Shore Regional Boys Lacrosse: An Instant Success

Before the Shore Regional High School boys lacrosse team ran out on the field to play its inaugural varsity game earlier this month, head coach Gregg Malfa reminded his team of an important fact.

Everything the Blue Devils do this season will make history.

His players, who are mostly sophomores and juniors, decided to get some important history out of the way immediately when they defeated Neptune 8-4 in the season opener for the first varsity win in the history of the program, which is in its first season.

“When we first walked out, I told them that no matter what happens, this game will never be able to taken away from you guys,’’ Malfa said. “You will always be attached to this one game right here.’’

Considering that most of Shore’s players had never even seen a lacrosse stick until last season, when the Blue Devils played a JV schedule, and only about two of them had attended clinics, to go out and record a victory in the first game was an impressive feat. Many first-year programs have gone 10-plus games before picking up a victory against more seasoned teams.

Since that historic win, Shore has held its own with a 3-3 record through Friday’s action after losing 7-3 in a hard-fought game against an established program in Monsignor Donovan. While it’s not a complete surprise given the fact that the Blue Devils finished 9-5 on JV last season, Malfa has to remind himself that this is still a team that is learning the game.

“The majority of the kids are sophomores and juniors and also some freshmen, and I’m asking them to compete against most teams that have established varsity programs with seniors and juniors,’’ Malfa said. “Sometimes I have to reel myself in because I forget that they are so young and inexperienced.’’

Malfa was an assistant on the girls lacrosse team at Shore Regional, which is perennially one of the top teams in the Shore Conference, before becoming the boys coach. He played lacrosse at North Hunterdon High School and then at Kean University, and got his first coaching job with the boys program at Princeton High School before coming to Shore.

With the Blue Devils having such a successful girls program, it begged the question as to why there was no boys team. The parents of several interested players pushed for a team, but because of budget restrictions, it has started as a pay-to-play program, according to Malfa.

“I give a lot of credit to the parents and the kids because they have bought into everything I’ve said and really supported the program,’’ Malfa said.

Shore has also gotten leadership at three different spots on the field from a trio of young players. Sophomore midfielder Jesse Phalanakorn is the team’s leading scorer and already has been named a captain. Junior defender Gary Dietrich heads up a defense that has helped keep games close against some quality opponents. He was part of Shore’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I champion football team so he knows what it’s like to be part of a strong program and that attitude is contagious.

Finally, sophomore Andrew Johnson has made the transition from an attackman on JV last season to goalie. He went to Malfa after the season and indicated that he wanted to become a goalie full time after dabbling in it as a freshman, and he attended a goalie camp during the summer.

“He’s a huge reason we’re where we’re at right now,’’ Malfa said.

Unlike many first-year programs, the Blue Devils are more than just happy to be there. They are a competitive group that is out to get wins rather than just assuming that losing is acceptable because they are a callow team without year-round players. Their two other wins have come over another program in its infancy, Barnegat, but battling a team like Monsignor Donovan on Friday shows that they are not too far away from programs that have much more experienced players.

“They understand the challenges, and they have that competitive mentality,’’ Malfa said. “When we have come across some of the tougher teams we played, they are willing to meet the challenge. They figure that if you could survive those and be competitive in those, it can only build on the team's confidence.’’