It is a unique crusade on Long Island.
Every year, students, parents and honor-out alumni mark a calendar, and the pack represents the fateful spring day when St. Anthony's brothers fight against the Chaminade Flyers of La Crosse Field.
“It's a game like our Army,” Jack Moran, the head coach of Chaminade, who has won over 600 games with his team since 1979, told the Post.
Regularly regarded as the best in a country that produces top university talent, the prestigious Catholic school has a storied history of going back and forth for the title victory of the Catholic League since the 1980s.
As Moran said, “It's because we win four in a row, they win two in a row.”
Nevertheless, over the past five seasons it has been all monks.
Since 2019, St. Anthony's claims to all championship matches for each winner, and finds the Pride accompanied more rewarding than the trophy.
“I remember my first championship, and I was shaking. I was very nervous,” said junior St. Anthony midfielder Ethan Bramov, who promised to play at the University of Virginia.
“When you're at Chaminade, you always want to do your best.”
“All we're thinking is to beat them,” said Connor Cuttin, a senior Chaminard attacker tied to Johns Hopkins.
Like in past years, the monks have not played their first regular season games with the large red and yellow residents, which are commonplace in search of six peats.
“They were younger last year… I think they're starting to play their roles. I think this year will be a really good game,” said Gary Merrill, senior midfielder at St. Anthony, who plays football and lacrosse at the University of North Carolina.
It lasts forever
With his epic rivalry, lacrosse great Pat Cabana is currently playing Denver outlaws and professionals in the Lacrosse League, and has achieved success before attending Chaminard.
Kabana, who won back-to-back National Championships with Notre Dame in 2023 and 2024, will never forget that his brother Matt, who joined the Fighting Irish, will play with the Flyers as a St. Anthony boy.
“I remember watching the warm-up and dreaming of playing that game,” the attacker said.
When the chance came, Kavanagh won everything as a senior at Chaminade in 2018, putting up a showdown in the “Top 5 Most Meaning Game” he's ever played.
“Looking back at the last 10 or two years, the professional lacrosse talent that has come out of two schools is incredible,” Kabana said. “I think it's the best rivalry in high school lacrosse across the country.”
Former St. Anthony goalkeeper Jack Concanon had an incredible college career at Hofstra University and later reiterated that sentiment at PLL's New York Atlas.
“A few years later, it was constantly being talked about,” Concanon said.
“Looking back at my career, it's one of the hardware I want to have.”
I love your enemy
Each meeting brings an intensity and a thrilling finish, but there is no maliciousness between the two schools. Both embrace the mission of teaching students morality.
“The team is at the helm of the game,” said Keith Viekzolek, head coach of St. Anthony, who has been at the helm since 2000.
“I have the highest respect for Jack Moran. He has become a dear friend over the years,” added Wiekzorek, who coached Moran's eldest son as his JV assistant many years ago, when he chose St. Anthony over Chaminard.
According to high school students, almost every player has at least one friend on the other team.
“If you lose, you'll definitely be hearing a bit of that,” said Chamiande senior Lou Dagostino, Syracuse defender next year. “But at the end of the day, we're all mates.”
After the game, that.
“We respect them, but when we see the red jersey on the other side, we want to beat them as much as we can,” St. Anthony junior midfielder Brody Richard headed to Towson.
As things enter a new chapter, Chaminade seniors pull out all the stops – they do weightlifting at 6am before they begin the tough academic day and finish their work with the final dance.
“When you look at matchups on the field, you know we've been working, and you know that's our time,” said Quinball, a senior midfielder who plays for Penn.
Notre Dame-bound midfielder Gavin Lynch added that the 2025 Varsity Bunch is “one of the most talented teams I have ever played.”
But that won't come easily, according to St. Anthony's defender Parker McDonald, who will play with Merrill at UNC next year.
“I think we've been looking at the past for five years,” he said. “You're playing for people that will be taking place next year and the next year. You want to continue adding to your legacy.”
