOGO for another season and will attempt to set the pace for this young team.

Top games of the 2024 schedule:

  • April 10th vs Lawrenceville
  • May 9 @ Ridge
  • May 11 vs Wall

Shawnee has proven that they can get it done and has a track record of producing high-level players, so it will be interesting to see what this team looks like this year and how a new team is built around their younger players.

#12 Moorestown:

  • South Jersey Group 3 Runners-Up.
  • Head Coach: Brian Cary, fourth season as head coach.

Top Returning Players:

  • Junior Cole Pitcher had an outstanding sophomore season posting 79 points including 59 goals and will be the main sparkplug for the Quakers.
  • Junior FOGO Ryan O’Connor won 54% of faceoffs last season and could very well improve on that number given his experience last season.
  • Senior Shane Ginley returns in goal after recording 175 saves during his junior campaign. He was a stalwart in net during the state playoffs allowing just three goals per game leading up to their 9-8 loss in the South Group 3 Final against Shawnee.

Top games of the 2024 schedule:

  • April 16 @ St. Augustine
  • April 27 vs Summit
  • May 7 vs Manasquan

Moorestown’s roster is full of younger players who contributed to last year’s team. They lost several close games last season, but with all of their returning talent, they will have the chance to turn things around and perhaps find themselves on the other side of those close losses.

Top games of the 2024 schedule:

#11 Bernards:

  • Lost to Rumson-Fair Haven in South Jersey Group 1 Final.
  • Head Coach: Dave Brothers Sr., also the head wrestling coach.

Top Returning Players:

  • Seniors Dave Brothers (97 pts) and Charlie Hunnewell (87 points) will lead an extremely experienced offense and can take over games at any given time.
  • The three Vaccaros Charlie (Sr.), Finn, and Alex (Jrs.), combined for 169 points last season and have another year of chemistry under their belts.
  • Senior FOGO Trevor Sardis won an alarming 69% of draws last season and will continue to catalyze this team.
  • Senior goalie Kaden Kirst is back to build off of an incredible 241 season.

Top games of the 2024 schedule:

  • April 18 @ Bridgewater-Raritan
  • April 22 @ Ridge
  • May 21 @ Caldwell

You’d be hard-pressed to find a team in any sport, at any level that has as much returning talent – while losing almost nothing from the prior year’s roster as this Bernards team. Their 256 goals were the most scored by any team in the NJILL outside of the Fitch-Pitt division. Bernards will be a tough out every game, regardless of who they play.

We’re halfway through the list! Stay tuned next time to see who kicks off our top 10.