Manasquan Boys Lacrosse comes up short against CBA in the Shore Conference Final thriller

Manasquan returned to the Shore Conference final today with hopes of redemption after last year's loss to Rumson Fair Haven. In a gripping 5-4 contest, the top-seeded Manasquan once again fell short, this time against the third-seeded Christian Brothers Academy (CBA).

Manasquan came into this game as the number one seed after a dominant 13-1 season. Seven of those wins were double digit victories, highlighting their fast-paced and overwhelming offensive power. Senior Brody Muly led the team in total points with 58, while senior attack Brody Muly led the team in goals with 43.

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In the previous matchup, Manasquan defeated CBA 6-5 in another thrilling game. Two clutch goals in the 4th quarter gave Manasquan the victory. Ryan Aldi had 3 goals to lead all players and pushed Manasquan to its hard-earned victory. This tightly contested battle led many to believe that we were in for another dramatic showdown between two of the state's best teams.

This game was held at Monmouth University’s Kessler Stadium at 5:00. The game opened with high-intensity defense, leading to a slow offensive start. The score was 0-0 until Manasquan Junior midfielder Pat Frost ignited the scoring with a last-second goal at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a precise pass from junior attack Brandon Kunz from X.

CBA responded in the second quarter with a goal, soon followed by an unassisted put-away from Manasquan standout Brody Muly, who executed an uphill dodge from behind the goal. Another quick goal from CBA brought the game to a 2-2 tie at halftime.

CBA carried their momentum into the third quarter, scoring with 5:14 remaining. Trailing 3-2 at the start of the fourth quarter, Manasquan's junior Ryan Aldi tied the game at 3-3 with a goal after a dodge from the right hash, with 10:50 left on the clock.

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Manasquan's Brandon Kunz then gave his team a 4-3 lead with a 20-foot shot into the lower left corner with under five minutes remaining.

However, with just over a minute left in the game, CBA equalized at 4-4. They won the ensuing face-off and held possession until the final moments. With about 20 seconds left, a shot from CBA ricocheted off the pipe, leading to a rebound and an easy put-back, giving them a decisive 5-4 lead.

Manasquan had one last opportunity after winning the face-off following a holding call on CBA. With 8.2 seconds left, senior Nick Carabetta took a tough hit, resulting in a loose ball that ran out the clock, sealing CBA's victory.

Manasquan Senior goalie Nick Bounassi put out his best efforts in this thrilling match-up, saving 44% of CBA’s shots on goal.

Manasquan now turns their focus to the first round of the Group 2 South Jersey NJSIAA State Tournament, where they will face Absegami on Wednesday, May 22nd @ 3:00pm. The team hopes to keep their season alive and claim their glory.

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