The 2024 high school lacrosse season heads to its state tournament phase beginning with regional play this week.
Entering their opening tourney games, three area teams in particular will be riding momentum coming off of memorable regular-season finishes.
Ottawa Hills girls undefeated
Before starting tourney play, the Ottawa Hills girls team of fifth-year head coach John DeMilt looks to cap an unbeaten regular season Monday at home against Northview.
The Green Bears (13-0), who finished 9-7 last season, have improved impressively riding a veteran senior-dominated lineup led offensively by midfielder Emme DeMilt (57 goals, 33 assists) and Skylar Silk (56 goals, 5 assists).
On the back end, Ottawa Hills is paced by goalie Colleen Kelley and defenders Lila Smith and Maren George.
“All but one of the seniors I've had for at least six years now, and some of them I've been coaching since they were in fourth grade,” coach DeMilt said of the team's veteran chemistry. “This is my ninth season with some of these girls. We put together a local Ottawa Hills [youth] team and played in the Sylvania leagues.
“The key to this team is the combination of maturity and familiarity. We've had them long enough to where they know how to play with each other and play the system we run because we've been running that forever. It's just clicking this year. It's a very strong group of players, and they all interact with each really well.”
The Green Bears, who start nine seniors and three juniors, have outscored foes 198-60 (15.2 to 4.6 per game), tallying 12 or more goals in every game, and surrendering more than 10 only once, that in a 14-11 win at Troy.
“They are not under any offensive restrictions,” the coach said of his team's potent offense. “The minute we get up and go, we try to score. We defend the [opponents'] clear, which you could call a press because it looks like a basketball press at times.
“We are very aggressive when the other team has the ball and is trying to move it up the field. We try to force a lot of chaos and turnovers, and they are under no restrictions to go. We don't have a settled offense. We want to get it down the field and in the back of the net as fast as we can.”
Kelley plans to continue her lacrosse career at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind. Emme DeMilt intends to play club lacrosse at Miami (Ohio).
Ottawa Hills, which is seeded No. 5 in the 21-team Division II, Region 5 bracket, drew a first-round bye and will open tournament play May 21 at 7 p.m. at home against No. 20 seed Maumee Valley.
A win in that game would earn the Green Bears a third-round matchup, most likely on the road against No. 3 seed Walsh Jesuit on May 23.
“Our goal from the beginning of the year was to win two playoff games and get to the regional semifinals,” coach DeMilt said. “We have never achieved that before. “It's an ambitious path. Walsh Jesuit is a very good team. They only have one loss, so it's not going to be an easy pass. We want to get one step past where we've been in the past.”
4 in a row for Perrysburg boys
The Perrysburg boys (7-6, 6-0) secured their fourth straight Northern Lakes League championship, this year running the table in league play.
As it turned out, the Yellow Jackets' NLL opener, a tight 12-11 win over rival Anthony Wayne (9-4, 5-1) on April 9, ultimately decided the league title.
With a relatively young roster, the Jackets of second-year head coach Baily Weathewax feature a lineup that blends all classes on a 34-player varsity.
Leading the way have been senior faceoff specialist Alex Birch, who has set four school faceoff records this season, and junior goalie Nate Ettore.
They are well complemented by junior midfielder/attacker Zach Schroeder (25 goals, 7 assists), sophomore defenseman Sam Smith (15 forced turnovers), and freshman attacker Liam Thompson (26 goals, 20 assists).
Only two of the six seniors on the roster are regular starters.
“It's been a great journey,” Weatherwax said of extended the string of league titles. “One of our goals when we set this year was to continue that NLL win streak, and to be able to do it at 6-0 is fantastic. During my tenure here, we had never clean-sweeped the NLL.”
Weatherwax, who played lacrosse at Chelsea (Mich.) High School and at Defiance College, previously served two years as Perrysburg's assistant coach.
