PALM BEACH GARDENS – A day removed from Benjamin girls lacrosse defeating St. Edward's, the boys team followed suit.
A double dose of heartbreak for the visiting Pirates was cause for an equal helping of celebration for Benjamin, whose boys came out on top in Wednesday's 15-5 district title win.
Led by a dynamic underclassmen duo, the Bucs overcame a 3-3 tie in the first quarter to take control in a runaway second half.
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On offense, Jack Kelleher continued to make his case for freshman of the year by scoring four to lead Benjamin (16-1), bringing his total to a team-high 58 on the year.
“I can’t thank my offense enough,” Kelleher said. “We move the ball so fast. We work in practice hard enough and on the field it translates. I wouldn’t have half the goals I have without my offense moving the ball quickly and looking at me, knowing where I am. It’s a blessing with my offense.”
Part of that cohesion stems from the close bond that Kelleher shares with many of his teammates. In fact, many of the big names in Benjamin’s attack – Sean Sheehan, Jayden Vega, Caden Hayes, Campbell Hogan – were the same individuals that introduced a young Kelleher to lacrosse from the beginning.
“We’ve been together our whole lives,” Kelleher said. “I love the guys I surround myself with.”
That mark also represents the most goals scored by a freshman in head coach Peter Cordrey’s five-year tenure.
“Jack is, I don’t want to say he’s a unicorn, but he’s that lefty attackman that everybody is seeking out,” Cordrey said.
Kelleher added three assists to his total, while teammates Alex Ponchock, Sheehan, Sam Soloman, and Hogan each added two goals in the victory.
On the other end of the field, sophomore Tatum Little came up big, stonewalling the St. Edward's offense for most of the game.
The Pirates managed just five goals against Little, the lowest total of any game this season.
Just two of those goals came in the final three quarters of play.
“Well, a lot of those shots were saved because my defense played enormously, pushing them really far out and giving me a great opportunity,” Little said. “A lot of those saves wouldn’t have happened without my defense.”
The win – in addition to securing a banner and associated hardware – cements Benjamin’s position in the regional tournament, and while Cordrey is more interested in pursuing the process rather than the result, no one can argue that a trip to Naples looms as a possibility.
“We try not to focus too much on outcomes,” Cordrey said. “But I think as long as we’re getting better in practice, we’re moving the bar higher, and we’re working really hard, who knows. We hope to get to Naples and we hope to do well there.”
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