No. 1 Ranked St. Anthony’s Friars Team Preview

At number 1 in the LILJ top 25 preseason rankings it’s the Friars of St. Anthony’s, one of the premier teams not just on the island but in the country. Last year they went 12-2 on the season against a number of top teams from across the country, and captured another CHSAA title against rival Chaminade. They are coached by longtime Head Coach Keith Wieczorek and this season they will looking to once again remain as one of the elite teams nation wide and capture another CHSAA championship at seasons end. During the winter the Friars were once again a participant in the LILJ HSWL in preparation for the season.

St. Anthony’s offense which averaged over 12 goals per game last season, sees the return of their senior midfielder Gary Merrill the future UNC Tarheel. Merrill already enters year three on varsity and comes off of a 19 goal, 12 assist season for 31 points as a junior. Adding to their returners in the senior class is Alex Ruddy (Michigan), Gio Massaro (St. Bonaventure) and Joe Schwartz (Skidmore). In the junior class they return a number of players that are now entering their second year on varsity and will see elevated roles this season. At attack includes Danny Rooney (Maryland) and Charles Cacciabudo (UNC) and at midfield is Dylan Harrigan (Maryland), Anthony Mancaruso (UNC) Jake Johnston (Hopkins), Aidan O’Connell (Binghamton) and Brody Richert (Towson). At the face-off X they return junior Robert Johnston (Penn State) and will also have junior Paul LoNigro. They are without their top two leading scorers from last year in Luke Breslin and Quinn Langton who were part of the 2024 graduating class along with FOGO Michael Moon. Defensively they have a number of  long poles and defensive midfielders that are upperclassmen looking to once again make this a very formidable defense. Back for their senior season is Parker McDonald (UNC), Michael Kelton (Army), Chris Inzirillo (Sacred Heart), Chaz Dechene (Christopher Newport), Justus Durham (Adelphi) and Michael Forrest. In the junior class is one of the top defenseman in the country Ethan Bramoff the future Virginia Cavalier. This season the defense is without Tommy Snyder and Dante Vardaro who were part of their starting lineup last year and in the 2024 graduating class. In the cage the Friars have senior Dennis Brady (Lynn) and adding to their goalies on the roster this season are juniors Dylan Rappaport (Loyola) and Nick Zenk as the team will be replacing 2024 graduate Sean Forde who was last year’s starting goalie.