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Once Kieran Walsh (Long Island Express / Notre Dame) had put his stamp on his first varsity battle with St. Anthony’s and preserved an 11-10 Chaminade win, he welcomed an onslaught of jubilant Flyer teammates for a postgame mob.

The Flyers had just beaten the archrival Friars for the first time since 2021. Chaminade did it on the St. Anthony’s field, nonetheless. But after that first celebratory wave and a handshake line, it was a very muted celebration on the Flyers’ sideline as they gathered their things to go home. It had all the happiness, joy and exultation of an early-season blowout of a hapless opponent.

As it turns out, it’s not that Chaminade didn’t care about the win. Rivalry wins never go out of style, and nobody on the Flyers’ roster had claimed a varsity win over St. Anthony’s. There was plenty to be happy about, but the Flyers know that the win won’t mean much to them if they can’t get the job done in May. The teams will do battle again for their state championship May 15 at Hofstra. St. Anthony’s has won that title the past five times that the game has been played from 2021-2024 and 2019.

Can the Flyers Run it Back? 

“It’s an absolutely amazing feeling. We played phenomenal. We came out here on a mission and they got us the last few years, so it means a lot. Very happy about that, but we know this team is very talented and we’re going to see them in three weeks,” four-star senior midfielder Quinn Ball (Long Island Express / Penn).

“It feels good. We’re certainly ready for Hofstra. All eyes on that,” four-star junior attackman John Balsamo (Long Island Express / Virginia) said.

Chaminade got it done all over the field, but Ball was the biggest difference-maker… by far. He put forth a ridiculous 22-for-25 day at the faceoff stripe and added a huge goal for good measure. There’s a strong argument to be made that he’s been as dominant as any player at any position in the country this year. Not only is he facing off at better than 75 percent, but he’s also scored nine times and added six assists.

There are a lot of expectations when you’re awarded the No. 19 jersey at Chaminade. Ball hasn’t just met them. He’s blown them out of the water.

“It’s everybody around me doing their parts,” Ball modestly said. “Everybody’s been phenomenal. Walsh played out of his mind and kept us in the game at times and held it down at the end. So as much as it shows at the dot, it’s a team effort. … I knew (St. Anthony’s) had a run in them. It’s never that easy against them. We knew something was coming in a late-game push, so we knew we had to close it out.”

Walsh Saves the Day

Four-star senior Connor Kuttin (Long Island Express / Johns Hopkins), five-star junior James Gillis (Long Island Express / Duke) and Ball all scored within 47 seconds of each other to push Chaminade’s lead to 11-7. That’s when the Friars got to work, getting goals from three-star midfielder Alex Ruddy (Long Island Express / Michigan) and the five-star Team 91 Long Island and North Carolina-bound duo of Gary Merrill and LSM Parker McDonald. The Friars got the ball and called timeout with less than 15 seconds to go. They got two great looks off, but Walsh made his 13th and 14th saves of the day to cement the win.

“I was just trusting my defense in front of me, and all I could do was give the credit to them and the coaches,” Walsh said. “I knew I was just going to throw my body at the ball and hopefully make the save.”

Merrill led the Friars with a goal and two assists, both to Ruddy. Five-star junior Jacob Johnston (Long Island Express / Johns Hopkins) and four-star junior Danny Rooney (Maryland) each added a goal and an assist. Goalie Dennis Brady (Long Island Express / Lynn) was outstanding with a dozen saves.

And if recent history’s any indicator, the Friars will be ready to go in the championship game.

Chaminade vs. St. Anthony’s Standouts

Dennis Brady ’25, goalie, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Lynn 

Brady patiently bided his time before finally earning the starting job this spring for the Friars. He’s split time with four-star junior Dylan Rappaport (Long Island Express / Loyola), who actually backstopped St. Anthony’s to an upset win of Lawrenceville the Saturday after the Chaminade game. Against the Flyers, though, Brady was downright fantastic, helping the Friars offset Quinn Ball‘s ludicrous faceoff performance with some timely saves. Brady counters his lack of size with quick feet and good positioning. He had a handful of high-level saves, including a 1v1 robbery on the crease on a third-quarter EMO and an exquisite low save on what should have been a dunk from a sneaking attackman.

