June 12, 2008

by Paul Ohanian, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

The boys' and girls' lacrosse teams at Ohio's Upper Arlington made it a clean sweep, as both teams won the state's Division I championships this week. The UA boys claimed their fifth straight title by defeating Kilbourne, 8-3, in the final. Leading by one in the third quarter, the Golden Bears scored the game's final four goals to secure their 11th crown in 17 years.

Meanwhile, the UA girls' turned the tables in a rematch from last year's state final by defeating defending champ Sycamore 14-8. Both Sycamore losses this season came against UA, which also ended Sycamore's 34-game winning streak earlier this season. Upper Arlington captured its fourth state championship in the last seven years and finished 20-2 overall.

No less dominating were the New Albany girls, who claimed their second straight Division II championship with a lopsided 21-2 victory over Lakota West in the final, and in the process, made a strong case for reclassification. Ohio's girls' lacrosse divisions, initiated last year, are currently determined by level of success, rather than school size.

Only one of New Albany's 11 games against D-II opponents this year was decided by fewer than 11 goals. The average margin of victory in those games was 16.6. The Eagles also finished 8-1 against the state's D-1 teams, and handed Upper Arlington its only in-state loss of the year.

"I thought this year we'll play Upper Arlington to see how we do against the top of the rung. From that point on, we can play with anybody in Ohio," New Albany coach Scott Hamilton told The Columbus Dispatch.

Ohio Schoolgirls' Lacrosse Commissioner Ernie Hartong concurred that realignment should be considered during the offseason and acknowledged that lopsided results can hinder the continued growth of the game.

"It takes the subjectivity out of it and, in the interest of fairness and growth of the sport, it's something we seriously need to consider," Hartong told the Dispatch.

Lakers Bounce Delbarton in Rubber Match

Having each beaten the other once this year, the rubber match between New Jersey boys' lacrosse rivals Mountain Lakes and Delbarton came in the final of the New Jersey Tournament of Champions on Saturday.

Last year, Delbarton had a chance to finish undefeated and possibly claim the nation's year-end No. 1 ranking, but lost to the spoiler Lakers in the TOC final. This year, Mountain Lakes entered with the gaudier record, standing 21-1, with its lone setback coming against Delbarton during the regular season. The Lakers had already avenged that loss with a victory over the Green Wave in the Morris County championship.

This time, there was no drama left for the final quarter. For the second straight year, Mountain Lakes slid away as the champion with a 12-6 win. The Lakers led 4-2 at halftime and broke the game open with a six-goal third quarter run while holding Delbarton scoreless in both the second and third quarters.

* There were no surprises among New Jersey's girls, as a familiar champion claimed the trophy once again. Moorestown won its ninth straight Tournament of Champions title and its 16th overall by defeating Chatham, 16-9, in the final. Moorestown finished another outstanding season with a 24-1 record, suffering its only defeat against Virginia's powerful St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in mid-April.

Working Overtime

Extra effort is becoming standard operating procedure for Connecticut's Fairfield Prep boys.

Two years ago, the Jesuits won the state title by playing four overtimes in the final against Norwalk. In last Saturday's final, Fairfield Prep went three overtimes before edging Ridgefield, 15-14, for its third straight Class L state championship. All three championship wins have come by one goal

"Our guys were tired and they were hot," Fairfield Prep coach Chris Smalkais told the Connecticut Post. "Everybody played right through it."

* Darien, the state's top-ranked team, won its fourth straight Connecticut Class M boys' title by defeating New Canaan. Darien finished the year 22-1 overall. New Fairfield finished as the state's only undefeated team, capping a 23-0 season with a 17-7 win over Weston in the Class S final.

Oh Brother

Michigan's Brother Rice strengthened its claim as the best boys' team in the Midwest by once again winning the state Division 1 championship. The Warriors rallied from a 5-3 deficit against Detroit Jesuit in the state final for a 16-8 victory, completing a 23-0 season with their fourth straight state title.

Garden Party

Most of Long Island's boys' and girls' championship games were postponed at least once (in some cases twice) earlier this week due to severe heat and weather conditions. One game was played as originally scheduled - the Class B girls' final - and Rocky Point probably wishes that it had been postponed as well.

Two-time defending state champion Garden City showed little mercy, as it scored the game's first nine goals against RP and rolled to a 20-12 victory. The 18-1 Trojans, whose only loss this year came against Maryland's Mount Hebron, return to the state's final four for the fourth straight season. "I knew we had the firepower to do it," Garden City coach Diane Chapman told Newsday. "To be able to get up like that...was a little shocking."

Garden City faces upstate's Niskayuna in Friday's Class B semifinal.

Central New York will also be well represented at this week's girls' final four in Cortland, with West Genesee (Class A), Carthage (Class B) and Skaneateles (Class C) each having earned a spot.