HIGH-SCHOOL

Lacrosse dynasty St. Andrews puts an end to Ponte Vedra's season

St. Andrews rolls over Sharks, 12-1

DANNY KLEIN
Ponte Vedra defender Chris Damm lines up to pass during Friday's state semifinals. The Sharks lost 12-1.

WINTER GARDEN - Lacrosse juggernaut St. Andrews handed Ponte Vedra a cruel welcome to the state's elite, ending a season full of memories with one the Sharks can't forget soon enough.

The Scots throttled Ponte Vedra 12-1 in the state semifinals on Friday at West Orange High School. Senior Mike Power scored the Sharks' lone goal with 4:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"They were great," Ponte Vedra coach Tom West said of St. Andrews. "There's a reason they've won what, 50 state championships. We had nothing to lose coming into this game. This is our third year of having a varsity program; I can't really complain."

Fifty is a bit of an exaggeration. It's actually 18, and it would be no surprise if that number reaches 19 with today's championship game.

Ponte Vedra (19-2) did little to halt St. Andrews' dominating run, which currently sits at 10 straight titles -- and all three of the Florida High School Athletic Association's officially sanctioned championships.

Ponte Vedra played well on defense but was uncharacteristically inept on offense.

The Sharks' possession attack was fractured by constant turnovers and an inability to find the middle of the field on scoring attempts. Almost all of the Sharks' shots came from stressed and small windows. St. Andrews prevented Ponte Vedra from establishing any rhythm from the opening possession.

Power was able to get the best looks throughout the game, but top scorer Brendan Francis, who netted 45 goals this season, never got off a clean shot.

The one goal tied the Sharks' worst output in its three seasons. They lost 10-1 to Nease in 2009.

"It was pretty much what we expected, but they played well and we played horrible," Power said.

"They're definitely a really good team, and it would have been a battle for us to win in the first place. But right from the start we weren't playing our best. It was tough."

Ponte Vedra joined Nease as the only county teams to reach this round. No North Florida team has ever made it beyond the semifinals.

To get there, someone is going to have to find a way to beat St. Andrews (17-1), a team that highlighted the growth of Ponte Vedra and also exposed how far it has left to go.

The Sharks have lost just three games in the past two seasons. This run started with the intention of avenging last year's early district semifinal exit to Bolles.

That mission was easily accomplished. The Sharks had two All-Americans in Power and Francis and six seniors headed to play at the college level next season. A pair of juniors have already committed, too. Needless to say, a foundation has been set.

"These seniors did a great job," West said. "It's going to be hard for these younger kids to follow in their footsteps. They've accomplished so much, and they've done a wonderful job establishing our program and building our program."

Ponte Vedra appeared to be hanging on in the early going against St. Andrews, but most of that can be attributed to junior goalie Conor Peaks.

After struggling at times against Tallahassee Leon in the second round of the playoffs, Peaks did everything he could to give the Sharks a shot.

St. Andrews scored four goals in every period but the fourth, where the Scots didn't score.

"They're really good at wearing you down; they don't stop," Peaks said. "... We need to keep this in the back of our minds and not let this happen again. We know how they play now."

The Sharks have come a long way in a short time.

The program went from literally nothing to a state semifinal in three seasons. That's something worth noting, no matter how bitter the final chapter.

"I'm definitely happy," Power said.

"It's a disappointing end but everything else we worked on is great. Our whole team is really close, and we're leaving a good legacy and a good start to a program. There will be more to come in the future."