The Mount Rushmore of Florida games has a new contender. Instant classic, Rain on the Plain, call it what you want. Just call it one of the best playoff games I’ve ever seen. The seed for this one was planted two years ago. SA came into the game that year undefeated in the state of Florida at #1 in the Poll, with losses to Boys Latin and McDonogh.  They came into the game off the regular season win over Oxbridge looking to get back to the Final Four. But on that night, also rainy at times, a substitute goalie named Christian Tomei came out and stoned the Scots, with 18 saves, the last of which was maybe the most difficult in the last minute of the game to preserve the one goal win. Last night, Oxbridge came into the game undefeated in the state of Florida at #1 in the Poll, with losses to Boys Latin and McDonogh.  They were looking to make their first run to the Final Four after winning their regular season game with Saint Andrew’s. And on the same field, in even heavier rain, it was a Saint Andrew’s goalie named Justin Lugo who stole the game away with 16 saves, including 14 of the 1st 15 he faced, and he also made a key last minute save to preserve the one goal win. You can’t make that stuff up.   A delayed start to the game, as a deluge in the afternoon didn’t really clear out until about 6:30.  And when we started the game it looked like it was going to be one of those terrific spring nights after a storm . . . but at halftime or so, the umbrellas in the stands went up . . . and they did not go down until after the game had ended. And yet, through the rain, the teams played as if nothing was difficult.  Up in the stands you could see it, the water exploding off the stick head on a catch and sometimes on a shot or pass.  There were some slips but nearly as much as you might have expected.  Passes were mostly still on target.  In that heavy rain the teams only turned it over 10 total times between them in the second half. That impressed me almost as much as anything. Two terrifically smart teams, looking for that smallest of openings. One play that sticks out to me was was late in the third quarter.  SA was looking for a short stick matchup on SA’s star middie Michael Lizzio and Oxbridge’s superb defense had been able to switch in time to keep that matchup behind the goal from happening, but with about 90 seconds left in the quarter Oxbridge did not react quickly enough and Lizzio was able to get the matchup behind the goal, and before the slide could get there he was able to curl the net and get the shot off to make it 4-1.  A little thing that really counted in a one goal game. Another thing I noticed was how SA did not fully rely on Matt Adams behind the goal as much as in past games and tried to create more from the top wings.  One play that worked early in the game was almost a basketball play, feeding the post and using Carl Klepper’s size for a quick shot.  It worked the first time it was tried as Harrison Roth found him in the middle for the first shot of the game, which scored.  Periodically they looked to go back to it but the defensive adjustment limited it, but Klepper did get a few more similar looks during the game. Defensively, the Scots played it straight up but Oxbridge’s players were able to get a number of great looks in the first half and that’s where Lugo became so big.  Jack Kilian was kept quiet and Oxbridge found it difficult to pass into the interior, and eventually had to start to beat players with dodges to get inside.  Neither of Oxbridge’s two assisted goals were on passes to the interior.     And then there was the last 16 minutes of the game. THREE goals were scored in the first 32 minutes of the game and EIGHT goals in the last 16. Desperation on both sides in the fourth. Oxbridge found their shooting and turned a 5-1 lead into 5-4, as Blake Jerd got inside with 3:22 left to get it there. All the momentum. And then SA got a reprieve from one of their offensive support players as Nick Yi took the Adams feed and found himself with a quick decision . . . take the open look from distance on the left wing or keep it moving . . . and he took the shot right away, beating Tomei low for the 6-4 lead 23 seconds later. And that held up as the game winner. A frantic last 90 seconds after Oxbridge took advantage of a late EMO. But 2 years and 13 days later SA was able to turn the table, and now they are off to the next step . . . a home matchup with the two-time defending state champs at home . . . The last time they played it was in Bradenton, and STA took them to the woodshed.  The last time they played in Boca needs no reminder. Out of the frying pan into the fire. It will be fun.   As mentioned above, Klepper opened the scoring off the Roth feed at 11:03, taking the feed from the right wing in the middle and firing right handed to the top of the net for 1-0.  In the second it was Adam Stiefel making it 2-0 as he got loose down the right alley, split defenders and got off the bounce shot for the goal.  Shane Waina answered back at 4:32 for 2-1 as he stepped in from up top and beat Lugo to the top right and that’s how the half ended. Oxbridge had to kill three one minute penalties in the third and even though they did it completely took their offense away and SA eventually found a way to strike.  Anthony Molle took the Klepper feed from behind up top and his step down beat Tomei low for 3-1 at 3:57.  Lizzio made it 4-1 on the play described above at 1:20 and then Adams was able to curl from behind right and, while falling, found the low short side for 5-1 and it was looking like they were going to put it away. But Oxbridge was able to increase the defensive intensity and turn SA over and they were able to get two quick goals to make it 5-3.  Bennett Bowers was able to find Jerd up top from behind for the step down bounce shot at 7:58 and 41 seconds later it was Reece Riccardo finding Jerry Annunziata on the top right for the low left step down.  Then with 3:22 left it was Jerd forcing his way from the left wing to the goal for the high shot at it was 5-4, with the stands fully throated. Yi was able to come through with the goal at 2:59 and Connor Davies was able to answer at 1:44 on the EMO with a put back of a rebound and that set up the late scramble, but after the last Lugo save SA was able to run off the last 30 seconds or so and the celebrating began. For the Oxbridge seniors, a special thank you for everything you’ve done.  Six years ago this program started as an Independent.  They played John Carroll, Pine School, Lely, Golden Gate, etc.  And 5 years later they ascended to a well deserved #1 ranking.  The pain will be there, but so should the pride.  And the cupboard is not bare.  Just like this year, some names will step up and they are not going away anytime soon.  Good luck to the seniors in the next stage of your lives!   Team Statistics   Faceoffs:  SA 8-7 Shots:  Oxbridge 35-22 Shots on Goal:  Oxbridge 21-14 Turnovers:  SA 15-8 Penalties:  Oxbridge 3-2   Individual Statistics   SA Carl Klepper and Matt Adams with 1G/1A each Adam Stiefel, Michael Lizzio, Anthony Molle and Nick Yi with 1G each Harrison Roth  1A Justin Lugo with 16 saves   Oxbridge Blake Jerd  2G Shane Waina, Jerry Annunziata and Connor Davies with 1G each Bennett Bowers and Reece Riccardo with 1A each Christian Tomei with 8 saves   Thanks to Coach Ross and Coach Seaman for talking to me before and after the game.