Community School of Naples lacrosse teams face top-ranked opponents in state semifinals

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Two local lacrosse teams are getting their shot at the best in the country.

Both the boys and girls teams at the Community School of Naples are making their state title run this week, but standing in their way are the number one nationally ranked programs. WINK News sports reporter Lauren Halpern spoke with the school about what they're up against.

Both teams have seen their state semifinal opponent in the regular season. CSN dropped both of those early matchups, but they hope to tell a different story this time around.

The program is growing from within and is now one step away. The seniors are feeling it.

"I think the best thing any athlete can, you know, ask for, is going out on top. And that's, it's been my dream and now all I want is that ring, and that's what we're looking for," Michael Slusar, a senior on the CSN boys lacrosse team and UPenn commit, said.

For the second straight season, both the boys and girls are sharing the stage and chasing history together. Neither program has won it all.

"Going out there and making a name for our school and being like, We are the Community School of Naples and we just won states, boys and girls, so letting people know who we are," Sophia Dapper, a senior on the CSN girls lacrosse team and Louisville commit, said.

Standing in their way are familiar foes. The boys lost to Saint Andrews in March, and the girls fell to American Heritage Delray in February.

"They're one of the best teams in the country, and that's without a doubt. They've got talent all over the field. You know, we have to play a close, as close to perfect game as we can," Keith Lee, head coach of the CSN boys lacrosse team, said.

Both teams believe they're not the same group that took those early losses. The players have grown together as a unit.

"We've grown up and become a unit. There's so many new girls who've joined, and now we're all just sort of formed as one, and it's just we're one big family," Dapper said.

Slusar is ready for the challenge ahead.

"Biggest game in my life, and I'm going out there, I'm gonna win. It's the only option," Slusar said.

Both games will be at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. The boys will face Saint Andrews on Thursday at 2:30 p.m., and the girls will face American Heritage on Friday, also at 2:30 p.m.