It’s been more than two weeks since the 2026 Oratory Prep varsity lacrosse season began on March 30. Let’s recap what has happened so far.
The Oratory Prep Rams were getting ready to start the season under new head coach Aidan Clark. However, days before their first game against the Pennington Red Hawks, the Rams received some unfortunate news—senior starting goalie and captain Connor Odendahl suffered a broken thumb and was expected to be out for multiple weeks. With no backup on varsity, JV starter Gavin Rees was called up despite only being a freshman. Despite a 13-save performance by Rees in his debut and 5 goals from star sophomore CJ Walsh, the Rams fell to the Red Hawks 11-9.
Two days later, Oratory Prep traveled to DePaul and picked up a 14-3 victory behind Walsh’s 7 goals and Rees’s 8 saves. On Wednesday, April 8, the Rams fell to Millburn 13-2. They did not possess the ball for nearly as long as the Millers, and Rees’s 23 saves were not enough to stop Millburn’s 35 shots on goal. On Friday of the same week, Oratory lost to Verona 10-5, and on April 15, Nutley edged past the Rams 5-4 in overtime. Most recently, the team fell to Johnson 17-10, making Oratory’s record 1-5.
Rees currently has 71 saves and 55 goals allowed through six games, giving him a save percentage of .563. Walsh leads the team in goals with 15, followed by senior Tyson Moose (8), freshman Max LaBanca (6), and junior Luke Spoerel (6). Assist leaders include Spoerel (8), Walsh (6), and senior Taylor Brezee (3). Finally, senior Aidan Schulenberg (26), junior Hudson Saunders (26), Moose (17), and Walsh (17) lead the team in ground balls through the first six games. While their record may not show it, Oratory opened the season facing tough teams with a combined average win percentage of .588 as of April 21. Rees has turned in a strong performance so far and will go back to being JV’s starting goalie while splitting varsity time with the now healthy Odendahl, who returns on April 22. In their remaining 7 games, the Rams still have to face Governor Livingston (2-5), Cranford (2-5), Newark Academy (4-2), Hanover Park/Whippany Park (1-7) twice, Morristown-Beard (4-2), and Dayton (4-4). Currently, the Rams hold the 23rd of 24 spots available for the NJSIAA Non-Public playoff tournament, meaning they would get in if the season ended today. With their upcoming opponents holding a win percentage of .360, the rest of Oratory’s season is much more manageable, and with enough perseverance, the Rams can finish strong and qualify for the postseason.
