No. 7 Boys’ Latin defeats Saint Andrews (FL), 11–7. Lakers go 2–0 on Spring Break trip to begin the season.

The spring break trip to Florida every March is a way for the Boys’ Latin lacrosse team to build chemistry.

On Tuesday night, in the Lakers game against a tough Saint Andrews team, Boys’ Latin looked like they’re clicking on all cylinders.

The defense made solid checks and created turnovers. Goalie play was superb. And the offense looks to be in mid-season form. Especially attackman Luke Shilling (4 goals) and senior midfielder Koby Russell (1 goal, 1 assist) as the Lakers defeated the Scots 11–7.

It was a beautiful Florida night with two competitive teams playing under the lights, both trying to figure what the team identity is going forward.

Russell, who is committed to High Point, said Tuesday nights game was about being relentless and working hard as a team. “It’s about getting to the ground balls and finding our second wind. And that is what won us this game. We came out pumped and fired up. We came ready to play.”

Boys’ Latin’s offense was silent for most of the third quarter, hanging onto a 5–3 lead. Then both teams exchanged goals heading into the final quarter.

Then right off the opening faceoff, Jake Glatz scooped up the ball and hustled to the goal and ripped a shot to score. And as Russell said, BL found their second wind. Shilling and Matt Brandau dished in a pair.

Followed a couple from Saint Andrews from Tito Thompson and Matt Adams.

But Shilling was on fire in the fourth quarter. Going 3-for-3 on shots on goal. And Boys’ Latin would come away with their second win on the season.

Scots head coach Tony Seaman said his team had opportunities to score but shots either hit the pipe or they were swallowed up by Boys’ Latin goalie Chris Brandau (14 saves).

“That’s a really good team we just played,” said Lakers head coach Brian Farrell. Their players had a ton of heart and they scrapped, they really did. But I’m really proud of our guys. They didn’t panic and I knew they’d go on a run.”

After defeating Oxbridge Academy and Saint Andrews, Boys’ Latin will head back up to the chilly north on Wednesday to get ready to face Hill Academy (the No.2 team in the TopLaxRecruits C2C Boys North America Lacrosse Rankings) this Sunday at home.

Farrell conveyed how this first month of out-of-conference schedule is designed to get his team ready for the MIAA-A conference competition, “our boys just need to focus on getting some rest tonight and get home tomorrow and get ready for practice on Friday. That’s how we’re going to approach it. Once we start playing those teams it will make us better (for the league schedule).”