Lacrosse playoffs change; Milton girls don't

By Michael Alpert

For the AJC

High school lacrosse has changed. Tuesday the sport begins its first year of separate state playoffs for Class AAAAA and Class A/AAAA teams.

The Milton girls have not changed. The Eagles are the state's only team to reach all five of the all-classification finals. They won championships the first four years and finished second last season.

"We prepare with [making the finals] in mind from the very start of the season in practice," Eagles coach Tim Godby said. "Our expectation is to not only play in the final every year but, obviously, to win it."

Milton's title streak was ended last year by Chattahoochee, 9-7. Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Area 3-AAAAA champion Eagles (14-1-3) embark on another playoff run by hosting Area 1-AAAAA's fourth-place East Coweta. With Bailey Anders in goal, midfielder Marissa Hardy and attacker Allie Ware hope to lead the Eagles into the May 15 finals by building on their combined 130 goals.

Chattahoochee's girls (13-1-2) and Lovett's boys (11-6) are back to defend titles. The Cougars, winners of Area 4-AAAAA, host Kell, the fourth qualifier from Area 2-AAAAA, on Wednesday. The Lions, winners of Area 1-A-AAAA, play North Springs, the fourth seed from Area 3-A-AAAA.

West Forsyth's girls enter the playoffs as the state's only unbeaten team. Seeded first from Area 3-A/AAAA, the Wolverines put their 17-0 record to the test Tuesday against Starr's Mill, seeded fourth from Area 1-A/AAAA.

Playoff separation between the biggest schools and smaller ones has met with mixed reaction.

"[Two divisions] could help support the sport's growth, because more teams than ever are getting into the playoff experience," he said. "Then again, it waters things down a little to have 32 teams in [each division's] playoffs. That's about half the schools that have teams."

Class AAAAA and A/AAAA lacrosse playoffs

When: Tuesday through May 15

Where: Various sites

2009 all-classification champions: Lovett boys, Chattahoochee girls