American Heritage girls win state title
BOCA RATON — Considered one of the top teams in the nation, American Heritage can now say it is the best girls lacrosse team in Florida. The Stallions shut down Orlando-Lake Highland Prep and won its first state title with a 10-7 victory Friday night at Boca Raton High.
American Heritage’s high-powered offense, led by sophomore Syracuse commit Caitlyn Wurzburger and junior Louisville commit Allegra Catalano, got off to an unusually slow start. The Highlanders scored the first goal after more than six minutes of scoreless action. Catalano got the Stallions on the board about a minute later, but then Lake Highland Prep scored again. It would be the last lead for the Highlanders.
American Heritage pushed ahead before the end of the half thanks to two goals by sophomore Kylie Hazen, a score by Wurzburger, and another by sophomore Sara Palmisano.
“I can’t believe we just did that,” Wurzburger said.
Hazen scored her third goal early in the second half, and Payton Wainman, Anna Palmisano and Wurzburger added scores to put the Stallions ahead 10-4.
“They hired me to win championships,” coach John McClain said, “and that’s the first one.”
Following the win, Hazen and Wurzburger paid respect to the victims of the Feb. 14 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. “We want to dedicate our season to these 17 people that passed away,” Wurzburger said. The two Stallions sophomores wore armbands during the game that said “MSD Strong.”
Wurzburger said a close friend of Hazen’s died in the tragedy at the Broward County high school. “We just want them to know that we won this championship for them,” Wurzburger said, “and we’ll always be with them.”