Unofficially, the heavyweight belt belongs to St. Augustine Prep.

The Hermits claimed the crown yesterday with an imposing 8-3 victory over Eastern on a cold, rainy afternoon on the Vikings' home field.

Senior attack Greg Buchanan and sophomore middie Max Voumard each scored two goals as St. Augustine improved its record to 17-1 and completed a sweep of its games against top South Jersey competition.

"That's the best team we've played," Eastern coach Steve Picot said. "They've got guys who are students of the game."

With victories over Eastern (14-3) as well as Burlington County powers Shawnee and Moorestown, St. Augustine has bragging rights as the best team in the area, at least in the regular season. The Hermits' only loss was to Southeastern Pennsylvania power Penn Charter.

The NJSIAA boys' lacrosse state tournament will begin next week, with St. Augustine likely to be the No. 2 seed in Non-Public A.

"By the records, we're the best team," Buchanan said. "But we know any of those top teams can beat us if we don't play with intensity."

Chris DiNote and Dylan Fox each had a goal and an assist and sophomore goalie Dylan Florig made 13 saves for Eastern, which rallied in the second quarter to forge a 3-3 tie at halftime.

St. Augustine seized command in the third quarter as Buchanan, Gabe Voumard, Matt Macey and Danny Weymer scored unanswered goals.

"In the first half, we were playing weak," Max Voumard said. "We needed to come out and play stronger."

St. Augustine coach J.C. Valore said the Hermits needed a half to adjust to the Vikings' zone defense. But Buchanan, one of just three seniors on the roster, said the team's second-half surge was more about psychology than strategy.

"It was completely psychological," Buchanan said. "We just needed to pick it up and play our game."

Valore believes yesterday's victory stamps St. Augustine as the best team in South Jersey.

"I hope so," Valore said. "The teams from the Indian schools and Moorestown and Eastern, they show up to take you out. But our guys have stepped up to the competition."

Asked if the victory cements St. Augustine's status as the No. 1 team in South Jersey, Max Voumard said: "I don't know if we're the best, but we're up there. We're definitely up there."

St. Augustine 2 1 4 1 - 8

Eastern 0 3 0 0 - 3

SA: Greg Buchanan 2, Max Voumard 2, Gabe Voumard, Matt Macey, Danny Weyer, Frank Albert.

E: Chris DiNote, Dylan Fox, Jake Goodman.