Saint Andrew’s at Benjamin Preview
Written by Lee Roggenburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.
This game will be LiveStreamed here on FLN. We go live at 6:30 PM. Thanks to our sponsor, Al Packer Ford, for bringing this broadcast to fans everywhere!
Benjamin and Saint Andrew’s.
Lacrosse royalty for the state.
State championships and college lacrosse players.
Renewing their rivalry, which has produced some memorable moments.
A State Final Four game.
The first Orange Bowl Classic.
With one glaring issue . . . one team is undefeated against the other.
Benjamin has not yet won. Last season they played a one-goal nailbiter in Boca:
http://fln.mattplu.com/sa-tops-benjamin-8-7-in-old-fashioned-barn-burner/
Then there was the previous year.
The Final Four in 2013. SA jumped out early and went on to the finals:
http://fln.mattplu.com/the-return-of-the-big-red-machine-sa-rolls-over-benjamin-14-3/
Frustrating.
In 2012 and 2013 Benjamin defeated Lake Highland Prep only to watch LHP then win a championship in 2013.
What a better backdrop to end a streak than on a broadcast?
———-
From our pre-season previews:
Benjamin Coach Shane Rye’s team started off the season 1-3, losing to 2 traditional powers but also losing a neutral site game to 10-11 Hagerty to start the season. Perhaps the turning point in the season was an overtime win over then unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas. Benjamin then traveled north to take on two national powers in Calvert Hall and Severn from the MIAA and after returning home ran the table until the state finals. Included in that streak were wins over Jupiter and Boca Raton, both on the road.
Coach Rye returns a strong group of players who saw significant time, including Andrew Packer (Maryland), Ohio State commit Colin O’Hare, Cameron Thompson (Rutgers) and Chris Erdmann (Kenyon). The cousin tandem of Bobby O’Leary and Wil Nicklaus also add significant firepower to the Bucs. Where Benjamin will seek answers is on the defensive side of the ball as the entire starting defense, including Yale-bound Jerry O’Connor and Manhattan-bound goalie Anthony Cicio graduated.
Saint Andrew’s found itself in a situation last year that had never happened before; on the outside looking in through the window of the FHSAA playoffs. For almost all other Florida programs a Top 10 final poll would be considered a real accomplishment. For SA it was a major disappointment and the school took quite a step, hiring a true legend in the sport, Tony Seaman, to come in and run the program. If anyone in a state that doesn’t start with an “FL” still wonders about how serious this state is now taking the sport then explain this hire. Tremendous record on Long Island, head coach of Penn, Johns Hopkins and Towson, MLL GM of Denver . . . now SA head coach.
Ho-ly smoke.
Last year SA was very strong defensively as they only ceded double digits to one Florida foe, Jupiter. And as the offense went so went the team. The season started out 5-1 as they slipped by Benjamin 8-7 and easily handling PJP II 13-2 and PB Gardens 18-6. Those followed a solid road win over Vero in the opener. Going into the Boca game it was business as usual, but SA then went 3-5 over their next 8 games and did not score more than 8 goals in any of the losses. SA then got back on track with four straight until Boca finally knocked them off in the district final.
The biggest wild card in Florida lacrosse this year . . .
SA will be led by Addison Lutes up front with Peter Dykas distributing, with support from Sam Baker, Nick Diamond and Nick Iznaga. Brandt Guldin, Keith Mahler and Spanish River transfer Davis Diamond lead the midfield. Brian Fox, Owen Bezick and Tito Thompson will also help out. Alex Newhouse is as good as it gets in the faceoff circle and the physical presence of Jake Bargas will be felt on defense. Conlan O’Hara starts at LSM and Alex Heatzig returns at close defense. Harris Feldman and Andrew Busel become the next in a long line of great goaltenders manning the Scots’ cage. Senior middie Anthony Sciametta (VMI) transfers over from St. Thomas Aquinas.
————-
But the season has started with some unusual results.
Benjamin has given up 47 goals in 4 games. Last year they gave up double digits twice in 21 games. Let’s call it a work in progress. An All-American goalie and an All-American long pole don’t get replaced easily. And the loss to LHP was not a competitive result.
Saint Andrew’s owns a win over Oxbridge but has already lost to Stoneman Douglas and Vero Beach. When they come out strong they win, but that is not a full-time gig so far this year.
There’s plenty of firepower on Benjamin:
Andrew Packer, a Maryland commit on attack, joined by Kenyon commit Chris Erdmann and Rutgers commit Cameron Thompson.
Not bad.
Throw in Will Nicklaus at middie, a North Carolina Tar Heel and Colin O’Hare, going to Ohio State.
Patrick Clancy, Christian Cropp and Griffin Bowie all contribute.
Scoring should not be an issue.
Chris Erdmann 6g
Andrew Packer 7g 2a
Cam Thompson 8g 2a
Patrick Clancy 6g 1a
Will Nicklaus 4g 5a
Christian Cropp 4g 4a
Colin Ohare 5g 5a
Griffin Bowie 6g 1a
Plenty of balance
Bobby O’Leary has moved to close defense from midfield. Chris Raso looks to fill the shoes of departed LSM Jerry O’Connor while Shane Campbell and Chris O’Connor also start on close defense while Kyle Vincent will get the start in the goal.
