HS: Fall FAB 50, Nov. 7

by Sheldon Shealer

November 7, 2017

The numbers are almost good outlandish to believe.

When St. Benedict's Prep ran past Blair Academy 4-0 in the New Jersey Prep A final last week, it marked the 28th state title for the Gray Bees in the last 29 years -- and atoned for last year's runner-up finish. The result also secured yet another FAB 50 national title for this New Jersey power.

St. Benedict's has claimed eight FAB 50 national titles since 2001, and five of the past seven under eighth-year head coach Jimmy Wandling. Wandling sports a career record of 149-8-3, with half of those losses coming last year in a rare non-Top 25 finish for St. Benedict's.

"If people felt that we owed an explanation for last year, I think we've responded loud and clear that St. Benedict's isn't going away," Wandling said after the match. "I thought we learned a lot about our players, our program and our overall character by the way we responded this year."

St. Benedict's, with a junior-dominated lineup, outscored its opponents 95-9, and underclassmen accounted for 79 goals and 60 assists. The Gray Bees defeated teams from six states and beat nine teams that are in our have been in the FAB 50 or Prep Top 10 this season. They also knocked off eight undefeated teams.

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Albuquerque (N.M.). After winning its second state title in three seasons, Albuquerque moves into the Top 25, checking in at No. 25 this week -- an move of 11 spots. ... GIRLS: Westfield (N.J.). While upsets happened all around, Westfield kept plugging away with an undefeated record. The team moves up 15 spot this week to settle in at No. 17. The North Jersey playoffs will sort out where this team ends up in the FAB 50.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 28 Detroit Catholic Central (Novi, Mich.), No. 41 St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio), No. 42 La Salle (Wyndmoor, Pa.), No. 43 McQuaid Jesuit (Rochester, N.Y.), No. 44 Somerville (Mass.) No. 45 St. John's Prep (Danvers, Mass.), No. 46 Milwaukee Marquette (Milwaukee, Wis.), No. 48 Rockhurst Jesuit (Kansas City, Mo.), No. 49 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) and No. 50 Medina (Ohio). ... GIRLS: No. 13 Loveland (Ohio), No. 18 Monroe-Woodbury (Central Valley, N.Y.), No. 33 Massillon Jackson (Massillon, Ohio), No. 34 Eagan (Minn.), No. 42 Penn-Trafford (Harrison City, Pa.), No. 47 Walt Whitman (Bethesda, Md.), No. 48 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), No. 49 Indian Hill (Cincinnati, Ohio) and No. 50 Baldwinsville (N.Y.).