Raiders vying for 2nd state title
Benjamin had the momentum until one sequence knocked the wind out of theBuccaneers’ sails.
After battling back from a five-goal deficit, the Bucs pulled within one goal of St. Thomas Aquinas, at 8-7, with less than 40 seconds in the third quarter.
But in a sequence that summed up the day, St. Thomas found away to deliver when it needed a play and Benjamin just couldn’t finish.
Raiders midfielder CJ Borodiak took advantage of a Bucs dropped pass, battled for the ground ball and hit a sprinting Nick Yovino in stride to turn Benjamin’s possession the other way. In a perfectly executed fast-break, Yovino dished to Kevin Crowley, who then found a wide-open Jimmy Harrington on the crease for the goal.
St. Thomas held on Friday, outlasting Benjamin 14-11 at Jupiter High School for its third straight trip to the state final. The Raiders will face Lake Highland Prep for the at 7:05 p.m.
“I felt like we snuck that one out,” said St. Thomas coach Terry Crowley. “Great Benjamin squad — rough, tough, great in transition. I never felt comfortable with the lead so I’m happy to be back in the state finals.”
It was the second straight year the Raiders ended Benjamin’s season in this round. Last year, St. Thomas edged the Bucs 11-10 in a triple overtime thriller en route to its first state title. title Saturday
Crowley, who will play at Hofstra next season, led the Raiders with four goals, two assists. St. Thomas had four other players put up multi-score games with Brock Gonzalez (three goals), Jimmy Harrington (two goals), Michael Costello (two goals) and Borodiak (two goals all chipping in). Senior midfielder Joey Guglielmohadthree assists on the night.
On Friday, St. Thomas Aquinas stormed out of the gate. The Raiders, who never trailed, scored the first three goals of the game and later took a 6-1 first quarter lead.
Benjamin battled back, cutting the lead to 6-4 in the second quarter on a highlight-reel goal from Will Nicklaus. The North Carolina commit, who scored four on the night, split a double team and fired a behind-the-backgoal in traffic right in front of the net.
The Bucs would close in within one or two goals multiple times, but the Raiders would answer each time with a backbreaking goal to push the lead back out.
In the fourth quarter, Benjamin cut the deficit to 11-9, but St. Thomas scored three straight to ice the game for good.
St. Thomas Aquinas will have a chance to make history on Saturday night as its girls team, who topped Barron Collier 12-9 earlier in the day, will also compete for a state championship. No school in FHSAA history has ever won boys and girls lacrosse titles in the same season.
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