Playoff lacrosse: What to know about Palm Beach County's state championship contenders

Palm Beach County lacrosse has Naples on speed dial.

The Paradise Coast Sports Complex has been an annual destination for a few local elites in recent seasons, and 2024 is no different.

Once again, the hard work and dedication comes to a conclusion, but only four total teams across the state of Florida will be crowned champion.

As far as impressive seasons go, Palm Beach County lacrosse took no prisoners.

Out of eight teams left standing in Florida, three are county representatives. All are favorites in their respective state semifinals matches.

District hardware has been applauded and received. Regional trophies have been shined and put on display.

But for the three teams left alive and hungry, this is the week that matters most.

Florida's Elite: Your fan guide to Palm Beach County high school lacrosse

Tournament Info

Boys and girls teams will compete at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex at 3940 City Gate Blvd N, Naples, FL 34117.

Fans can find start times for each contest on the FHSAA website as well as the schedule pages for each team on MaxPreps.

The boys' semifinal matches are set to take place on Thursday afternoon, with games at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The girls' contests will take place on Friday in the same time slots.

Championship action will take place on Saturday, with the girls' title game occurring at 12 p.m. and the boys' title game at 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased for $10.00 via Go Fan for one-day general admission or for $13.00 on the day of. Please not that there will be no on-site tickets sold. Parking will also be $10.00.

Spectator information can be found here.

No. 2 Benjamin vs. No. 3 Bolles

Time: Thursday, 12 p.m.

The first matchup involving a Palm Beach County team this week will pit Palm Beach County's Buccaneers (19-1) against the three-seed Bulldogs (21-2) making the trip down from Jacksonville.

In what could be the closest projected matchup of the three involving local teams, the Bucs enter off the back of regional wins over All Saints' Academy, St. Edward's, and Lake Highland Prep by a combined 56-13 margin.

Boasting a young team with a unique mix of group leadership where everyone plays a role, the Bucs' hope is to start fast in the regional semifinal, with head coach Peter Cordrey acknowledging that his team has allowed team to play them close before coming alive in the second half on several occasions.

Such was the case in the district championship win over St. Edward's, when an unexpected 3-3 game at the end of the first quarter rapidly blossomed into a big Benjamin lead during the second half.

"There were a couple games where we were down or tied at halftime and then played much better in the second half," Cordrey said. "I think, in the postseason, we've been more about trying to play 48 strong minutes and more of an emphasis on coming out stronger."

He knows Bolles' head coach, Tom West, from the veteran's tenure with Ponte Vedra, during which the program won several state championships.

"They have a boarding program and they're recruiting kids into that program from outside of Florida," Cordrey said. "He's building out a program. He's got some great players, great athletes. Really great coaching staff. And they're having some pretty great success."

In attack, the Bucs' star freshman Jack Kelleher is leading the way with 3.7 goals per game, while Alex Ponchock is tallying 2.5 assists per contest. Defensively, goalie Tatum Little has seen a lot of action, especially in games where Benjamin has struggled with face-off success.

They'll aim to 'Buc" that trend against Bolles in order to secure a place in the championship match on Saturday.

No. 1 St. Andrew's vs. No. 4 Community School of Naples

Time: Thursday, 2:30 p.m.

The home-team -- at least in this scenario -- is the definitive underdog.

Thursday's semifinals matchup will be the first time Community School of Naples (18-4) has been a part of the Final Four, but the 'home team' will hope for a better result against heavy favorite St. Andrew's (22-1) than they managed in the regular season when the two programs played one another.

That game was back in early March, when the Scots defeated the Seahawks by a 15-6 margin.

That said, head coach Tony Seaman had words of praise for the team they're about to battle in Thursday's rematch.

"Their goalie is excellent," he said. "He stands really well in the goal. He stops everything he should stop. He's a big boy so he takes up a lot of the goal, and he plays very well. His passes are excellent. They're always looking to run if possible from the defensive end to the offense end. They face-off very well. That'll be two big challenges for us."

St. Andrew's enters Thursday's game having defeated Ransom Everglades, Oxbridge Academy, and St. John Paul II in regionals, besting their competition by a combined 70-11 score-line.

The Scots bring a litany of weapons to the table, with a sophomore class led by Dylan Faison, 4.2 goals per game, and Nick Testa, 3.3 assists per game, in attack, while Mason LeLack and goalie Andrew Pozo are two key players on the other end.

But just like Seaman expects that the opposition has improved these last two months, the same goes for the Scots.

"I think we've gotten better on both ends of the field," he said. "I think we've gotten familiarity and that always helps a lot. Our offense understands each other and knows our strengths and weaknesses pretty well. I think the same is true of the defensive end. I think we've developed over the last two months since we've played them, and I know they have as well."

No. 1 American Heritage-Delray vs. No. 4 Episcopal School of Jacksonville

Time: Friday, 2:30 p.m.

A say removed from the boys teams taking on their opposition in the state semifinals, girls powerhouse American Heritage-Delray (20-1) will face off against fourth-seeded Episcopal School of Jacksonville (13-7) on Friday.

There, the Stallions will face a familiar face to Palm Beach County in Brooke McCoy, one of the top midfielders in the state as a sophomore who is originally from our very own Delray Beach.

"Great coach," John McClain said of their upcoming opponent. "They've got some decent ballplayers. Brooke McCoy used to live down here. Super fast and aggressive. We're looking forward to it. They're going to be a tough team."

Heritage-Delray enters their state semifinals matchup off the back of a cruise-control run through regionals that consisted of wins over Ransom Everglades, American Heritage-Plantation, and St. Andrew's.

They won those games by a combined 47-10 margin, largely behind an offense led by Brooke Goldstein (3.0 goals per game) and Victoria Tomonto (2.2 goals per game).

Assists coming in bunches from everywhere, including Caroline Byrd, Madison Vargas, and Emma Hrzich.

On defense, the Stallions boats one of the top goaltenders in the county in Ashley Egbert, who has nearly a 60-percent save percentage this season, and whom we featured after a dominant regional semifinals victory.

The ability to run two midfield lines is a testament to the type of depth the No. 1 ranked Stallions are bringing to their trip to Naples, and there is certainly no shortage of talent, either.

"We're so deep on this team and we are so selfless on this team," McClain said. "At any time, anybody can step up. Somebody is going to benefit from what the defense is showing, so I can't put a finger on who's going to dominate. They're all dominant. My attackers are scoring machines. My midfielders control in between the thirties. My defense has been phenomenal, and Ashley in cage has been just exquisite."

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County lacrosse: What to know about state title contenders