The Community School of Naples girls lacrosse team executed their game plan nearly to perfection, but it wasn’t enough to take down one of the top programs in the country on Friday night.
American Heritage, the two-time reigning state champions, triumphed 12-3 in the Class 1A state semifinals with a strong defensive performance, holding the Seahawks to a season-low in scoring.
“This is one down, and we got another one,” American Heritage head coach John McClain said.
McClain credited his team’s defensive effort for the outcome as the team limited CSN to 13 shots on goal.
“The defense did a great job tonight running our zone, so it’s pretty special,” he said.
The Stallions scored a couple goals in the first three minutes, but the Seahawks settled in and proved their opponents were going to have to earn the victory.
Heritage led 4-1 at halftime, and the Seahawks cut it to 4-2 when junior Ruby Smith scored early in the third quarter.
The Stallions responded with three consecutive goals before pulling away in the fourth quarter.
“They gave us a little bit of a run there in the first half, so they’re a heck of a team,” McClain said. “They got amazing athletes over there. We don’t want to take them for granted at all. They’re a pretty special team.”Community School head coach Brett Queener explained that keeping the game low scoring was part of the approach coming into the game.
“The game plan was to try to hold possession as long as possible to make them earn goals on the 8-meter line and make saves, and we did that for three quarters,” he said.
The challenge was going up against what he described as one of the best defenses in the country, and the best goalie in junior Ashley Egbert, who came up with three saves.
“From that standpoint, we struggled a little bit with that because they double and they’re so athletic,” Queener said. “They stymied us tonight.”
McClain, who pointed out both teams took advantage of the rule in the game, advocated for a statewide rule change after the game.
“We need a shot clock in girls lacrosse in high school,” he said. “They have it up in Maryland – we need a shot clock.”
American Heritage junior Lily Svirsky posted three goals and two assists in the win, and junior Madison Vargas scored three goals and assisted on another.
Smith, Mia Metcalf, and Jillian Daley scored the Seahawks’ three goals.
Queener commended his team’s season, which saw the Seahawks reach the Final Four for the second time in program history.
“Just extremely proud of them and all they’ve accomplished,” he said. “They’ve done things that this program had not done before. They were able to win a regional championship at home. They were able to go into a fourth quarter against an elite team in the country and they were still in the game.”
The team will graduate five seniors in Daley, Stella Lynch, Sienna Wyatt, Kaitlyn Confer and Riley Confer.
“Out of the five, three are going to play college lacrosse at a high level, and they all were key contributors to the program,” Queener said. “Those five left community school of Naples a better place than when they found it.”
American Heritage (18-2) will face Lake Highland Prep (19-4) in the Class 1A state championship game on Saturday, May 10, 2025.