Benjamin boys lacrosse has done what no other team has done this year — they defeated Bolles.
The Buccaneers handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season during Thursday’s pivotal Class 1A state semifinal matchup, besting the Jacksonville-based program in a 12-4 win.
The victory sets Benjamin (15-5) up with a trip to the state title game, where they will face the winner of St. Andrew’s and Community School of Naples.
Bolles (23-1) took the opening seven faceoffs, but that was one of the only positives for the Bulldogs in the first half.
While Bolles struggled to figure out senior goalkeeper Tatum Little, Benjamin wasted no time in establishing dominance at the other end of the field. Campbell Hogan was the final recipient of clean passing around the perimeter, launching a missile into the net for the game’s first score.
It did not take long for Jack Kelleher to score a second, who paired with Matt Null to continue building their lead after repeatedly sneaking into open lanes to strike from close range.
The Benjamin defense was relentless. While Bolles’ offense routinely tried to find space around the side of the crease, Buccaneers defenders, led by Jake Ivancevic, refused to grant separation.
When the first half was said and done, Benjamin had built an 8-2 lead, buoying them into a comfortable second half and a 12-4 final victory.
The Buccaneers will now turn to Saturday with an opportunity to three-peat after state titles in each of the last two seasons.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Benjamin boys lacrosse dominant in state semifinal win over Bolles
