Valley Looks to Make a Run in State Tournament

Kyle Stackpole

PV Sports Beat

May has arrived and teams are looking to peak at the right time. Pascack Valley has been climbing the mountain to success all season and is determined to finally reach the top.

After their loss to Glen Rock in the Bergen County Quarterfinals, the Indians knew they still had a chance for a title.

The pairings for the North 1 Group 2 state lacrosse tournament were recently announced, with Pascack Valley earning the 6 seed and a first round matchup with Ramapo.

Those outside Bergen County claimed the top three seeds. Somerville, Chatham, and Hopewell Valley grabbed the 1,2, and 3 seeds respectively.

Usually in any tournament that involves the entire state, rematches are hard to come by. Lucky for the Indians, they will be up against a team who they already defeated 5-4 earlier in the season.

Although that win was their first against a Gibbs division opponent in the program’s history, the Indians mustn’t become complacent, as Ramapo will be looking for revenge.

If Pascack Valley is able to get past the Raiders, they will end up facing the winner of the 3 seed Hopewell Valley and 14 seed Allentown in the quarterfinals.

Since none of teams seeded ahead of them are teams in their division, Ramapo will be the only familiar opponent the Indians will see throughout the state playoffs.

With the talent and a tremendous goalie in Kevin Swtizer, Pascack Valley (13-4) sure has the firepower to make a run for the state crown.

They might even have a chance to play second seeded Chatham in the semifinals, who has a Pascack Valley teacher as their assistant coach.

Although that matchup may sound tempting, Valley must not look past Ramapo because in the state tournament, it is either win or go home.

The grueling practices and hard-fought games have prepared Pascack Valley for this moment. “The regular season has prepared us well,” said Senior Joe Farinelli. “It has kept us in shape and pushed us to get better.”

The preparation has ended and now it is up to the players to decide whether they want to pack it in or contend in June for a state title.

“The key to this game is defensive intensity,” said Fred Buldo-Licciardi, who has coached these players for many years through the junior lacrosse program.

Not only must the defense be intense, but everyone will need to be focused. One lapse in judgment could be the difference between the Indians spending Memorial Day weekend down the beach or on the practice field.