The 2016 Florida High School Lacrosse State Championships will be played at Jupiter High School (500 North Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458) this weekend.  The girls state semifinals are at 1 p.m. (Olympia vs. Bartram Trail) and 3 p.m. (American Heritage vs. Vero Beach) on Friday, April 29.  The boys state semis will follow at 5 p.m. (Lake Highland Prep vs. Ponte Vedra) and 7 p.m. (St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Benjamin).

The state finals will be broadcast live on Bright House Sports Network on Saturday, April 30.  Rishi Barran and former UCF women’s lacrosse coach Tom Hopkins will call the Girls State Championship at 4:05 p.m. that Saturday afternoon.  The Boys State Championship will follow at 7:05 p.m. with Rishi Barran and former UCF men’s lacrosse coach John Drehoff on the call.  You can also tune in on the BHTV app or watch online at bhsnlive.com.

Here are capsules of all of the teams who have reached the State Final Four:

GIRLS:

Vero Beach Fighting Indians (18-4):

Vero Beach is back in the Final Four for the 11th straight year with hopes of winning their seventh consecutive FHSAA state championship (9th if you include their vacated title in 2009 for playing too many games out of state).  The Fighting Indians are much younger than usual with eight sophomores potentially in the starting lineup.  Vero Beach faced another top-tier schedule against national powers, but lost in the state of Florida for the first time since 2007 (L to Bishop Moore, 14-6, on 2/11).  Vero Beach is led by senior captain/middie Megan Gorman (44 G, 14 A, 116 Draw Controls) and is explosive as always offensively.  The Fighting Indians have also have a trio of talented sophomores at attack: Gabby Sposato (63 G, 12 A), University of Florida commit Maddie Ellis (42 G, 17 A), and Gracie Martin (22 G, 43 A).  Senior Lauren London (33 G, 35 A) is another go-to scorer, while sophomore Lexie Patton (113 SV) has been reliable in her first season as a starter.

 

American Heritage Stallions (20-2):

American Heritage has rolled all the way to the state semifinals in just its second season with a girls lacrosse program.  The Stallions lost just two games, both against premiere opponents (Lake Highland Prep, reigning 2x state runner-up Ponte Vedra).  American Heritage boasts two of the most productive scorers in the state in 8th grader Caitlyn Wurzburger (97 G, 101 A) and freshman Allegra Catalano at attack.  Sophomore middie Kristen Zenor (22 G, 11 A, 125 Draw Controls) is a master at getting the Stallions possession.  Freshman goalie Lauren Bradshaw (119 SV) has done an admirable job between the pipes for this young but talented team.

 

Bartram Trail Bears (17-6):

Bartram Trail has made an impressive run through the postseason bracket in spite of being without senior captains Jocelyn Pena and Sara Tomasello, who are both out for the season with injuries.  The Bears missed the playoffs the past two years due to District Final losses to Ponte Vedra, which advanced to the state title game both seasons.  But the Bears got revenge this season and have picked up three solid wins in their first playoff appearance since reaching the state final in 2013.  Bartram trail has a trio of 100 point scorers: senior attacker Lexi Marcionette (school-record 102 G, school-record 60 A), senior captain/middie Lauren Tybor (86 G, 28 A, 190 Draw Controls), and junior attacker Mya Watson (86 G, 27 A).  Tybor is also one of top players at winning draw controls in the nation, and she’s the key to Bartrum Trail’s complex backer defense.  Freshman defender MJ Manhurz is a playmaker, and senior goalie Chloe Zador (128 Saves) has had some great games.

