Hockey Year in Review

The Ridgewood Maroons’ 2024-2025 hockey season began not with championship aspirations, but with serious doubts. After suffering a disappointing 6-4 loss to PCTI on December 6th, and a demoralizing 7-2 defeat to Ramapo in their home opener two days later, both games played without star senior goaltender Jack Scali, few could have predicted this would become the most successful season in program history. Through remarkable resilience, explosive offensive talent, and unforgettable moments of heroics, these Maroons went on to capture the school’s first sectional championship, and skate onto the Prudential Center ice for the state finals.

The season’s turning point came with Scali’s return to the net. Almost immediately, Ridgewood transformed into a completely different team, embarking on a seven-game win streak that included statement victories over historically good programs. Their 3-1 dismantling of St. Joseph Metuchen and a 6-4 win over Pascack Valley during the Ice Vault Tournament Classic demonstrated both their offensive firepower and defensive discipline. During this dominant stretch, the Maroons outscored opponents 36-8, with the dynamic LoSauro brothers – junior AJ and freshman Will – emerging as offensive catalysts and Scali providing lockdown goaltending.

“This team found its identity during that win streak,” head coach Mike Lucchesi reflected. “We went from questioning ourselves to knowing we could play with anyone in the state.” The transformation was particularly evident with freshman Will LoSauro, who announced his arrival as Bergen County’s next star, with routine multiple point performances. His older brother AJ provided veteran leadership and clutch scoring, forming one of the state’s most dangerous sibling tandems.

The Bergen County Tournament offered both triumph and heartbreak. In their opening matchup against Ramapo, the same team that had embarrassed them in the home opener, the Maroons exacted revenge with a 3-1 victory, all three goals coming from the power play. However, their run was halted emphatically by powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in an 8-0 loss that served as a harsh reminder of the level Ridgewood still needed to reach.

What followed was arguably the most challenging stretch of the season, featuring consecutive games against state-ranked opponents Livingston, Northern Highlands, and Bridgewater-Raritan. The 2-1 overtime loss to Livingston on January 17th stung particularly hard, with the Maroons surrendering a third-period lead. The 3-1 defeat to Northern Highlands three days later extended Ridgewood’s winless streak against their rivals to three years. 

But the February 5th showdown against Bridgewater-Raritan, then ranked 9th in New Jersey with a 19-1 record, would become a defining moment. In front of a rowdy crowd at Rock Ice Pavilion, the Maroons played perhaps their most complete game of the season. AJ LoSauro opened the scoring, and power play goals from Will LoSauro and senior captain Jack Sherman built a commanding 4-1 lead. When Bridgewater tried mounting a late comeback, AJ’s empty-netter sealed the 5-2 victory and announced Ridgewood as legitimate state contenders.

The Gold Cup tournament brought both exhilaration and disappointment. In a thrilling quarterfinal against PCTI, the Maroons relied on backup goalie Oliver Grant’s heroics and Will LoSauro’s overtime winner to prevail 5-4. However, their quest for the league title ended with another heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Northern Highlands, marking the second time the Highlanders shattered Ridgewood’s hopes this season.

Entering the state tournament, the Maroons carried the weight of past playoff disappointments. Their opening 4-1 victory over Montclair was businesslike, but the sectional semifinal against Ramapo would instantly become part of program lore. Trailing 3-0 with just five minutes remaining, Will LoSauro took over the game in spectacular fashion. His shorthanded goal at 4:58 sparked the comeback before he assisted the game-tying goal with just 2.9 seconds remaining. Then, in overtime, LoSauro completed the miracle with an end-to-end rush that sent the Ice House into absolute chaos.

“Once we scored the second one I knew that we were going to get the last one,” LoSauro told NJ.com afterward. “There was no doubt in my mind.” Coach Lucchesi simply marveled: “The kid is special…He willed this team to victory. It was unbelievable.”

The sectional semifinal against Northern Highlands presented the ultimate test, and redemption opportunity. After three years of frustration against their rivals, the Maroons finally broke through. Christian McCarthy’s power-play goal and AJ LoSauro’s second-period tally built a 2-1 lead. Then, with under two minutes remaining, Will LoSauro’s low shot squeaked through low pad, sealing the historic 3-1 victory and sending Ridgewood to their first-ever sectional final.

Facing Randolph at Codey Arena, the Maroons played with quiet confidence. Jack Sherman’s early power-play goal set the tone before AJ LoSauro took over with a natural hat trick. Though Randolph mounted a late push, Scali’s 47 saves and empty-net goals from Will LoSauro and Andrew Marotta clinched the 6-2 victory and the North Public championship, the first sectional title in Ridgewood hockey history.

The state final at Prudential Center on March 10th became a community event, with hundreds of Ridgewood students making the trip to Newark. Though Westfield ultimately prevailed 5-2, nothing could diminish what this team had accomplished this season. The Maroons finished ranked 10th in New Jersey and were honored as Bergen County hockey team of the year. Scali and Will LoSauro earned First Team All-Bergen County honors, while AJ LoSauro made Second Team. Will’s spectacular freshman campaign also earned him Second Team All-State recognition, which is unprecedented for a Ridgewood underclassman.

Most importantly, this team changed the trajectory of Ridgewood hockey forever. They proved that the Maroons could compete with New Jersey’s elite programs. They demonstrated that grit and determination could overcome almost anybody. And they established a standard of excellence that future Maroons teams will strive to match.

As the players removed their jerseys for the final time in the Prudential Center locker room, there were certainly tears – but also immense pride. This group of seniors, led by Scali, Sherman, and Doherty, had built something lasting. And with the LoSauro brothers returning as well as an abundant freshmen class, Ridgewood hockey’s golden age may just be beginning.

The 2024-2025 season will forever be remembered not just for the championships won, but for how this team captured the imagination of an entire community. From Will LoSauro’s miraculous performances to Scali’s acrobatic saves to the deafening student section that became the team’s sixth man, these Maroons didn’t just make history, they created memories that will be retold for generations to come. And in the end, that’s the greatest victory any team can achieve.