Florida Lacrosse News on Substack 04/02/2025
Welcome to today's post!
In this issue . . .
#1 vs #2 Showdown does not disappoint
FHSAA delays next rankings release until Sunday
Men’s lacrosse hand signals, part two
Big college schedule today
South Walton’s Miracle Goal
The Declaration of the Independents
Brooke Goldstein continues to play big at Clemson
Huge slate of important games last night
Crease Kings goalies of the week
National polls with Florida entrants
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#TAFTAG
#LayOffTheRefs
#FloridaRising
#LacrosseFanandDamnProudOfIt
#StopYellingWard
#AcknowledgeFloridaLacrosse
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Olympic Heights is looking for a Girls Head Coach and Assistant Coach ASAP. Please send your resume to AD Chris Holly at chris.holly@palmbeachschools.org
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The #1 vs #2 Game Last Night . . . and it played like one!
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In a week full of big games, nothing was more anticipated than last night’s Benjamin-St Thomas game in North Palm Beach.
And it didn’t disappoint.
The Lacrosse Gods threw us a gift last night. Was it perfectly played? No. A few places of sloppiness kept it (to us a phrase from the sports card collectable world) a Near Mint, maybe a 93 out of 100. They even threw in a last-minute tying goal and an OT winner to boot.
Twitter LINK
If you love thinking man’s lacrosse, you had a lot to like last night. Some nice twists and approaches. A beautifully executed late goal. A game winner that snuck in tantalizingly slow. Faceoff surprises. Great patience and probing for weakness.
I picked it up about halfway through the 1st with Benjamin leading 2-1. I’m glad I decided to watch this one on Hudl, since the camera work was much better at giving me a zoomed-out perspective.
As I watched this play out, a few things stood out to me.
St Thomas’ defense made every effort to get Benjamin to speed up their decision-making and it was effective at times. When Benjamin was able to get into rhythm, it was very hard to keep them from getting good looks. Benjamin’s turnover total was higher than normal.
The faceoff battle was intriguing. Both FOGOs took turns winning cleanly and both sides decided to go fast when it was there. Both defenses were able to keep the FOGOs from converting those chances.
In the first half, Benjamin’s defense was good at keeping STA’s offense outside, but over time, STA was able to get looks inside, but Benjamin’s goalie Tatum Little made some enormous saves. That included a key save early in the 4th as STA had a 2-minute Man Up that was thwarted as they tried to add to a 9-8 lead. I want to add that STA’s goalie Luciano Chiabra was impressive after having to play at the last minute for starter Zach Rosenberg.
I was intrigued by STA’s strategy of sending a long pole deep in the offensive end on a clear, it opened up space in the middle and even led to a 2nd-half long pole goal by James Michaelides. Thanks to Mike Jones for pointing out that this was a strategy that Lars Tiffany used a lot.
At halftime, it was Benjamin 5-4. They came out quickly and added to make it 7-4, but STA was able to hold off a lengthy possession that might have broken it open some and came back with two of their own. After Benjamin reestablished the 2-goal lead, it was STA with a 3-goal run to take the 9-8 lead into the 4th.
Back and forth it went, as Alex Ponchock and Diego Salazar swapped goals, setting up for Benjamin going for the tie in the last 90 seconds. They ran a very well executed two-man approach, rotating with 3 players and sniped the tying goal by Campbell Hogan with 37 seconds left. They had a few looks to win the game in regulation but were not able to convert.
Eventually, the OT possession showed Benjamin patiently waiting until they could find Sean Sheehan in the middle low and his low backhand dribbled in between the legs of the STA goalie. Just one of those heartbreaking affirmations that sports are a game of inches.
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Highlight Film from YouTube
Great video! 5:10 in length.
YouTube LINK
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Remember that grade of 92 above?
It’s not the full story.
Where it was a Gem Mint 100 for me was simple . . .
If you were going to show a newcomer or a casual sports fan a game, to sell this sport, this one was a Gem Mint 100. It was COMPELLING. If it is available for replay on Hudl and you have a few hours and a large-screen TV to watch it on, DO SO. Invite the buddies over for an adult beverage and a barbecue and let this one play.
As we continue to sell this sport to a bigger audience, try to remember that compelling stays longer in one’s memory than cool. I’ll take this 4th quarter/OT over 5,000 trick shot highlights any time. Great offensive flow beats #SCTop10 anytime in my book.
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I received an update via Chris Polanski about the next power ranking release. It will be Sunday instead of today. We’ll be preparing the next Who’s In/Who’s Out hopefully by Sunday night!
We’ll table for now why other outlets got that email, but not FLN . . .