HIGH-SCHOOL

Ponte Vedra boys, Bartram Trail girls headline lacrosse districts

DANNY KLEIN
Bartram players Caroline Beggs (left) and Aubrey Asplen defend Ponte Vedra's Haley Wortmann during a game this season.

A glance at high school lacrosse district tournaments:

Boys, District 3

Where: Nease

Schedule: Tuesday, Bartram Trail vs. Creekside, 6 p.m.; Nease vs. Ponte Vedra, 8 p.m.; Thursday, championship, 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Bartram Trail, MF Matt Arnell, jr.; ATK Chase Hancock, so.; Creekside, ATK Nick Eccher, so.; MF Kevin McKernan, so.; Ponte Vedra, ATK Michael Power, sr.; D Chris Damm, sr.; Nease, Erik Carson, sr.; ATK Chris Sposito, sr.

Glance: The Sharks are currently ranked No. 3 in the state, according to Laxpower.com, and for good reason. Ponte Vedra opened its season with a loss to Lake Highland Prep and hasn't lost since. Where Ponte Vedra has really flourished is against county teams.

Only Creekside has managed to stay within 10 goals of Ponte Vedra. The Sharks failed to make the postseason last year with after a disappointing loss to Bolles. Anything short of the playoffs would be a let down again. The other three teams in this district are pretty even. Creekside at 7-6 hasn't had the best season, but the Knights remain capable.

Nease has a great goalie in Erik Carson who can keep the Panthers alive in any game. Bartram had a 9-3 season under first-year coach Joe Ciccarelli.

Girls, District 2

Where: Bartram Trail

Schedule: Today, Creekside vs. Ponte Vedra, 6 p.m.; Bartram Trail vs. Flagler Palm Coast, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, championship 7 p.m.

Players to watch: Bartram Trail, ATK Taylor McCord, sr.; ATK Melissa Coggins, jr.; Creekside, ATK Jordyn Pelkey sr.; D Jen Nardone, sr.; Ponte Vedra, GK Whitney Meyers, jr.; D Allie Santillo, sr.

Glance: Once again this is Bartram's tournament to lose. The Bears have defeated every team in this district and have lost just twice this season - both to Orlando-area schools Bishop Moore and Oviedo.

The Bears stranglehold on North Florida is not completely secure, however. Creekside lost by just a goal to Bartram this season and Ponte Vedra topped Creekside on Thursday by a goal.

Ponte Vedra has a stingy defense led by goalie Whitney Meyers, but has not fared well in its two games against Bartram. Creekside has a very potent attack led by one of the nation's most prolific scorers in Jordyn Pelkey. It's hard to see anyone but Bartram, led by Florida commit Taylor McCord, taking the title, but for the first time in a while, it's also not out of the question.