Lacrosse: American Heritage-Delray girls thump St. Thomas Aquinas, chase national ranking
DELRAY BEACH — Bling has a nice ring to it, but the girls of American Heritage-Delray lacrosse are wanting more at the halfway point of the season.
If an undefeated 9-0 record is any indicator after a 21-3 slashing of 2023 Class 2A state runner-up St. Thomas Aquinas, the Stallions look in firm contention to defend their status as 1A state champions.
Heritage-Delray is beating opponents by an average of over 12 goals per game. The Stallions have been beating opponents by more than 12 since coach John McClain started the program in 2014, collecting 165 wins against 16 losses — seven coming in the team's first two seasons, two in state semifinals, and two in the fight for the trophy.
"This team has a good vibe, but they're sort of like a cat," McClain said.
"They're chill, they're hanging out, and then all of a sudden they're like 'OK! Let's go!' "
McClain prefers the fire, a known loather of "complacency," which is arguably why over the past five seasons, Heritage has typically won by over 17 goals.
The crew's largest victory this season came against 2023 region semifinalist Bishop Moore (Orlando) in February, winning by 17.
Last week, Heritage's crew of Division I commits hit the road for probably one of its most meaningful wins in recent seasons. IMG Academy gave the crew its closest run of the year only to take an 11-7 loss.
Stallions stampeding competition
It seemed like the Stallions would have another close matchup earlier in the week when returning to their home turf for a meeting with reigning 2A champ Bartram Trail out of Orlando.
Then they were up 6-1 in the first quarter and 11-2 at halftime with a hat trick goal by Clemson signee Brooke Goldstein.
A number of starters were pulled for the second half, including sophomore goalie Ashley Egbert, and a seamless transition saw the Stallions persist for a final of 16-5.
"When I saw the score that they beat St. Thomas 14 to 1, I texted my captains and said, 'Hey, let's wake up. They're real,' " McClain said on Tuesday.
It's easy to think that teams would eventually stop volunteering to make the haul. Last month, Ponte Vedra made its way about five hours south. This week, Bryn Mawr will arrive to Delray Beach at risk of an even longer 18-hour trip back home to Baltimore.
However, one of the perks of being Heritage is knowing that in most scenarios, other teams are well aware if they want a piece, they'll have to come get it. And surely none would want to skip out on Heritage's weekly "Lacrosse Mom Dance Off" at halftime or theme nights. This week, at the least, the visiting team will get some laughs from the "Pitbull Night" the Stallions have planned so that they can win with the musical stylings of the Miami-born rapper in the background.
Then for spring break, the Stallions will make a trip to New York, where they'll face Eastport-South Manor and 2023 state champion Bayport-Blue Point, which ranks No. 2 in the country. When Heritage returns, the team will be home for the remainder of the season — and more than likely playoffs — with the exception of away games at Benjamin on April 2, and the April 5 regular-season finale at Hagerty (Oviedo), the original favorite to win the 2023 2A state title before a semifinal upset from Aquinas.
Heritage seeking national recognition
Sending teams on long journeys home, adding double-digit losses as carry-ons, is part of the fun for Heritage. But this season, a home-field advantage is a little more important with the schedule McClain stacked up, and the why behind the gantlet.
"We have our vision a little bit different this year," he said. "We want to take out Bayport. We want to vie for a good top 5 position, so we have to win them all."
Yes, the Stallions were nationally ranked last year. MaxPreps ranked Heritage-Delray at No. 1 in the country. However, the sport's most reputable outlets like Inside Lacrosse placed Heritage at No. 23 in its final national power rankings for the 2023 season.
Still pained by last spring's lone, one-goal loss to North Carolina state champion Cardinal Gibbons, the Stallions are defending the homestand that's been running since knowing that so much as a few missed shots could cost everything they've worked for this spring.
"That one hurt because we could've been top 5 in the country," McClain said.
Despite all of Heritage's wild successes, one of the only things the team hasn't accomplished is an undefeated record, unless one were to count an 8-0 finish during a pandemic-stricken 2020 season.
"But there's reasons behind everything," McClain said.
"If we went undefeated, would we have won states?"
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: American Heritage-Delray girls lacrosse wants more than state title
