Before we say what happened last night I need to say what didn’t.  It would be very easy to look at this result and talk all about what a big upset this was, and many in the internet world have already jumped the gun on it. But it wasn’t an upset. Boca Raton came close to taking down Saint Andrew’s in last year’s District Championship game, leading by two goals midway through the fourth quarter.  SA graduated more than Boca did and the only upset going into the season was that it took one week of this season to open the eyes of lacrosse fans, coaches and media HOW good Boca Raton could be this season.  Then they travelled north to Jacksonville and took down last season’s Final Four team Ponte Vedra on an ostensibly neutral site.  That should have been the early indicator to many and indeed we did move Boca up to #5 in the Media Poll the next week. Those who have watched both teams this year knew that this was going to be a beauty.  Regardless of the poll numbers before the season, when SA was #4 and Boca was out of the Top 10.  The way the teams matched up we got exactly what we thought; a low-scoring close game that came down to the final seconds. A game so good that even this reporter was feeling the nerves in the last two minutes just watching. And yes, we also saw history . . . the first District loss for SA, EVER.  The first loss against a Palm Beach County team, EVER. And now, on Thursday night, Jupiter hosts Boca Raton for the #1 ranking in the state . . . you aren’t reading that wrong.     Boca’s stifling defense held SA’s starting attack to just 2 goals and SA’s defense returned the favor by also limiting the Boca attack to 2.  This game was won by two things; Boca’s midfield (particularly Boca’s Nick McCabe-3G ) made one more play than SA’s and Boca goalie Matt Digney played the game of his young career, making 19 saves on 24 shots on goal, for a 79% save percentage.  SA’s goalie Connor Poetzinger pretty much matched him, saving 12 of 18 for a 67% save%.  The terrific defensive pressure helped out both goalies as many of the looks were from areas the attack was not quite comfortable shooting from as the offenses had an enormous issue with getting their hands extended while on balance.  And it was disciplined pressure with penalties at a minimum – 6 TOTAL penalties all game. Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler were cheering from above.  (Sorry kids if that reference is too far back for you!) So many times we look at a box score and focus on the goals and assists. Not this time. Want to really know what happened?  Check out caused turnovers.  And ground balls.  The ‘effort’ statistics.  Defended hands would be a good one if anyone ever thought of it.  Inside Lacrosse. And applaud the long poles and the short-stick defensive middie play.  So often they go under the radar.  Last night’s game was all about them.  Take a bow. The tone was set early in this one.  The teams combined for 16 turnovers in the first quarter and only 10 shots, but 8 of the 10 were on goal and many of the turnovers were two hyped-up teams trying to do a little too much with the ball, allowing the defense to cause turnovers.  And the score ended just as we started; 0-0 after one. SA scored the first goal of the game, with 9:59 left in the second.  Nate Low took Zach Schwartz’s feed from behind the right side of the cage while cutting down the right side and buried it from the right crease area on the short side to make it 1-0.  Boca responded 92 seconds later, with Nick McCabe’s first, unassisted on a solo effort, splitting two defenders down the middle and bouncing one past Poetzinger to tie it at 1.  With 2:44 left Addison Lutes made it 2-1 Scots on his own solo effort, dodging from the right wing towards the middle, beating a triple team and firing home a low, left-handed shot to take the teams to halftime.  SA dominated possession time and outshot Boca 13-3 in the quarter, but Digney’s 7 saves kept the game close and gave Boca confidence going into the break.  Boca did not help itself with 8 turnovers in the quarter as the offense showed some impatience. Those who remember last year’s playoff game would note that each coach had made some strategic changes from that game and the changes were working for both sides.  SA went to a zone to counter the spread out offense and back-door cuts that were so effective for Boca last year, and also concentrating on stopping Boca’s power attack as Boca was never really able to feed the crease the whole game.  The emphasis was on making the Boca midfield provide the offense.  Boca also countered strategically and because they were so confident in their close defense they were able to play an approach that tried to take away the alley dodges that SA has been effective with so far this season.  Both approaches led to this being a game where you really had to earn even a decent look at net and both teams executed defensively according to game plan.  