Gavin Fitzpatrick ’25, defense, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Team 91 Long Island – Johns Hopkins 

There’s not a ton of flash to Fitzpatrick’s game, yet the tall lefty was extremely disruptive to lead the Flyers’ defense. He finished with four caused turnovers, which is a testament to how he lands his checks because he rarely goes for a highlight-reel check. Fitzpatrick is able to his length to stay in position and to deny quality looks, even against quicker opponents. He’s versatile and smart, and his growth as a second-year starter has helped the Flyers’ defense get to another level.

James Gillis ’26, attack, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Duke 

The future Blue Devil used this game as an opportunity to remind people why he’s the No. 2 recruit in the country. Gillis racked up five goals to lead the Flyers’ offense, and he did it in a number of ways. He started it off by finishing off a great individual effort from Quinn Ball on a fast break. Later, he added a beautiful righty shot down the alley that went off the pipe and in.

His fifth of the game was in the middle of a three-goal run that came in 47 seconds. John Balsamo (Long Island Express / Virginia) drew the defense’s attention while coming up the hash. Gillis slipped over to the back side, caught Balsamo’s feed and wired one home. Gillis is such a versatile threat, and that makes him a tough cover. Comfortable dodging from anywhere and armed with a solid off-hand shot, he keeps defenses guessing all game long.

Gary Merrill ’25, midfield, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) / Team 91 Long Island – North Carolina

The five-star senior and dual-sport Tar Heel signee was relatively quiet early on, although that’s also a nod to all of the attention that he draws. He first got on the score sheet in the second quarter on a nice throwback that led to a stepdown from Alex Ruddy (Long Island Express / Michigan). The two connected again to kickstart the Friars’ comeback attempt with Merrill as the setup man once again. It was Merrill who then uncorked his trademark laser of a shot on the EMO to cut the deficit to two before fellow Team 91 five-star and UNC signee Parker McDonald brought St. Anthony’s to within one.

Kieran Walsh ’26, goalie, Chaminade (N.Y.) / Long Island Express – Notre Dame 

Walsh earned the starting job at the start of the season, and it’s very rare to see a junior get the nod in the cage at Chaminade. He’s rewarded longtime coach Jack Moran‘s faith in him, and then some. He highlighted his 14-save day with a monster pair of game-saving saves in the waning seconds. He denied a short-side attempt, and when the Friars swung the ball back around, stuffed a premier opportunity on the doorstep from one of the best players in the country to preserve Chaminade’s win. Earlier in the game, he denied another one of the top players in the nation on the crease with a ludicrous high stop.

Walsh carries himself with a quiet confidence, one that’s continued to burgeon with every start. This performance sure won’t hurt that, either. He also just keeps getting taller and taller, and he has to be close to 6-6 now.

Secondary Scoring Boosts Flyers

You knew that Gillis, Balsamo and Connor Kuttin (Long Island Express / Johns Hopkins) were going to contribute plenty of scoring. But on a day where four-star senior Notre Dame signee Gavin Lynch (Notre Dame) was playing on one leg, the Flyers needed more secondary scoring… and got it. Cooper Mendelsohn (Wesleyan) set up sophomore Finn Pizzo (Long Island Express) for a goal to get the second line on the board. Hobart 2026 commit Harrison Voorhees (Long Island Express) capitalized on a rebound to make his presence felt. That, plus a goal from Quinn Ball, gave the Flyers the extra boost they needed.

How do the Friars Stop Ball from Rolling?

St. Anthony’s showed just how dangerous it can be when it nearly erased a four-goal deficit in the blink of an eye. The Friars then rolled past Lawrenceville in their next game. That’s a nod to all of the talent that resides on the roster. Of course, going -19 on possessions at the stripe doesn’t help. Four-star junior Penn State commit Robbie Johnson (Long Island Express) has been battling injuries all season. Even if he comes back on May 15, he won’t be at full strength. Still, the Friars only lost by one after getting owned at the stripe. Is it reasonable to expect Ball to go 88 percent with a goal again? Probably not, but with the way he’s been playing all year, maybe?

Versatility the Key to Balsamo’s Game

Balsamo showed his versatility in how he got his points. He scored twice in the first quarter from his favorite spot on the left wing, including a low rip just 18 seconds into the game. In the fourth quarter, he turned into a feeder when the slides started coming earlier. He had a great pass to the crease for a dunk from a wide-open Kuttin. Balsamo then worked up top to set up Gillis’ fifth goal. His confidence looks to be at an all-time high as he leads all private school scorers on Long Island. Balsamo’s got 47 points at a down-the-middle 23 goals and 24 assists.