Boys Lax Goes for Third Straight Title

The Hilltoppers are looking for a three-peat.

Summit (21-0), the top-ranked team in the state, seeks its third consecutive title and puts its 66-game, three-year win streak on the line as it faces seventh-ranked Chatham (16-5), for the NJSIAA, Group 2 championship at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge tonight at 5 p.m.

Since a 7-6 come-from-behind road victory against Ridgewood on May 10, the Hilltoppers have outscored its opponents, 73-8, in its last five games (including three state tournament contests), holding its opponents to just two goals per game in four of those matchups.

Summit advanced to the championship game on Saturday, defeating Somerville, 15-2, in the semifinal as Mike Ford and Terry McKenna each scored three goals and Nick Kilkowski and Tim Yager added two goals apiece.

This will be the second meeting of the season between the Cougars and the Hilltoppers within a week.

On May 26, Summit defeated then fourth-ranked Chatham on the road, 12-4, as McKenna and Yager each had three goals apiece. Summit exploded for a 5-1 lead after one quarter en route to an 8-1 halftime advantage.

McKenna, a 6-2, 185-pound senior midfielder, has eight goals in his last four games.

"When it comes to the streak, we definitely do not think about it too much.  We certainly know it is there and are very proud of what we have done so far, but our work is far from done," said McKenna, who has tallied 28 goals with 12 assists on the year. "Our goal at the beginning of the year has been to finish the state as the number one team, and today will be a very important stepping stone for us if we want to get there. We make sure to take every game one at a time and never overlook an opponent. At this point in the year, if we overlook one team, our season could be over."

On Saturday, Chatham defeated Northern Highlands, 9-2, to advance to the title tilt and in its last three state tournament games have outscored its opponents, 34-10.

The 6-0, 170-pound senior midfielder Yager, who will be attending St. John’s University this fall, has netted three goals in his last two games.

"I don't think that there is any added pressure (in playing Chatham for a second time)," said Yager, who has 18 goals and 13 assists this season. "We know what we are capable of doing, we've gone out there and done it before. It just comes down to us playing and giving 100 percent while we are out on the field."

Chatham has won six straight games and eight of its last nine.

"Chatham is a quality program, who is very well coached. This should be a hard fought game," said Summit coach Jim Davidson, who is in his 13th season at the helm.

According to Weather.com, game time weather calls for scattered strong thunderstorms (50 percent chance of precipitation) with winds out of the southwest at 16 mph. Stay tuned to Summit Patch for updates on the status of today's game and for up-to-the-minute in game updates.