Prep boys lacrosse: Strong third period propels Barron Collier boys over Naples

The last time the Barron Collier and Naples boys high school lacrosse teams met, the Golden Eagles bested the Cougars for the first time in their program’s history.

With the District 20 championship on the line Thursday night, the Cougars used a dominant third period to defeat the Eagles 11-7 at Barron Collier.

“Naples played their hearts off in that game and they’re a good team,” Barron Collier coach John Sivillo said. “I’m glad that we won, but we still have stuff to improve on.”

Naples boys lacrosse team making history in '18

The Cougars will play at Gulf Coast in the regional quarterfinal round next Friday.

“We have a good solid week of practice ahead of us,” Sivillo said. “Gulf Coast is an excellent team, and we’re going to keep pushing our guys to elevate their game so we can beat them.”

Lacrosse: Doyle, Gulf Coast win District 19

Jake Kuhlman led six different Cougar scorers with a hat trick, while Jake Scuderi and Brice Cousins contributed two goals apiece.

“We obviously really wanted to beat Naples since they beat us last time,” Kuhlman said. “I’m glad we were able to come out and finish it in the end.”

Christian Drouin led the Eagles with four goals in the first half, and Macky Peck added two goals.

“Our guys they left everything on the field and played their hearts out,” Naples coach Jamie Stoddard said. “Lacrosse is a game of runs. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t and they just got a run at the right time.”

In a back-and-forth first half that had multiple lead changes and ended with Barron ahead 6-5, the Cougars came out of the break on fire.

Kuhlman scored two goals to increase the Cougars’ lead.

“We went up by one going into the half and we just thought it was way too close,” Kuhlman said. “We came out at halftime wanting to put some goals in real quick and then slow down the play.”

Will Asher and Scuderi found the back of the net in quick succession to cap off a four-goal third period.  

Peck scored two goals in the fourth period to try and spark a comeback for the Eagles, but the Cougars slowed down the tempo and kept the Eagles out of their half.

“It came down to game management after that strong third,” Sivillo said. “We knew that we had to start chipping away at the clock. We made sure we maintained that difference and not get throw into a stall warning.”

BOYS LACROSSE

District 19

Monday

at Palmetto Ridge

Game 1 -- (2) Immokalee 21, (3) Golden Gate 0; Game 2 -- (1) Gulf Coast 15, (4) Palmetto Ridge 0

Wednesday

Championship,  (1) Gulf Coast 17, (2) Immokalee 4

District 20

at Barron Collier

Tuesday

Game 1 -- (2) Barron Collier 14, (3) Community School 0; Game 2 -- (1) Naples 24, (4) Lely 4

Thursday

Championship, (2) Barron Collier 11, (1) Naples 7

Regional quarterfinal

Friday, April 27

Barron Collier at Gulf Coast, 7 p.m.