“The league has gotten stronger as we've added a few teams that are showing to be forces in the coming seasons,” he said. “With a young team, it's been exciting to have the younger guys get a lot more reps, and we're scheduling more regional games than we ever had in the past. That's helped us with our NLL play. It's the hardest schedule we've seen since I've the head coach.”
The Yellow Jackets, seeded No. 15 in Division I, Region 1, open tourney play at home on Wednesday against No. 18 seed Marysville at 7 p.m. A win would pit Perrysburg against No. 2 seed Dublin Jerome on May 21.
“The best part about being the 15th seed is that everybody will be counting us out,” Weatherwax said, “so we're going to use that to our advantage and use that as fire.”
A first for Anthony Wayne girls
The NLL girls lacrosse championship was won for the first time this year by the Anthony Wayne Generals (11-4, 5-0) of third-year head coach Tiffany Tully.
“It means a great deal,” Tully said of AW claiming its first girls league title. “I came into the program when the current seniors were freshmen. I was an assistant coach just there to help out. We had one coach who was trying to take care of it all. “I was asked to step in an help out and try to build the program. So, for us to do this four years later is a pretty phenomenal experience, for sure.”
The Generals have been led on the field by senior attacker Peyton Tully (64 goals, 29 assists), and the junior quartet of goalie Ana Layson, attacker Lauren McGurk (32 goals, 7 assists), midfielder Autumn Navarre, and defender Addi Grooms.
Three current senior AW players will continue their lacrosse careers at the next level — defender Emma Knapp at Limestone (S.C.) College and attacker Ava Pieron and defender Kendall Puls at Siena Heights University in Michigan.
“The key, honestly, is that we only focus on the fundamentals each and every day,' coach Tully said, “from our brand-new girls to the three girls who are going to college to play. We refer back to the fundamentals of the sports and are trying to teach athleticism.
“We spend the first 45 minutes of practice just working on footwork and movement, and how important it is to keep your feet moving and keeping your position. We say 'position over possession,' and that's getting you feet in the right place before making a lacrosse move.”
The Generals, who are the No. 8 seed in the 17-team Division I, Region 2 bracket, open tourney play with a home match Friday at 7 p.m. against fellow league member Northview. AW defeated the Wildcats 15-1 in NLL play last Wednesday.
A win would send the Generals to a Region 2 quarterfinal on the road against either No. 3 North Canton Hoover or No. 6 Shaker Heights on May 22.
“We're going to go one game at a time,” coach Tully said the team's tourney goal. “At this point, we're doing nothing but setting records for ourselves, and for the school — hence the NLL championship. That was kind of a historical moment, which is a cool feeling.”
■ TOURNAMENT MATCHUPS
Opening games for area teams
■ (Boys Division I, Region 1)
No. 18 Marysville at No. 15 Perrysburg, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 17 Findlay at No. 16 Sunbury Big Walnut, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 19 Northview at No. 14 Strongsville, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Anthony Wayne at No. 7 Brunswick, May 21, 7 p.m.
■ (Boys Division II, Region 5)
No. 17 Bowling Green at No. 6 Ottawa Hills, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
No. 18 Clay at No. 11 Bay Village Bay, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Hills/Bowling Green winner at No. 3 St. Francis, Thursday, 7 p.m.
No. 12 Southview at No. 7 St. John's, Thursday, 7 p.m.
■ (Girls Division I, Region 1)
No. 15 Findlay at No. 2 Powell Olentangy Liberty, Friday, 7 p.m.
■ (Girls Division I, Region 2)
No. 16 Perrysburg at No. 5 Massillon Jackson, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Northview at No. 8 Anthony Wayne, Friday, 7 p.m.
■ (Girls Division II, Region 5)
No. 17 Notre Dame at No. 14 Southview, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
No. 16 St. Ursula at No. 15 Medina Highland, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 18 Central Catholic at No. 7 Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
No. 20 Maumee Valley at No. 5 Ottawa Hills, May 21, 7 p.m.
No. 21 Parma Heights Holy Name at No. 9 Clay, May 21, 7 p.m.
Most Popular
Comments / 0