Lacrosse power Mountain Lakes hogs ball to top Bergen Catholic

Source: nj.com

TL;DR

The story at a glance

Mountain Lakes (No. 16, 4-1), a perennial lacrosse power, used long possessions to pull out an 11-7 road win over Bergen Catholic (No. 20, 4-2) in a North Jersey Interscholastic Lacrosse League-Gibbs Division game Wednesday in Oradell. Key contributors included Lawson Fagan with three goals and one assist, and Holden Gillespie with two goals and four assists. The game is reported now as part of early-season top-20 clashes highlighting possession strategies.

Key points

Details and context

Mountain Lakes turned the game into "Keep Away" by limiting Bergen Catholic's offensive chances early, forcing the Crusaders to battle from behind even when the score stayed close. Their defense was effective in short bursts rather than constant marking, while physical play and faceoff control kept possession high.[[1]](https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2026/04/perennial-lacrosse-power-hogs-possession-time-to-outlast-foe-in-key-top-20-clash.html)

This victory extends Mountain Lakes' streak to nine over Bergen Catholic, underscoring their road success against a hot opponent. Fagan, a Dartmouth commit, led the attack amid some new faces on the roster.

Key quotes

Why it matters

Top-20 clashes like this shape early rankings and expose strengths in possession and defense for playoff runs. For North Jersey lacrosse fans and teams, it shows how controlling the ball wears down opponents in tight leagues. Watch Mountain Lakes' next games and Bergen Catholic's response for signs of adjustments.[[1]](https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2026/04/perennial-lacrosse-power-hogs-possession-time-to-outlast-foe-in-key-top-20-clash.html)