St. Andrew’s, Benjamin cruise to 1A boys lacrosse state semis, while Jupiter stunned by St. Thomas Aquinas in 2A
BOCA RATON — St. Andrew’s senior Dylan Faison scored five goals and added four assists as the host Scots crushed St. John Paul Academy II 25-6 in a Class 1A regional final on Saturday afternoon.
The Scots (22-1) ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps and winners of a dozen straight games since its lone loss of the season against Boys Latin (Baltimore, Md.), will head to the state semifinals in Paradise Coast Sports Complex (Naples) on Thursday as they look to win their fourth consecutive state championship.
St. Andrew’s, 55-6 during their three-year title run and 77-7 in the past four seasons, will play Community School at 2 p.m. Benjamin, who pounded Lake Highland Prep 16-5, will play Jacksonville Bolles at noon in the other 1A state semifinal.
In 2A action, visiting St. Thomas Aquinas upended Jupiter 11-4 and will play top-seeded Lake Mary at 7:30 on Thursday.
St. Andrew’s has been dominant in the postseason as they have outscored opponents 70-11 in their three regional games. They have won 10 straight against St. John Paul II Academy dating back to 2017, and this was the most lopsided result.
“Every game is good,” said St. Andrew’s coach Tony Seaman. “We’ve played everybody in the state, and we have to keep going for another two games. These kids know, three (state championships) in a row, everyone wants a piece of you. This is probably the best group of kids I have had here in nine years.”
St. Andrew’s captured the first three state titles from 2008-2010 when the sport was first sanctioned. The Scots also won in 2012.
The Scots controlled the game from start to finish, starting with two goals by Faison in the first three minutes as they built a 10-4 halftime lead and coasted to the victory.
Sophomore Nick Testa also contributed four goals and three assists, while the Scots got three goals from senior Connor Hofbauer as the Scots picked up their second win this season over the Eagles. The Scots prevailed in the third game of the year, 19-10.
“I think what is different between this team and the teams we have had over the years is the chemistry and the skill,” Testa said. “In the past, there have been a couple of guys with skill and this team has amazing depth at every position.”
“It is definitely special,” Hofbauer said of his final home game at St. Andrew’s. “We come out here every day and I have so many good memories from lacrosse and football here.”
Fellow senior Jackson Parke also has great memories as a standout in football and lacrosse at the school.
“It’s always a good rivalry between us and (St. John Paul II Academy),” Parke said. “Our defense, I think is the core of the team. I think we have this great bond and chemistry on the backside of the field.”
Scots’ senior goalie Andrew Pozo will be playing in his first Final Four, after transferring from Miami Columbus High School.
“I thought I did great, but I have to give it to my defense,” Pozo said. “They were allowing shots that I like to see. The atmosphere was so unreal. You see it in football games…playing a rival brings some nerves, but it makes you play better. This is my first time going to Naples. I can’t put it into words. I am so excited for it.”
St. John Paul II Academy (16-6) got two goals from Peter Johnson, and one each from Travis Cheristin, Zach Throne, and Michael Polgar.
“They have a really good team,” said Eagles coach Andrew Bulger. “Ours comes together organically and theirs is a little differently put together. The season was fantastic, and I told my guys I couldn’t be prouder of how they played and did. It’s a bittersweet ending, we have a lot of guys coming back and we have a few guys leaving. We are going to miss those guys, but obviously, we have some work to do.”