National HS Girls' Notebook: Vero Beach Drama
by Jeff Seidel | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
South
The strange saga of the Vero Beach girls’ lacrosse team took another turn last week.
TCPalm.com reported that Vero Beach, which won last year’s Florida state championship, now must give back back the trophy and pay a little over $11,000 in fines after the Indian River County School Board accepted a settlement with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) in a case involving the school and the team.
A suit was filed last spring after the team was ruled out of last year’s playoffs because it played too many teams outside of Florida. The school board and parents came together to earn a court injunction that let the Indians compete in the state tournament, which they eventually won.
The complaint was that the team played too many games out of Florida, but school administrators argued Vero Beach obeyed the rule if it added the varsity and JV games together. But now all references to the team being the champion will be erased.
TCPalm.com also reported that the Indian River County Board will put the team on probation through 2012. The Indians can’t go out of state to play, but still can compete in the state tournament.
Vero Beach is likely going to be the favorite once more, as it had a 14-0 record through the end of play last week.
Midwest
St. Ignatius (Ill.) truly has gotten off to a perfect start this spring. The team is 8-0 overall and has a 4-0 record in the Chicago Metro Conference division of the Illinois High School Women’s Lacrosse Association.
The Wolfpack has scored 60 goals (21, 18 and 21) in its last three victories -- each of which were routs. It’s been that way all season.
St. Ignatius has outscored its opponents by the lopsided score of 145-31 in its eight games. Only two of its contests have been close, and the Wolfpack won both of those by four goals.
The Wolfpack has seen plenty of success in recent years, winning the Chicago Metro Conference title in 2007 and 2008.
West
In Califonia, the Redondo girls kept rolling along last week with an easy 14-4 victory over Palos Verdes. Laxbuzz.com reported that Julia Denney’s six goals paced the winners and that Meesha Robinson helped with three more, while goalie Heather Czach stayed busy with 12 saves.
The victory improved Redondo to 9-0 this season, as the team hasn’t had anything resembling a close game at all this spring. The Sea Hawks are rolling over opponents with their powerful offense, averaging nearly 18 goals per game.
Mid-Atlantic
Howard County players are leading the way among individual goal scorers in the opening games of the 2010 season in Maryland.
The Washington Post’s top 10 for those scoring goals has four players from Howard County in central Maryland. Beth Glaros of Wilde Lake is first with 17 goals, just ahead of Katie Chase of Glenelg (16).
Chase helped Glenelg to a 16-12 victory over Marriotts Ridge last week by scoring four goals.
Lauren Groft from Howard is tied for fourth with six others, including Julia Joo. The whole group has totaled 11 goals in the first games of this season.
Northeast
The Christian Brothers Academy put on an offensive show in its 23-16 victory over LaFayette in Central New York Girls Lacrosse action recently.
Syracuse.com reported that Taylor Gait led the way for Christian Brothers with her seven-goal, four-assist performance. Gait finished with a very impressive 11 points, but teammates Taylor Poplawski (six goals) and Katie Webster (three goals, three assists) helped with six points apiece.
Natasha Grant helped with her three-goal, one-assist effort.
All of that good offense overwhelmed a spectacular game from Cassley Jackowski. She finished with seven goals and two assists in a losing effort. Emily Peebles was almost as good, ending up with six goals and one assist.
Jeff Seidel covers high school lacrosse for Lacrosse Magazine Online. Check back each week for his regional breakdown of what's what around nation. Submit notes or story ideas to jseid1234@aol.com.
