Above photo from the Tallhassee Democrat Ponte Vedra got past Maclay last night to return to the Final Four after a rare miss last season.  Ponte Vedra has put up big numbers all season but it only scored eight last night, and that was enough. Ponte Vedra Head Coach, Tom West, said he felt his guys played “great.”  They knew that Maclay was going to slow the game down and were prepared for that.  Once Ponte Vedra had the lead, Maclay’s slow style of play became an advantage to the Sharks. “Slow style of play” may be a bit of an understatement.  From Brian Miller of the Tallhassee Democrat;

After the Sharks turned it over on their first possession, Maclay face-off man Minter carried the ball back and forth behind the net, and a rotation of three offensive players stalled eight minutes off the first-quarter clock.

Even when the offense isn’t putting up big numbers ridiculous goal scorer, Reid Smith, figures out a way to make some points.  He ended the evening with two goals and five assists.  Matt Keeler added two goals of his own plus an assist.  Ben Buchanan, Andrew O’Dare, Jack Burke, and CD James all added a goal each.  Eighth grader Sam Chase led the Maclay scoring with two goals. All of the success isn’t lost on Tom West.  He feels he and his guys are blessed to be at this point in the season and headed back to the semi-finals to play against one of his best friends.  “These kids all know each other, they play with one another during the off season.  Both of these teams know each other well so it’s just going to come down to who wants it more.” The bad news for the other three teams in the finals is that PV could be peaking right now.  “Most of the guys who have been our or hurt are all back even though they haven’t been play.  If anything, we’re deep than ever right now.”