Benjamin looking for elusive boys state championship

JUPITER — Shane Rye has had plenty of success in his seven seasons as Benjamin’s varsity boys lacrosse coach.

But the one thing missing on his résumé is a state championship.

The Bucc a neer s ( 1 6 -3 ) would take a big step toward achieving that goal with a win Friday in the state semifinals at Jupiter High School.

Benjamin, which has lost twice in the state semifinals and once in the state finals in the past four years, faces a tough — but familiar — opponent in Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas.

The Raiders defeated Benjamin in triple overtime last year in the state semifinals — scoring the game-winner with seven seconds remaining — and went on to win the championship.

Rye’s players haven’t forgotten.

“I think they have a chip on their shoulder a little bit,” he said. “They’re kids, so they’re space cadets sometimes. But I think as you start getting through the year, especially the seniors, they realize the goal is always to be the best team after spring break, not before it. I think once you get to spring break, it’s just a different type of energy and intensity.”

Benjamin has been tough to beat during the latter half of the season.

The Bucs, with 10 seniors leading the way, closed out the regular season with a win against Jupiter and defeated Vero Beach-St. Edward’s, Mer- ritt Island and Naples-Barron Collier by a combined 28-12 in the playoffs to earn a berth in the state semifinals.

“This is the first time we’ve had this many seniors that have actually gotten playing time,” Rye said. “We lost five or six seniors from last year that were superstars in that class. This year, on any given day, different guys have showed up. We try to coach that way. If one kid has a bad day, you don’t want the whole team to fall apart.”

Benjamin will need a big team effort against St. Thomas Aquinas (20-1), a perennial lacrosse power whose only loss this season came to an unbeaten team from New York.

“They fly around, and they play hard,” Rye said of the Raiders. “We kind of know what they like to do, and they probably know what we like to do. They’re going to push the limits, play to the whistle. That’s what makes them so successful.”

The Bucs and Raiders will play at 5 p.m. Friday, followed by the second boys semifinal between Lake Mary and Orlando-Lake Highland Prep at 7 p.m. The winners play at 7:05 p.m. Saturday for the state championship.

The girls semifinals will be played earlier Friday. Naples-Barron Collier faces St. Thomas Aquinas at noon, followed by Orlando-Bishop Moore and Ponte Vedra at 2 p.m. The championship game is at 4:05 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is $8 per day.