The state playoffs start this week and players from around New Jersey will come to play with titles on the line.
NJ Advance Media is highlighting the best of the best, featuring the top playmakers in Group 3 who will play at an MVP level in the 2025 NJSIAA state tournament.
North, Group 3
Nick Begina, Ramapo, Sr., A
Begina was more of a goal scorer than facilitator as a sophomore and junior, but has been more active this season as a setup man to help underclassmen such as Brendan Gold and Will Goldstein get opportunities. Begina has generated 52 points this season for the No. 19 Raiders on 31 goals and 21 assists, and he has 167 career points with 104 goals and 63 assists.
Dan Caesar, Ridge, Sr., A
Ridge is a team that you do not want to see in the state playoffs. The defense keeps the Red Devils in games and that’s all you can ask for in postseason play. The offense will be challenged to be a little more to get Ridge over the hump and lead this team to a second straight sectional title. Caesar leads Ridge with a career-high 42 goals. He’ll be counted on here.
James Grainger, Summit, Jr., A
Grainger has generated 60 points on 36 goals and 24 assists to lead a balanced offense that includes Jack Freeman, Will Iovovelli, Quinn Hynes and surprising freshman Chris Davies. Grainger was a key player as a sophomore, helping his club win a second straight Group 2 state title and win the second Kirst Cup title. He readied himself for Thursday’s first-round clash against Nutley with four goals and three assists Thursday in a 16-3 win over Immaculata.
Ryan Maurer, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Sr., FOGO
Scotch Plains (14-6) has a number of budding underclass scoring stars such as Nick Homer, Colin Kochanowicz and Brian Kloepfer, and Maurer’s work at the X is largely responsible for their numerous repetitions. The NJIT commit has won 85 percent of his faceoffs this season and also provided four goals and seven assists. Maurer has claimed 615-of-812 in his career for a .757 clip and he has 429 ground balls.
Lochlan Mahoney, Chatham, Jr., D
Mahoney uses his quickness and deft skill skills to frustrate playmakers and become one himself once he scoops the ball off the carpet. Along with his 44 ground balls for the 13th-ranked and second-seeded Cougars, Mahoney has scored three goals and assisted on five this season. He has 10 points and 102 ground balls in his career.
Jack O’Callaghan, Northern Highlands, Jr., A
O’Callaghan is the Highlanders’ top playmaker with 50 assists, but that is no secret to first-round opponent Tenafly. In a 15-3 Northern Highlands victory April 21, O’Callaghan scored one goal and assisted on five. He has 28 goals this season for a team-high 78 points, and has 133 career points with 51 goals, 82 assists.
Gabe Pape, Red Bank Regional, Jr., A
Pape is following in the footsteps of his brother, Andrew, and proving that he is one of the premier players in the Shore Conference. The Boston commit has 43 goals and 18 assists this season. He had the biggest game of his life against Christian Brothers earlier this month. Pape scored twice and dished out three assists in a shocking 10-6 win. That marked the first time that Red Bank Regional had ever beaten CBA.
South, Group 3
Caiden Burg, Northern Burlington, So., M/A
Burg leads a talented crop of sophomore point producer with 48 goals and 43 assists for 91 points, and he also has shown his versatility and hustle with 77 ground balls. He scaled 100 career points May 14 with two goals and eight assists in a 16-2 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro North.
Nicholas Caruso, Toms River East, Jr., A
Toms River East won a divisional championship for the first time in program history this spring. Caruso was a difference-maker with a career-high 72 goals. His scoring is going to give Toms River East a chance to make its best playoff run ever. Sophomore Gerard Uzzolino has been dynamic with 53 goals and 44 assists. Senior Nate Cummings is another star scorer. Toms River East leans on that trio a lot of its offensive pop will make a difference in this bracket.
Chase Caulder, Moorestown, Sr., M
Caulder was a hero last year for a short-handed Moorestown team that won a Group 3 state championship. He’s comfortable in the big moments. Caulder has 27 goals this season for Moorestown, but really shines as a two-way midfielder. Junior Aidan Ruff leads the team in 2025 with 36 goals and 26 assists. Senior Bryce Buck has emerged with 31 goals. UMass-Lowell commit Luke Grant and Villanova commit Ryan O’Connor. The defense is loaded with talent and is headlined by Albany commit Paul Canton and Iona commit Luke Holmgren. Sophomore Wes Canton is one of the best goalies in the state and will be an X-factor in the playoffs.
Nick Correia, Brick Memorial, Jr., A
Correia leads Brick Memorial with 24 goals and 30 assists in 2025. He’s been this type of offensive playmaker since he was a freshman. Senior Austin Edwards has a team-high 32 goals for Brick Memorial, which won the Shore Conference Coaches’ Cup earlier this season. Brick Memorial has beaten Colts Neck twice already this season in a pair of one-goal games. Senior Matt Hillin made a combined 29 saves in those nail-biting wins. Senior Jayden Molina is Colts Neck’s go-to guy on offense and leads the Cougars with a career-high 45 goals.
Harrison LaMonaca, Mainland, Sr., A
LaMonaca broke the program record for career goals earlier this season. He enters the playoffs with 171 career goals. The senior attackman has scored 57 times this year alone. He leads an offense that also features Joe Eyde. The junior has been awesome with 48 goals and 26 assists. Mainland is coming off a loss in the Cape-Atlantic League final. LaMonaca and the offense needs to come out ready to play if the Mustangs are going to bounce back here.
Thomas McAneney, Shawnee, Jr., A
The Duke commit hasn’t reached the points mark that he did last year, but that’s only because the rest of the offense around McAneney has been so good. The junior has still been special, scoring 43 goals and dishing out a career-high 39 assists. Rutgers commit Tyler Rotkowitz, Duke commit Brett Lundberg and Iona commit Cale Stielau have also been explosive. Shawnee won the program’s first-ever Group 3 title a few years ago. This group is looking to get the Renegades back on the mountain top. There’s a good chance we see another clash between Shawnee and Moorestown in the sectional final in June. Moorestown beat Shawnee earlier this season, but if this offense catches fire, Shawnee could get revenge at the perfect time.
Nick Senatore, West Deptford, Sr., A
Senatore has been turning heads all season. He leads West Deptford with a jaw-dropping 51 goals and 52 assists. There’s only a handful of players who have broken the 100-point mark this season. Senatore is one of them and his ability to create scoring will be game-changing in the playoffs. West Deptford will travel to Northern Burlington this week with an upset in mind.
JD Steidle, Clearview, Sr., LSM
Clearview is on a nine-game winning streak coming into the playoffs. The Pioneers started out 2-3 before stringing together three one-goal wins. Those close calls helped Clearview turn the season around. Steidle is a 6-foot-2 Monmouth commit and one of the best long-stick midfielders in South Jersey. Clearview’s defense will be the X-factor here in the state playoffs.
Mike Kinney can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @MikeKinneyHS.
Brandon Gould can be reached at bgould@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @BrandonGouldHS.
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