 

Olympia Titans (21-2):

Olympia earned its third straight Final Four appearance with a thrilling one goal win over Lake Highland Prep in the Regional Final.  The Titans lost in the state semis to Ponte Vedra in each of the past two seasons, but they won’t have to face the Sharks this year.  Identical twins Ashley (73 G, 71 A) and Brittany Matthews (53 G, 24 A) will both play at UCF next season and make a dynamic duo.  Sophomore middie Finley Cassidy (63 G, 16 A, 189 Draw Controls) is another big-time scorer who dominates draws.  Sophomore Erin Collier (46 G, 9 A) and junior Riley Reagan (40 G, 66 A) add to the Titans offensive charge, while Merrimack College commit Tatiana Barnes (64 Saves) is a great athlete in the cage.

 

BOYS:

Lake Highland Prep Highlanders (12-8):

Lake Highland Prep’s quest for a fourth straight state title will be tested against some outstanding competition.  The Highlanders are in the Final Four for the eighth straight year in spite of losing three of their first four games.  LHP faced another fierce schedule full of talented out of state foes, but like Vero Beach, the Highlanders saw a long winning streak come to an end.  They lost to a team from Central Florida for the first time since 2009 (Lake Brantley, 15-12).  Lake Highland Prep lost all three starting attackmen, two starting middies, and two starting defensemen from last year’s championship squad.  But they’re still loaded with good players.  A fairly balanced offense is led by sophomore attackman Christian Cisneros (57 G, 31 A) and senior captain/middie Jackson Colling (38 G, 17 A).  The Boston University bound Colling was the BHSN player of the game in last year’s thrilling 13-11 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in the championship game.  Senior captain Earl Eidson is a shut down defenseman, while senior captain Austin Farwell is a great goalie who has come through consistently in 2016.

 

Ponte Vedra Sharks (22-0):

After a one year absence, Ponte Vedra is back in the Final Four for the fourth time in five years.  The Sharks are undefeated so far, with a five goal win over Lake Highland Prep already in hand.  They’ve scored at least ten goals in every game, and they’ve only allowed more than ten three times in 22 games.  Senior attackmen Reid Smith (68 G, 62 A- signed with Gettysburg) and Matthew Keeler (60 G, 30 A) work well with each other and can score in bunches.  Junior middie and Towson commit Andrew O’Dare (42 G, 9 A) is a threat from up top and a solid faceoff man.  Junior Clay Welch (36 G, 8 A) is committed to Binghamton, while sophomore goalie Wyatt Schupler looks like a star in the making.

Benjamin Buccaneers (15-5):

Benjamin reached the State Final two years ago, and the Buccaneers have eight players from that team back and in the starting lineup.  The attack position is loaded with senior captain Andrew Packer (46 G, 22 A- signed with Maryland), southpaw senior captain Cameron Thompson (39 G, 27 A- signed with Gettysburg College), and junior Griffin Bowie (45 G, 19 A).  The Bucs are just as well armed in the midfield with senior Colin O’Hare (23 G, 16 A- signed with Ohio State) and juniors Christian Cropp (13 G, 2 A- committed to Yale) and Michael Buttelman (13 G, 4 A).  Senior defenseman West Rudolph played in the title game as a freshman, while senior captain Chris Rasso is another talented leader.  Austin Michaels (149 Saves) has also been a key part of Benjamin’s success.

St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (17-0):

St. Thomas Aquinas took an undefeated record into the state championship game last year and is back for its third straight Final Four.  The Raiders lost a tight game to Lake Highland Prep in the 2016 final (13-11), and while this year’s team has a lot of new faces, several veteran stars return.  Three-time All-American Louie Yovino (25 G, 11 A- signed with Furman) is the reigning Miami Herald Player of the Year.  Senior captain Mikey Adler (59% SV, St. Joseph’s commit) is another All-American who makes some incredible plays from his goalie spot.  Kevin Crowley (45 G, 22 A- Hofstra commit and son of head coach Terry Crowley) has filled his brother J.P.’s shoes as the team’s primary scoring option since J.P. graduated and moved on to Towson University.  Senior Sam Khalil (36 G, 26 A) and junior Jimmy Harrington (34 G, 9 A) nicely round out the attack, while West Point commit St. John Proulx is a sound defenseman.