Highlanders aim to be competitive

The West Milford High School boys lacrosse team has compiled a 3-4 record so far this season.

“We are looking to compete at the county and conference level with a chance to win both,’’ head coach Gary Stoll said.

Top returning players include seniors Jake Kelshaw (face off and midfielder), Vincent D’Andrea (attack) and Max Gorny (midfielder); juniors Tyler Acanfrio (goal keeper), Stephen Dellagicoma (defense), Pat Foley (defense) and Jacob Price (midfielder); and sophomores Cole Riley (midfielder) and Ryan Czeczuga (midfielder).

Among the promising newcomers are juniors Evan Melucci (attack), Will Weiss (midfielder), Mark Schinasi (defense) and Jeffrey Papineuk (midfielder) and sophomores Iron Pinedo (long stick midfielder), Tyler Matthews (defense), Jason Guenter (defense), Cam Piecuch (midfielder), Dean Lombardo (attack) and Brendan Coscia (midfielder).

The team captains are D’Andrea, Gorny and Kelshaw.

Last year, West Milford posted a 10-10 overall record and the team went 3-3 in the always tough NJILL Curcio Division.

The Highlanders lost to Wayne Valley, 11-5, in the finals of the Passaic County Tournament.

Seeded 14th, the team lost to third seed and eventual sectional runner-up West Morris, 11-2, in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 2 Tournament.

This spring, the Highlanders compete in the challenging NJILL Pooley Division along with Kittatinny, Newton, Lenape Valley, Delaware Valley, Morris Hills and Vernon.

Vernon, Delaware Valley, Newton and Kittatinny are among the top teams to beat in the division, Stoll said, adding, “We are 100 percent a contender.”