Benjamin has not yet won. Last season they played a one-goal nailbiter in Boca:
http://fln.mattplu.com/sa-tops-benjamin-8-7-in-old-fashioned-barn-burner/
Then there was the previous year.
The Final Four in 2013. SA jumped out early and went on to the finals:
http://fln.mattplu.com/the-return-of-the-big-red-machine-sa-rolls-over-benjamin-14-3/
Frustrating.
In 2012 and 2013 Benjamin defeated Lake Highland Prep only to watch LHP then win a championship in 2013.
What a better backdrop to end a streak than on a broadcast?
———-
From our pre-season previews:
Benjamin Coach Shane Rye’s team started off the season 1-3, losing to 2 traditional powers but also losing a neutral site game to 10-11 Hagerty to start the season. Perhaps the turning point in the season was an overtime win over then unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas. Benjamin then traveled north to take on two national powers in Calvert Hall and Severn from the MIAA and after returning home ran the table until the state finals. Included in that streak were wins over Jupiter and Boca Raton, both on the road.
Coach Rye returns a strong group of players who saw significant time, including Andrew Packer (Maryland), Ohio State commit Colin O’Hare, Cameron Thompson (Rutgers) and Chris Erdmann (Kenyon). The cousin tandem of Bobby O’Leary and Wil Nicklaus also add significant firepower to the Bucs. Where Benjamin will seek answers is on the defensive side of the ball as the entire starting defense, including Yale-bound Jerry O’Connor and Manhattan-bound goalie Anthony Cicio graduated.
Saint Andrew’s found itself in a situation last year that had never happened before; on the outside looking in through the window of the FHSAA playoffs. For almost all other Florida programs a Top 10 final poll would be considered a real accomplishment. For SA it was a major disappointment and the school took quite a step, hiring a true legend in the sport, Tony Seaman, to come in and run the program. If anyone in a state that doesn’t start with an “FL” still wonders about how serious this state is now taking the sport then explain this hire. Tremendous record on Long Island, head coach of Penn, Johns Hopkins and Towson, MLL GM of Denver . . . now SA head coach.
Ho-ly smoke.
Last year SA was very strong defensively as they only ceded double digits to one Florida foe, Jupiter. And as the offense went so went the team. The season started out 5-1 as they slipped by Benjamin 8-7 and easily handling PJP II 13-2 and PB Gardens 18-6. Those followed a solid road win over Vero in the opener. Going into the Boca game it was business as usual, but SA then went 3-5 over their next 8 games and did not score more than 8 goals in any of the losses. SA then got back on track with four straight until Boca finally knocked them off in the district final.
The biggest wild card in Florida lacrosse this year . . .
SA will be led by Addison Lutes up front with Peter Dykas distributing, with support from Sam Baker, Nick Diamond and Nick Iznaga. Brandt Guldin, Keith Mahler and Spanish River transfer Davis Diamond lead the midfield. Brian Fox, Owen Bezick and Tito Thompson will also help out. Alex Newhouse is as good as it gets in the faceoff circle and the physical presence of Jake Bargas will be felt on defense. Conlan O’Hara starts at LSM and Alex Heatzig returns at close defense. Harris Feldman and Andrew Busel become the next in a long line of great goaltenders manning the Scots’ cage. Senior middie Anthony Sciametta (VMI) transfers over from St. Thomas Aquinas.
————-
But the season has started with some unusual results.
Benjamin has given up 47 goals in 4 games. Last year they gave up double digits twice in 21 games. Let’s call it a work in progress. An All-American goalie and an All-American long pole don’t get replaced easily. And the loss to LHP was not a competitive result.
Saint Andrew’s owns a win over Oxbridge but has already lost to Stoneman Douglas and Vero Beach. When they come out strong they win, but that is not a full-time gig so far this year.
There’s plenty of firepower on Benjamin:
Andrew Packer, a Maryland commit on attack, joined by Kenyon commit Chris Erdmann and Rutgers commit Cameron Thompson.
Not bad.
Throw in Will Nicklaus at middie, a North Carolina Tar Heel and Colin O’Hare, going to Ohio State.
Patrick Clancy, Christian Cropp and Griffin Bowie all contribute.
Scoring should not be an issue.
Chris Erdmann 6g
Andrew Packer 7g 2a
Cam Thompson 8g 2a
Patrick Clancy 6g 1a
Will Nicklaus 4g 5a
Christian Cropp 4g 4a
Colin Ohare 5g 5a
Griffin Bowie 6g 1a
Plenty of balance
Bobby O’Leary has moved to close defense from midfield. Chris Raso looks to fill the shoes of departed LSM Jerry O’Connor while Shane Campbell and Chris O’Connor also start on close defense while Kyle Vincent will get the start in the goal.
