Girls lax draw at a glance
The first thing that grabs your attention when scanning the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association girls lacrosse tournament draw isn't necessarily who's on top of the bracket, but who is not.
Specifically, for the first time in school history, Mount Hebron, which has advanced to the state semifinals an incredible 18 straight years, with 15 titles to show for their efforts, will have to get back in a position other than as the top seed in their region.
The 11th-ranked Vikings, who have won 11 straight Maryland championships, are seeded third in the 3A-2A South region, behind Centennial and Reservoir, both unranked. Mount Hebron received a first-round bye and will host sixth-seeded Long Reach in the regional quarterfinals Saturday.
Two other unranked Baltimore area schools, Winters Mill and Dundalk, received top seeds in the girls 3A-2A bracket, with Winters Mill drawing the No.1 seed in the West, and Dundalk getting the top seed in the North. The regional semifinals will take place at Annapolis High on either May 16 or 17, with the championship match to be played at UMBC Stadium on either May 20 or 21.
No.14 Liberty and unranked Loch Raven received top seeds in the girls 2A-1A bracket, with Liberty receiving a No.1 seed in the West region, as well as a bye into the regional quarterfinals against the winner of the Smithsburg-Catoctin first round game. Meanwhile, Loch Raven gets a bye all the way to the regional semifinals, to face either Eastern Tech or Carver. The 2A-1A semifinals will take place at Reservoir on either May 16 or 17, leading to the title game, also at UMBC on either May 20 or 21.
In the 3A-4A bracket, Severna Park, one of two remaining unbeaten area girls teams, tops the East region. The second-ranked Falcons will meet the winner of the Arundel-North County first round game in a quarterfinal match Saturday. Meanwhile, unranked Kenwood received the top seed in the South region and draws a bye into the quarterfinals where they will host the winner of the Perry Hall-Catonsville first round game. The 4A-3A semifinals will be staged at North Carroll on either May 16 or 17, and the state championship match will take place at UMBC on May 21.
