Rumson, Fair Haven, Sea Bright

Mar 14, 2023

Taking Back the SCT Crown is Prime Motivator for RFH Girls’ Lacrosse

By Les Pierce

Jackie Braceland

In 2022, Trinity Hall defeated Rumson-Fair Haven by a 17-7 tally in the Shore Conference Girls Lacrosse Tournament final. The Monarchs victory snapped an RFH eight-year streak of SCT titles. Retaking the SCT crown will be a key objective for the Bulldogs this season.  

The team that will take the field this spring shapes up as a strong unit. Five members of last year’s squad were named to APP.com All-Shore teams, and all five are returning.  

Key players are Jackie Braceland (Sr. A/M), Abby Boyle (Jr. M), Janey Sypeck (Sr. D), Kayse Kiernan (Sr. G), Rachel James (So. M) and Elliot Van Nice (Sr. A).  

Braceland scored 38 goals, picked up 23 ground balls and pulled in 39 draw controls. She has good speed and deceptive moves. The senior will continue her academic and athletic pursuits at The United States Military Academy at West Point.  

Consider Boyle the field general with her amazing stat of 162 draw controls. She also scored 31 goals and provided 18 assists.

Sypeck is the sparkplug of a stingy Bulldog defense that allowed an average 5.1 goals per game. She relentlessly pestered opponents to create 30 forced turnovers and collected 20 ground balls.

Goalkeeper Kiernan recorded 110 saves in 2022 and has 223 career stops on the books. She has committed to the University of Rhode Island.  

Braceland, Boyle, Sypeck and Kiernan have all been named to the APP.com All-Shore First Team and the Shore Coaches All-Shore First Team.  

James scored 26 goals, won 31 draw controls and caused 19 forced turnovers. She was selected to the APP.com All-Shore Second Team and Shore Coaches All-Shore Second Team.

Van Nice scored 54 goals and garnered 12 ground balls last year. She was named to the Shore Coaches A-Central Division Second Team.  

RFH’s loss to Trinity Hall at the SCT heated up a rivalry that started the year prior. In 2021, Trinity Hall defeated the Bulldogs in a regular season game that ended RFH’s nine-year string of 129 consecutive victories over shore conference teams.  

These rivals will clash Monday, May 8 at Ridge Road. It’s likely they will meet again at the SCT final.