Above – Ashton Ceppos had a great night a the “X” and prevented LHP from getting big runs

If you’re going to slow down Lake Highland Prep you have to do just that, slow them down.   LHP is usually able to play the six on six game at least even with just about anyone and then win the transition or unsettled part of the game to take the victory. Lake Brantley head coach, Jake Bernhard, knows that and his game plan was built to address that. “Like any Lake Highland team they’ll find a way to score.  The get some transition and it’s an energy lift for the bench.  The are very good at that if they control the transition.  We had to limit the run.”

Ashton Ceppos was a huge factor in limiting the run.  It’s hard for a team to build energy and momentum off of the transition game if they can’t get the ball back.  Ceppos won the face off battle for the evening. What makes that incredible is that he has only been playing lacrosse for a year.  Coach Bernhardt taught him how to face off last fall and now he’s headed to Florida Southern next year to continue his new career as a Face Off Specialist. Lake Highland was able to jump out first but Lake Brantley was undeterred and would not allow the Highlanders to get a run going.  The first half was back and forth.   In the third quarter Lake Brantley was able to pull out to a lead but again, the Highladers were able to close the gap.  “It was like a track meet,” said Bernhardt. “The play went up and down the field.”  Eventually, Brantley was able to put together a lead and held on for the win. “It was a good lacrosse game, that’s for sure,” said Bernhardt.  “Very clean game, great stick work.” Jared Bernhardt (Maryland), senior attackman for the Patriots, is certainly one of the state’s top players.  He was credited with 3 goals and 4 assists.  His play opens up lots of opportunities for other guys.  Last night, Mike Dobrowolski was able to capitalize on those opportunities and scored 4 goals himself. Jackson Colling (BU) had a strong outing for LHP with 2 goals and 3 assists. When asked what a win like this means for his program Coach Bernhardt was optimistic but reserved.  “A good jumps start for us but the season just started.  Got to keep focused on us, we can only control what we do.  We can’t  worry about what others are saying about us.”  “I’m excited for them and I’m proud of the team.  We’ve got a great group of seniors. I’m proud of them and they way they approached last night.” As for his competition, he was very complementary of LHP.  “I have the utmost respect for Chris Spaulding hand his team.  He (Spaulding) has always been someone I can go to and ask questions.  He has done a great job with that organization.  We are competitive from a coaches and players standpoint.  After the game, we put everything aside.  He’s a great coach.” What does this mean for Central Florida lacrosse this season? It’s hard to say.  Lake Brantley is in the North Bracket along with Lake Mary and Ponte Vedra.  So the biggest take away from this huge upset is that the North Bracket has another serious player this season.  With the Moe’s Southwest Grill Lacrosse Classic going on this weekend we’ll know more about Lake Mary after they play Bolles.  They were played to a tough 7-5 game by Hagerty earlier this week. Lake Highland is still in the driver’s seat in their bracket.  We will get another look at the young LHP team when they play Ponte Vedra Monday at Moe’s.  They have a brutal schedule ahead with St. Thomas, IMG, Benjamin, St. Andrew’s, Boys Latin and the list goes on and on.  Chris Spaulding always has his team playing it’s best lacrosse late in the season. There is a ton of lacrosse to play.