“The energy, enthusiasm, and heart these girls displayed was exactly the boost we need to play another day. I am so proud of them – the way they rallied together for the team unselfishly and came out on top was so beautiful to witness.” — Marissa Giacopuzzi, Lady Conchs head coach
The Lady Conchs lacrosse squad made it clear that one week can make all the difference, in their FHSAA 1A District 16 quarterfinal matchup with St. Brendan School. On March 31, the Sabres beat the Conchs by eight, but Key West used high spirits and impeccable timing to upset St. Brendan on April 8 despite trailing for a majority of the game. Coach Marissa Giacopuzzi said the team was, “locked and loaded looking for a redemption win,” and that’s just what they got.
The Sabres came out with fire and led by five goals at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Conchs fought back, narrowing the gap to two goals by halftime, then just one at the end of the third quarter. Key West hit the gas and never let up, taking the lead with three and a half minutes left in the game and holding on for the win.
MARISSA OWENS/Contributed
“Redemption wins are sweet,” said Giacopuzzi of the 10-9 quarterfinal victory that put the Conchs into the semis.
Mavis Bishop led the scoring with four goals. Teagan Shea netted three and Eisley Whitehead, Taylor Gibson and Colbie Turner accounted for the rest. Bishop and Althea Olsen picked up five ground balls each and Gibson added four in the big win.
On April 10, it was the Palmer Trinity Falcons who earned the sweet redemption win, defeating the Lady Conchs in the semifinals and earning a playoff bid. The Falcons got off to a furious 8-0 first quarter, leaving Key West with a deficit they could not overcome. The Conchs struggled with possession and took just eight shots on goal. Five found their mark, including three from Gibson and one each from Turner and Shea. Gibson was credited with an assist and Eisley Whitehead assisted on two in the 15-5 loss.
The defeat put the Lady Conchs at 7-9 for the season, and according to Giacopuzzi, the team will waste no time preparing for the next. “It’s what we do in the offseason that matters, what we do when no one is looking,” she said.
For the Lady ’Canes, the journey ended April 8 at Ransom Everglades. The Hurricanes, ranked seventh in the district, faced No. 2 Ransom in the quarterfinals, and despite a strong effort from the team, Coral Shores came up short, losing 19-6 to the Raiders.
For Monroe County’s two boys lacrosse teams, there was only room for one team to move on past round one of district play. The teams faced one another in the FHSAA 1A District quarterfinals April 10 in Key West’s Backyard.
ROCKY GONET/Keys Weekly
Key West led early and maintained that lead the entire game, outscoring the Hurricanes 14-5. Carlo Vernieri netted six goals to lead the Conchs in scoring. The junior captain also picked up nine ground balls in the matchup. Zach Payne scored three, Sawyer Hill logged two and Mateo Lopez, Max Louchheim and Kai Woods had one goal each. Lopez, the team’s starting goalkeeper, registered 13 saves before trading sticks and storming the field for his goal. While Lopez was taking shots offensively, Roger Mendoza covered the goalkeeping duties, saving two shots. Senior captain Kieran Smith was credited with one assist and picked up eight ground balls, and Raffie Rice and Brady Wright were dominant in faceoffs, with both winning more half. Rice won six and Wright five.
For Coral Shores, the loss meant the end of the road, but not before seniors Nathaniel Shugarman, Christian Gonzalez and Finn McDonough netted their final goals as Hurricanes. Shugarman scored two while Gonzalez added one goal, one assist and four ground balls. McDonough was good for two assists and three ground balls. Junior James Mitchell scored a pair of goals and senior goalkeeper Brock Bynum was tremendous in goal. Bynum picked up six ground balls and recorded 15 saves in his final high school game. The ’Canes ended with a solid 11-6 record.
Key West’s win kept them alive in the playoffs. They played Westminster Christian, the top-seeded team in the district, the following day in the semifinals. The Conchs did not have the same momentum that carried them past Coral Shores, and fell to the Warriors 13-6. Key West finished 11-5 in what head coach Alberto Piceno described as “a good season, overall.”
