The Ponte Vedra Sharks continued their relentless pursuit of the state lacrosse championship last week, posting second and third round play-in wins against Lake Brantley and Maclay—their 23rd and 24th straight wins of the 2016 season without a defeat.
The Sharks put away Lake Brantley 16-5 April 19 at the Shark Tank, then Saturday traveled to Tallahassee to eliminate Maclay from title competition, winning 8-4. The pair of wins give the Sharks their fifth regional title in six years and send them to the state final four round against Lake Highland Prep, the three-time defending state champions, on April 29 at Jupiter High School Stadium. Earlier in the season, the Sharks stopped the Highlanders by a score of 11-6.
During their 24-game winning streak, the Sharks have allowed just 6.1 goals per game and score at a rate of 16.5 goals per game—averages that are among the leaders in Florida high school teams.
Shark scorers against Lake Brantley included Ben Buchanan with four goals and one assist, Clay Welch with three goals, Reid Smith with two goals and five assists, Matt Keeler with two goals and four assists, Andrew O’Dare with two goals and Jack Burke with two goals.
Against Maclay, Smith scored two goals and had five assists, Keeler had two goals and one assist and Buchanan, O’Dare, Burke and CD James each scored a goal.
Should Ponte Vedra defeat the Highlanders, they will meet the winner of the Benjamin (Palm Beach Gardens) vs. St Thomas Aquinas (Ft Lauderdale).
