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Sports roundup: Spartans edged out in group final

SPARTA. The girls lacrosse team loses to Allentown, 6-5, in the NJSIAA Group 2 final.

Sparta /
| 15 Jun 2025 | 04:20
    Mendham battles through a tight Sparta defense to fire off a shot in the first half of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 championship game Tuesday, June 10. The Spartans defeated Mendham, 8-4, then lost to Allentown, 6-5, in the Group 2 final Friday, June 13. (Photo by Lauren Clark)
    Mendham battles through a tight Sparta defense to fire off a shot in the first half of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 championship game Tuesday, June 10. The Spartans defeated Mendham, 8-4, then lost to Allentown, 6-5, in the Group 2 final Friday, June 13. (Photo by Lauren Clark)
    SL2 The Sparta High School girls lacrosse team poses with the trophy after defeating Mendham, 8-4, in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 championship game Tuesday, June 10. (Photos by Lauren Clark)
    SL2 The Sparta High School girls lacrosse team poses with the trophy after defeating Mendham, 8-4, in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 championship game Tuesday, June 10. (Photos by Lauren Clark)
    SL3 Sparta’s Uma Kowalski fires a shot on Mendham’s Sabrina Saunders in the first half of the game.
    SL3 Sparta’s Uma Kowalski fires a shot on Mendham’s Sabrina Saunders in the first half of the game.
    SL4 Ava Capeci of Sparta winds up for a shot against Mendham’s Sabrina Saunders.
    SL4 Ava Capeci of Sparta winds up for a shot against Mendham’s Sabrina Saunders.
    SL5 Moira Sweeney of Sparta evades Mia Bracuti of Mendham’s defense.
    SL5 Moira Sweeney of Sparta evades Mia Bracuti of Mendham’s defense.
    SL6 Spartans celebrate as time expires in their 8-4 win in Mendham.
    SL6 Spartans celebrate as time expires in their 8-4 win in Mendham.
    Amelia Eichman of Mendham fires a wide shot on Sparta’s Callie Maines.
    Amelia Eichman of Mendham fires a wide shot on Sparta’s Callie Maines.
    Sparta’s Uma Kowalski follows through on a shot on Mendham’s Sabrina Saunders in the first half.
    Sparta’s Uma Kowalski follows through on a shot on Mendham’s Sabrina Saunders in the first half.
    Uma Kowalski of Mendham grabs the tipoff ball in the second half.
    Uma Kowalski of Mendham grabs the tipoff ball in the second half.
    Uma Kowalski of Sparta takes the ball downfield in the sectional final against Mendham.
    Uma Kowalski of Sparta takes the ball downfield in the sectional final against Mendham.
    Joey Roque of Sparta dodges Mendham defender Sophie Pyznar.
    Joey Roque of Sparta dodges Mendham defender Sophie Pyznar.
    Sparta’s Grace Johnson outruns Mendham’s Cristiana Laracca.
    Sparta’s Grace Johnson outruns Mendham’s Cristiana Laracca.
    Joey Roque of Sparta smiles after her teammate, Uma Kowalski, scores a goal.
    Joey Roque of Sparta smiles after her teammate, Uma Kowalski, scores a goal.
    Moira Sweeney of Sparta evades Mia Bracuti of Mendham’s defense.
    Moira Sweeney of Sparta evades Mia Bracuti of Mendham’s defense.
    Sparta’s Moira Sweeney dodges a block from Mendham’s Mia Bracuti to advance the possession in the second half.
    Sparta’s Moira Sweeney dodges a block from Mendham’s Mia Bracuti to advance the possession in the second half.
    Amelia Eichman of Mendham gets set for a face-off against Sparta goalie Callie Maines.
    Amelia Eichman of Mendham gets set for a face-off against Sparta goalie Callie Maines.
    Sparta’s Kate Peters high-fives her assistant coach going into a second half-time out.
    Sparta’s Kate Peters high-fives her assistant coach going into a second half-time out.
    Joey Roque of Sparta dodges a defense block from Gracie Shoulberg of Mendham.
    Joey Roque of Sparta dodges a defense block from Gracie Shoulberg of Mendham.
    Sparta’s Joey Roque outruns Gracie Shoulberg of Mendham.
    Sparta’s Joey Roque outruns Gracie Shoulberg of Mendham.
    Spartans celebrate as time expires in their 8-4 win in Mendham.
    Spartans celebrate as time expires in their 8-4 win in Mendham.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.
    The Spartans pose with their trophy.

