On The Brink: Boys Lax One Win Away From Three-Peat

"A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning" - Pat Riley

For 19 seniors, 15 juniors and four sophomores, the boys lacrosse team looks to keep a crown it has held for 1,094 days.

One more day is all the motivation the Hilltoppers need.

Summit (23-0), the top-ranked team in the state and the No. 4 ranked team in the nation, according to ESPNRise, puts its 68-game, three-year win streak on the line as they face third-ranked, third-seeded and a very talented and hungry Bridgewater-Raritan (19-2) squad in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final Saturday at Yurchak Field on the campus of Rutgers University at 3 p.m. in Piscataway.

In Wednesday's semifinals at Kean University in Union, Summit, which is seeking its third straight T of C title, , 10-5, as junior attacker Nick Kilkowski had three goals, senior midfielder Terry McKenna tallied two and senior attacker Michael Ford added three assists.

Bridgewater-Raritan went wire-to-wire in , 12-7, in advancing to their first-ever T of C final. Junior midfielder John Longordo netted three goals and junior midfielder Ray Mastroianni added two goals and two assists.

The final showdown of the year marks the first all-public school title matchup since the T of C started in 2004.

Kilkowski leads the team in goals with 63 and Ford has tallied 48 goals and 30 assists. Senior attacker Sonny Round, who had two goals and two assists Wednesday, has added 35 goals and is the team's assist leader with 43.

Senior goalie Peter Badgley, who made 10 stops Wednesday, continues to lead a stellar defense with 133 saves and a 2.7 goals allowed average.

"It's been a team effort," said Badgley, who will be attending Providence this fall. "Bridgewater is a very good team, and we are approaching this game like we have for every game and every team this season."

Since May 10, the Hilltoppers have outscored its opponents, 90-19, in its last seven games (including five state tournament contests).

"First off, Summit lacrosse has been the best experience of my life. Playing for Coach (Jim) Davidson and with all of my friends has been surreal and we will never forget it. When it comes to game time, we're just going to leave it all on the line. No matter what happens on Saturday, it will be the last day for us seniors to wear a Summit uniform. We want to go out on a high note and end our careers right," said McKenna, who has 31 goals and 13 assists on the season.

Bridgewater-Raritan, which has won 14 straight games, has outscored its opponents, 87-35, in six state tournament games and has only given up double-digit goals once all season in a 12-10 victory over Hillsborough in the Group 4 semifinals on May 28.

Junior attackman Ryan Hollingsworth leads the team in goals with 44 and has added 33 assists. Scott Bieda has added 35 goals and 37 assists.

"We are approaching Saturday as we would any other game. Up until game time, we will be getting in a lot of practice to prepare ourselves for everything they might throw at us. Coach Davidson and the coaching staff do an incredible job of getting us ready for every game," added McKenna. "We have a lot of respect for them as a program, and we know they have been doing some good things lately with many talented players, but we think we have been playing some good lacrosse as well. We know Saturday will be a battle, and its going to take everything we have if we want to take it home. Lastly, we are confident and exhilarated to get this opportunity and to play for our community."

Admission Price:

• $5 for adults
• $2 for students and seniors