Tabor captures its first ISL boys’ lacrosse championship, holding off St. Sebastian’s
MARION — On the South Coast, Tabor Academy boys’ lacrosse has it all.
An elite faceoff specialist, arguably the best sophomore attack in the country, a strong stable of upperclassmen leadership, and — after holding off St. Sebastian’s for a 14-10 win on their home turf in Sunday’s tournament final — the school’s first Independent School League championship.
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When Tabor coach Connor Gordon took over at his alma mater in 2023, the 2012 graduate told the seniors on this year’s roster that he had a plan to bring the program to the top of the ISL. As the seasons progressed and the wins piled up, they began to believe.
“Gordon came in my freshman year and talked about a four-year plan, to get better every year, and he told us last year, this would be the year we win it, and it’s cool to see that come to fruition,” said senior captain Leo Kavey, who buried two of his three goals in the fourth quarter to ice it.
Tabor (18-1, 13-1 ISL) secured the top seed in the tournament and left no doubt. Landen O’Neil, the aforementioned sophomore sensation on attack, set the tone with a pair of early goals and Justin Guyette won four of the first five faceoffs to give the Seawolves a 3-0 lead they would never relinquish.
Quincy Quillard (three goals), Ty Curry (two goals), and Jake Beck (goal, three assists) provided multi-point efforts to bring the No. 2 Arrows (14-3) within one goal at several turns, but each time, the Seawolves answered.
“They had a goal this year as soon as we stepped on campus in September, but especially once the season started, to get to this point,” said Gordon, a former three-year starter in net.
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“The mentality was to treat every game as a new game. That’s how we carried through this entire season and that’s why we were successful. I owe a lot to that senior leadership that’s been with me all four years.”
Senior goalie Grady Alger was a rock in net with 12 saves. Juniors Dylan Franzen (two goals, two assists), Jayden Walters (goal, three assists), Mike Albert (two goals), and senior Colton McNamara (two goals) rounded out the offense, with Princeton-commit junior captain Jack Czepiel adding a pole goal in the third quarter.
While Gordon’s program will graduate several key members, the Seawolves have plenty of talent in the classes of 2027 and 2028 to keep contending in one of the nation’s toughest lacrosse leagues.
“I’m gone, but I have full faith in Connor Gordon,” said Kavey, who will play at Loyola. “I trust he’s going to find some new guys, but we have a ton of young guys who will continue to get better and step up.”
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