The Sparta High School girls lacrosse team came up just short of claiming its first state title as it bowed to Allentown, 6-5, in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 2 final Friday night, June 13 at Seneca High School in Tabernacle Township.

Sparta, which finished its 2025 campaign with a 17-6 mark, was appearing in the final for the first time since 2018. Allentown, ranked No. 5 in the state, won its first title to punctuate a 23-3 season.

The Spartans trailed, 5-2, with 3:11 remaining in the third period, then scored three straight goals to knot the game early in the fourth. Sophie Ku scored at the buzzer of the third and Uma Kowalski connected with 9:47 left in the fourth and assisted on Ku’s goal 30 seconds later to even the contest at 5-5.

Allentown then scored the game-winner with 3:05 remaining to put the Monmouth County school ahead for good.

The game was the final varsity contest for Kowalski, who closed out a remarkable career.

Her goal early in the second period was the 400th of her career and the Notre Dame-bound midfielder finished her senior season with 109 goals and 42 assists and with 401 goals and 137 assists for her storied career.

The Spartans began the week by defeating No. 9 Mendham, 8-4, for the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 championship there Tuesday, June 10.

Kowalski (two goals, two assists, six draw controls, two ground balls) led the way as the school won its first sectional crown in seven years.

In addition to Kowalski, the Spartans, under the direction of head coach Jack Bushey, were led offensively by Moira Sweeney (63 goals, 27 assists), Joey Roque (41 goals, 29 assists), Grace Johnson (27 goals, 11 assists), Ava Capeci (21 goals, 11 assists) and Ku (24 goals, 16 assists). Goalie Callie Maines made 140 saves to anchor the defense.

Sparta boys lacrosse

Eddie Brown scored twice; Michael Pandiscia added a goal and three assists; and Jake Alliegro made 17 saves, but the third-seeded Spartans bowed to top-seeded Hopewell Valley, 8-5, there June 10.

Sparta had tied the score, 3-3, midway through the third on a strike by Brown, but Hopewell Valley scored the next three goals to take a 6-3 lead.

The Spartans, 12-9 this spring under head coach Sean Peterson, were led offensively by Brown (40 goals, 20 assists), Jace Stiansen (32 goals, seven assists), Matt Ciarelli (24 goals, seven assists), Luke Spelman (10 goals, 25 assists), Danny Westervelt (nine goals, nine assists) and Marco Aquino (14 goals, nine assists). Alliegro finished his season with more than 250 saves.

Pandiscia, a junior midfielder, finished the season with 25 goals and 24 assists and now has 51 goals and 51 assists (102 points) for his career. Brown, also a junior, will take 135 career points (84 goals and 51 assists) into his senior season.

Pope John baseball

A remarkable post-season run by the Lions came to an end with a 7-4 loss to No. 4 Gloucester Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public B final on Wednesday, June 11 at Veteran’s Park in Hamilton Township.

Pope John XXIII Regional High School was appearing in its first final since 2011 and seeking its first state title, while Gloucester Catholic (24-3) annexed its 22nd.

Pope John held a 2-0 lead before its foe scored once in the third and four times in the third. The Lions rallied and scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and brought the winning run to the plate before Gloucester Catholic closed it out.

Will Ryan (2-for-4, double, RBI, run), Evan Johnson (double, run), Brody O’Hara (1-for-4, RBI), Nick Struble (1-for-4, double) and Alex Rakowsky (two walks, run) led the Pope John offense.

The Lions (13-14), with head coach James Manco at the helm, won three straight road games in the post-season to reach the state final.

The team was steered by Ryan (33 hits, 19 runs, seven doubles, three triples, 15 stolen bases), Johnson (27 hits, 14 RBI, 11 runs), Andrew Pami (26 hits, 14 walks), Jack Portman (29 hits, 18 runs, 16 RBI, eight doubles, five home runs, 13 walks, nine stolen bases), Struble (27 hits, 12 runs, 12 RBI, seven doubles), Joseph Manco (14 hits, 18 runs, two home runs, 11 stolen bases, 10 hit by pitch, nine walks), O’Hara (14 hits, 10 RBI), Lucas Mesaros (12 hits, nine RBI), Miles Masone (68 strikeouts in 53.1 innings) and Beckett Weeks (41 strikeouts in 34 innings).