Lacrosse playoff teams Bartram, Ponte Vedra steamrolling opponents

A glance at tonight's lacrosse state playoff games.

Girls: Fletcher (12-1) at Bartram Trail (11-2), 7 p.m.

Winner gets: Winner of Buchholz-Winter Springs matchup on Friday.

Bartram players to watch: ATK Taylor McCord, sr.; MF Nicki Caputo, sr.

Glance: Bartram Trail opens the playoffs against a Fletcher team that has lost just once this season, but hasn't played a schedule nearly as difficult as the Bears have. Fletcher has faced one team ranked in the top 10 in the state, according to laxpower.com, and that was a 16-1 drubbing at the hands of Ponte Vedra. Bartram defeated the Sharks twice during the regular season. That game was Fletcher's first of the year, so it's fair to say the Bears will be facing a much different squad. Still, Bartram has lined up against four teams in the top 10 and have lost twice, to Oviedo and Bishop Moore. Led by Taylor McCord, the Bears win most of their games with offense.

Boys: Ponte Vedra (17-1) at Oak Hall (8-9), 7 p.m.

Winner gets: Winner of Episcopal-Leon game on Friday.

Ponte Vedra players to watch: MF Mike Power, sr.; ATK Brendan Francis, jr.

Glance: Now that Ponte Vedra has finally broken through to the postseason, it will be interesting to see what this talented group can accomplish. The Sharks have lived up to all their expectations thus far. The team has two All-Americans in Mike Power and Brendan Francis, and 11 players headed to play lacrosse at the collegiate level. Ponte Vedra is battled-tested as well. The Sharks have wins this season over third-ranked Bolles, fourth-ranked Winter Park, seventh-raked Lake Mary and eighth-ranked Lake Brantley. Their only loss this season was to No. 1 Lake Highland Prep in the season opener. The Sharks are one of the deepest teams in the state and rotate lineups constantly. They should be able to overwhelm Oak Hall quickly and cruise like they did against Bartram Trail in the District 3 final.