Winter Park, Lake Highland Prep seek state titles

Florida High School Athletic Association runners-up a year ago, Winter Park boys and Lake Highland Prep girls lacrosse teams are back in the state final four this week.

Winter Park (19-2) plays Ponte Vedra (18-3) in a Class 2A semifinal Thursday at 7 p.m. Lake Highland (16-2) faces Episcopal School of Jacksonville (19-3) in a 1A semi Friday at 3 p.m.

FHSAA state tournament matches take place at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples. Semifinal winners advance to championship games Saturday.

Admission is $8 in advance and $11 on day of the event. Tickets are available exclusively at the GoFan. co app and will not be sold at the stadium. Parking is $10.

All state semifinal and final games will steam live online for a fee at NFHS Network.

Thursday

Class 2A Boys semifinal No. 2 Ponte Vedra (18-3) vs. No. 3 Winter Park (19-2), 7

Buzz: First meeting since Ponte Vedra won five in a row from 201116. The Sharks, who defeated Lake Mary 8-7 last week, are guided by junior Maddox Johnson (63 goals) and senior Will Corbett (37 goals, 21 assists). Winter Park is led by Lawton Dowdell (61 goals), Brinson Dowdell (44 goals), Carter Truedell (39 goals, 28 assists) and Griffin Moore (37 goals, 29 assists).

Junior goalkeeper Paul Pilgrim has made saves on 65% of shots against for the Wildcats. Ponte Vedra won a state championship in 2019 and finished as runner-up in 2016. Winter Park lost 12-8 to Jupiter in last year’s 2A final. Next: No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (15-3) or No. 4 Tampa Plant (18-2), 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday

Class 1A Girls semifinal No. 2 Lake Highland Prep (16-2) vs. Jacksonville Episcopal School (19-3), 3

Buzz: Lake Highland, which lost 11-9 tp Delray Beach American Heritage in last year’s 1A final, captured a state title in 2019 and finished as runner-up in 2018.

Senior midfielder Jacqueline Jaskiewicz (Georgetown) is one of five college signees on roster, which includes Kate Hanlon (Ohio State), Kylie Kearon (Haverford), Grace Gibson (Furman) and Lauren Pittman (Franklin & Marshall). Sophomore Gigi Adamson saves 53% of shots. The Highlanders defeated Episcopal 14-7 on March 28.

Clemson signee Sophia Chepenik has a single-season school record 103 goals and 31 assists for the Eagles, who won their first regional title. Next: No. 1 Delray Beach American Heritage (17-2) or No. 4 Naples (18-2), noon Saturday.