First round of lacrosse state playoffs set for Friday

FHSAA Lacrosse State Playoffs

Here is the schedule for Friday’s First Round Play-In Games:

BOYS

Dr. Phillips vs. West Orange (at Dr. Phillips), 5:30 p.m.

GIRLS

Olympia at Tampa Plant, 7 p.m.

Timber Creek at Dr. Phillips, 7:30 p.m.

Winners will compete in the second round play-in games at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21.

—

A busy week of district tournaments in boys and girls lacrosse saw four champions crowned from within the coverage area of the West Orange Times & Observer last week — an especially important distinction, as lacrosse is one of only a few FHSAA-sanctioned sports where only district champions advance to the state playoffs, as opposed to district champions and runners-up in most others.

Now, Olympia's girls team (16-2), Dr. Phillips boys (15-5) and girls teams (15-2), as well as West Orange's boys team (12-6), are all preparing for their respective First Round Play-In matches on Friday in the single-classification sport's tournament.

Dr. Phillips will be hosting two games on Friday, with the boys playing at 5:30 p.m. against West Orange and the girls playing at 7:30 p.m. against Timber Creek.

The boys  game had originally been seeded with West Orange as the host, but because of the Warriors' unplayable synthetic turf field, the game had to be hosted by the Panthers, instead. Dr. Phillips defeated West Orange on March 13, 19-6, but the Panthers are expecting a much tougher battle this time around.

“West Orange is always a very highly emotional game for everybody,” DP head coach Charlie Battaglini said. “It’s pretty much a big rivalry game for us. We’ve played them very close in the past years.”

Olympia picked up its first district title under first year coach and former player Elyse DeLisle with a win over the West Orange Warriors, but the Titans are certainly not content. Olympia will travel to take on Tampa Plant at 7 p.m.

“I have my sights set higher for them, and they know that,” DeLisle said. “I think they’re feeding off of that and feeding off of each other.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].