West Orange boys lacrosse enters district tournament undefeated | Observer Preps

The West Orange boys lacrosse team completed a perfect regular season last week, defeating Evans 19-1 April 11 to finish a 12-0 campaign.

The victory capped what has been a dominant regular-season campaign for the Warriors, who are the top-seed in this week's FHSAA District 11 Tournament, which they will host.

Veteran coach Bill Baker says it is the first time in program history that the feat has occurred, and credited his team's success to its mental approach from the outset of the season.

“I had a great meeting with our three senior captains at the beginning of the year, before practice and everything,” Baker said. “Last year, we had high expectations — and we fulfilled a lot of them. But the whole season last year felt like we had a lot of pressure that we created for ourselves. … I told them (this season) ‘my only expectation this year is that we have fun.’"

And have fun they have. Led by Syracuse signee Mikey Berkman,  the Warriors haven't just won all of their games — they have won them by an average margin of victory of 13.9 points.

Only one game — a 10-8 victory over Boone April 3 — was close.

Of course, Baker also acknowledged that a dominant regular season will be slightly less memorable if it is not followed by a district title.

“Our goal is to win the district, first and foremost,” Baker said. “It would take the shine off without that. But we’ve stepped up so much, especially in the last couple weeks.”

The Warriors will host Apopka (7-6) at 7 p.m. April 17 in the District 11 Semifinals. Earlier in the day, at 5 p.m., Lake Minneola (10-6) will take on Montverde Academy (11-3). The district final is scheduled for April 19 at 7 p.m.