One team’s national streak is on the line; another team’s coach inspires from his wheelchair. A third is seeking a seventh title.
By any measure, today’s four state lacrosse finals — boys and girls games in Class AAAAA and A-AAAA — are expected to be compelling.
“This never gets old,” said Milton girls coach Tim Godby, whose two-time defending champion Eagles (17-4) will seek their seventh title when they face visiting Roswell (13-4-1) in a rematch of last year’s title game. “It’s just a matter of getting the job done again.”
The Lambert boys’ 41-game winning streak is the nation’s longest active streak, and a repeat championship against visiting Pope (16-3) could prove last year’s first title in any sport was no fluke. The Longhorns (21-0), a program in its third year, have outscored opponents by 10 on average and by eight (12-4) in three playoff games. They are eager to duplicate last year’s 14-7 victory against the Greyhounds.
“It has been amazing how quickly we’ve done so well,” Lambert athletic director Drew Ferrer said. “I knew we’d be competitive, but it has been very surprising to have done so well.”
McIntosh’s girls (14-1-1), who play Westminster (19-2), want a first championship for Mickey Beard, their assistant coach bound to a wheelchair by Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Chiefs have raised several thousand dollars to help fight Beard’s illness and realize a championship would improve his spirits.
“That look on his face when we got past the semifinals against Johns Creek was a look I’ll always cherish,” coach Nick Bellantoni said. “Winning a state championship would be icing on the cake.”
Milton’s boys (18-3) beat Lassiter (16-2) to win the state title in 2010 and look to win again on the road. But Brendan Leezer, Lassiter’s third coach in three years, hopes the momentum of nine consecutive victories can overcome four consecutive losses to Milton.
“This time will be a whole different game,” Leezer warned.
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