On March 2nd, our boys’ lacrosse team put up a tough fight with Naples High School. The boys had high hopes of winning this game. In years past, the boys’ lacrosse team has lost every game against Naples. Before the game started, head coach Doug Hill told the team, “This is a very winnable game. We may have lost in previous years, but we are bound to win against them.” In this game, the boys, especially the senior boys, wanted to win not only for the team but also for the school. 

The boys wanted to set the tone on the first face-off by winning it and getting the ball straight to the offense. Right off the start, both teams scored a goal. The boys knew that it would be a tough game in the first quarter. By the end of the first quarter, the boys were tied 2 to 2. 

In the second quarter, the boys were certain they could win after being tied in the first quarter. At the beginning of the second quarter, the boys started losing momentum, and the offense stopped taking possession of the ball. This caused the defense to have a lot of pressure on them. The defense let up 3 goals on them. By the end of the 2nd quarter, the boys started to bring their game back up and had no goals scored on them.

At halftime, the score was 2 to 5. Although the boys were down, they were not going to give up. Captain Noah Smith said at halftime to the team, “Come on, guys. We’re still in this and can win this.” The team, encouraged by their captain, was ready to finish the second half of the game. 

In the third quarter, both teams put up a hard fight. The MIA defense kept getting pressured by the Naples offense and let a goal through. MIA wasn’t going to give up, though. As soon as Naples scored, MIA scored not long after. Towards the end of the third quarter, Naples scored another goal. Naples ended the quarter with a total of 7, while MIA ended the quarter with 3.

During the fourth quarter, the MIA boys were not going to give up. Due to the pressure of being in the fourth quarter, both teams ended up getting penalties. A Naples player would slash and be sent to the penalty box, but so did a MIA player. Naples scored once more after they were a man up on MIA. MIA scored once more after Naples got another penalty. Towards the end of the quarter, Naples scored once more.

Ultimately, MIA lost 4 to 9. Although the boys have lost this game, they will continue to try their best to win the rest of their games this season. Come support the Marco Island Academy boys’ lacrosse team at their next home game for their senior night against Lely High School.