In a rematch of last year’s state championship game, American Heritage-Delray was denied a chance to defend their girls lacrosse state title.
Orlando-Lake Highland Prep got revenge for last year’s loss, defeating the Stallions 10-6.
“It was an unbelievable season, the chemistry on this team is insane,” American Heritage coach John McClain said. “But guess what? At the end of the day, they got us today. So now we’re 1-1 in these games. Can’t wait for next year.”
Thursday’s second semifinal was a low-scoring game, with the two teams scoring only 10 goals in the first half. Lake Highland Prep, ranked 11th in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, took a 6-4 lead into halftime.
The Stallions, ranked fifth in the nation, struggled with the Highlanders’ size and athleticism and never recovered after falling behind. Lake Highland Prep dominated possession and kept the ball out of American Heritage’s hands, playing keep-away and scoring the second half’s first three goals over the course of about seven minutes.
“We knew if they got up, they would do that, 100 percent,” McClain said.
The Highlanders, coached by Chris Robinson, who led Maryland powerhouse McDonogh to nine state championships, kept the Stallions’ two offensive threats in check. Junior attacker and North Carolina commit Caitlyn Wurzburger and senior attacker and Louisville signee Allegra Catalano scored only one goal each on Thursday.
Wurzburger, who has scored more than 100 goals in each of the last four seasons, didn’t score for the game’s first 37 minutes.
“I think we put all resources that we had towards those two,” Robinson said.
The Stallions as a whole struggled to take possession and get on the board, going 18 minutes and 43 seconds between their last goal in the first half and first goal in the second half.
Junior midfielder Jackie Norsworthy led the Highlanders with four goals.
Lake Highland Prep will face Benjamin, which defeated Oviedo-Hagerty, in the state championship game at 8 p.m. on Friday.
“This has been kind of a building process throughout the year,” Robinson said. “To come down here and beat Florida’s best — Delray’s just a phenomenal team and well-coached — to be able to do that is just an unbelievable accomplishment for the kids.”