  The 3^rd quarter was where Boca won the game in retrospect.  Not on the scoreboard, although they did outscore SA 3-1 to take a 4-3 lead into the fourth.  But on how they adjusted and how they cut down on the mistakes.  SA played a clean third period too but hurt themselves with their shooting, only putting 3 of 10 shots on the cage with many of those being rushed efforts due to the defensive pressure.  Boca took 10 shots too but hit the cage 7 times and, after a 16-turnover first half had NONE for the 3^rd quarter, and it worked. At 10:07 Boca tied the game at 2 on Christian Mauro’s unassisted tally, curling from behind the left side of the goal after maneuvering for awhile, finishing off the crease, barely beating Poetzinger low.  At 9:32 SA’s Keith Mahler regained the lead at 3-2 with an unassisted dodge to the middle from the right wing, firing left-handed to the low corner.  Boca scored twice in 28 seconds later to take their first lead.  At 4:30 McCabe scored his second, taking a marvelous skip pass from Parker Giarratana.  The feed came from left goal line extended all the way across to the high right wing and McCabe fired home a hi-to-hi bullet to the far side.  At 4:02 Tripp Whitney took Brad Singer’s right crease feed and spun around with a defender all over him, depositing it in and we headed to the 4^th with Boca leading 4-3. There was a growing feeling in the stands among all the parents, students and fans that we were watching something special.  And the fourth quarter did not disappoint as the intensity somehow managed to pick up even further. Defenses again dominated the first 5-plus minutes of the fourth, as neither team could break through.  Digney was completely in the groove and SA was having trouble getting good looks.  SA’s defense also stepped it up and were back to turning over possession to give their team enough chances.  But it was Giarratana that shot the first dagger, with a gut-it-out power move to the cage from the right wing, eventually beating two SA long poles and patiently waiting until he had crossed beyond the crease, scoring left-handed with 6:23 left to stretch the lead to 5-3. Which brought us right back to last year’s district final.  Boca up 2 with about half the period left.  Just maybe that experience meant something this year?  

  Boca fans were immediately given a reminder of that game as Mahler scored his second with 5:07 left on another right wing laser spin shot into the far side top corner and it was a one-goal game again.  With FOGO Alex Newhouse controlling face-offs for SA the possession numbers favored a possible comeback.  But Boca’s McCabe took things into his own hands, literally too.  After running off some time near the sideline on the right side he took off and utilized his speed advantage, outracing his defender to goal line extended and then cutting across the crease before scoring left-handed with 3:48 left to make it 6-4.  But SA did not quit, and after another face-off win Brandt Guldin dodged to the middle from the left wing and fired home a 10-yard bounce shot to make it 6-5. Causing a lot of bitten nails in the crowd. And the intensity somehow managed to go to an even higher level. SA won the face-off again and maneuvered around but was turned away on a pressured cross-field pass to give the ball back to Boca.  Boca was not able to run out the clock and SA forced one last turnover with a little over a minute to go.  But Boca’s defense stiffened and SA was not able to get off a good shot, and when Boca was given possession with under 10 seconds to go everyone in attendance finally sensed how lucky they were to be there.  One final high-fling of the ball and the Boca bench erupted, as if the exorcism was finally over.  

  Last year, after the District Final, we wrote the following: “For these two teams they will live this out for a long time to come.  For Boca, it will always be known as the one that got away.  Kids, you will not be able to get this one out of your mind.  At your 50^th high school reunion you will all get together and after the polite talk of spouses, jobs, kids and maybe grandkids by then, the whiskey and beer will flow and you will spend 75% of the reunion talking about this game.  Don’t avoid it, embrace it.  Most kids don’t get to experience a moment like this.  And even though you came out on the short end of the result you did yourselves, your sport and your school proud.  For those of you who don’t go on to play lacrosse at the next level: what a memory you will have.” Kids, the beer will taste a lot better than I thought last year . . . and for those who played both games . . . WOW . . . memories squared. Both teams . . . thank you once again for showing why this sport is so great. No need for the stats this time.  To my chagrin I didn’t tally the ones that mattered the most anyhow. Thanks to Coaches Holly and Dawson for talking with me before and after the game.  After last year’s game I mentioned that they could go out for a beer and have fun discussing that one.  If Coach Dawson’s wife will let him get away one night after the season (congrats to the new born!) . . . I’m paying.