High school lacrosse playoffs begin

High School Lacrosse

State playoffs

First Round: May 7-8

Quarterfinals: May 10-11

Semifinals: May14-15

Finals: May 18

Here are some story lines to watch when the state high school lacrosse playoffs begin Tuesday:

Both defending boys lacrosse champions are in the Class AAAAAA field and could meet in the quarterfinals. No. 2 Milton enters the bracket as the No. 1 team out of Area 2. Seventh-ranked Lambert, the state Class AAAAA-A champion last year, will travel to Hillgrove in the first round. Milton could receive an early challenge from Zach Cao and Collins Hill in Round 1.

No. 5 Chattahoochee, led by sophomore attackman Daniel Wilson and junior midfielder Jack Cioffi, enter the playoffs having won 10 of its last 11. Chattahoochee finished the regular season as the No. 2 team in Area 3, behind third-ranked Centennial. Harrison finished the regular season unbeaten in Area 1 play. Reed Stanton and No. 6 Mill Creek earned the top seed out of Area 4.

No. 2 Decatur must be considered a favorite in Class AAAAA-A after going unbeaten against its classification. Decatur's only two losses came to McCallie (Tenn.) and Class AAAAAA No. 1 Lassiter. Class AAAAA-A's top-ranked team, Northview, had only one in-state loss, a 17-16 defeat at Decatur in March. Seventh-ranked Lovett enters the playoffs on a roll, having won three of its last four, including a victory against Milton. Whit Anderson and Matthew Roush helped Greater Atlanta Christian make the postseason for the first time in program history.

The top-ranked Milton girls program has won three consecutive titles and seven since 2005. The Eagles appear ready to capture another after going undefeated against Georgia opponents this year, including beating No. 3 Walton and No. 8 Lassiter. Maddie Beck and Rachel Gunn pace fourth-ranked Mill Creek, which enters the postseason as the Area 4 No. 1 seed. The Hawks' defense has held 12 opponents to single digits. Darby Frisbie is a leading scorer for No. 9 Peachtree Ridge, and Megan Dreyer paces No. 7 Kennesaw Mountain.

Top-ranked Westminster enters the Class AAAAA-A girls bracket as the three-time defending champion and the Wildcats once again could take the title after an impressive regular season, including a championship at the prestigious Dogwood Girls Lacrosse Classic in early April. No. 5 McIntosh, the Area 1 champ, will have a tough opponent in the first round against Wesleyan, led by Natalie Genthert and Courtney O'Leary. No. 3 Cambridge and No. 10 Marist could challenge.