Prep lacrosse: Three story lines

THREE STORY LINES

1. Will last year's champions repeat? Benilde-St. Margaret's won the inaugural MSHSL-sanctioned boys' championship last season after knocking off 2005 and 2006 state club champion Blake in the section finals. "Our team this year is very young," Benilde-St. Margaret's coach Colin Mulcahy. "We are also facing our toughest schedule to date. That will prepare us for a possible postseason run." Eden Prairie, which has won the past four girls' championships, continues to maintain the most successful program in the state. Co-head coaches Judy Baxter and Beth Patterson once again took many members of their team to Florida for a week of voluntary workouts and relaxation over spring break. "This is our fourth year of making this trip and it sure makes a difference," Baxter said.

2. Is lacrosse affecting participation in other spring sports? The answer is generally yes, but what's clear is that the degree to which lacrosse affects those sports varies from school to school. "I have never lost a varsity starter or impact baseball player to lacrosse," Simley baseball coach Scott Karlen said. "But it is affecting ... depth." Rosemount boys' track coach Jay Hatleli doesn't think lacrosse participation is an issue. "AAU basketball, AAU volleyball, club soccer, and year-round hockey training have had a much larger impact in the watering down of spring sports than lacrosse has," Hatleli said.

3. Girls' lacrosse is getting too physical: The same complaints of too much physical play are also being raised about girls' hockey. Minnehaha Academy girls' lacrosse coach Todd Wads- worth said: "Strength and contact are replacing speed and skill as the determinants of success. Players are using their crosses more and more to play defense instead of their bodies and feet. There are no helmets, thick gloves and pads in girls' lacrosse now, but I fear they are coming."

BOYS

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

1. Jack Hewitt, Eden Prairie, sr., middle: Big (6-2, 215) and fast. Can go around other players or over them. Committed to play at Division I Stony Brook (N.Y.) in 2009.

2. Matt Garin, Eastview, jr., defense: Runs fastest 40 on the team. 6-4, 220. Being recruited by many D-I football programs.

3. Jordan Seivold, Blake, sr., middle: All-state player who can change the game with his speed. Heading to Division I Navy next fall and will play lacrosse.

Keep an eye on: Phil Roberts, Edina, so., goalie; Jamie McCormic, Benilde-St. Margaret's, sr., middle; Griff Bartzen, Burnsville, so., defense; Kip Dooley, Blake, sr., attacker; Stan Drutkow- ski, Rosemount, sr., middle; John Fairbairn, Wayzata, sr., defense; Sean Folley, Minnetonka, jr., attacker; Dan Jones, Eden Prairie, sr., attacker; Connor Jorgenson, Hill-Murray, sr., attacker; Stu Neville, Benilde-St. Margaret's, sr., attacker; Tim Rondorf, Eastview, sr., attacker.

THREE TEAMS TO WATCH

1. Blake: After losing in the section finals last year, the Bears have the depth to make a run at the top again.

2. Eden Prairie: "We have the biggest defense in the state," Eagles coach Ryan Ward said. "For teams to score goals, they're going to have to take a beating to do so."

3. Minnetonka: The Skippers return nearly their entire starting lineup. Junior attackers Sean Folley and Matt Wyer lead a talented group of scorers.

GIRLS

THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH

1. Margaret Chute, Blake, jr., midfield: First-team All-State in 2007. Has the ability to change the game with her speed and great one-on-one skills.

2. Remi Famodu, Bloomington Kennedy, sr., defense: Might be the toughest defender in the state right now. Very fast.

3. Caz Marie Norwich, Eden Prairie, jr., attacker: Great finishing ability. "You'll see her name in the paper a lot this spring," co-coach Judy Baxter said.

Keep an eye on: Tess Sasse, Bloomington Kennedy, sr., midfield; Lauren Schlichting, Stillwater, sr., midfield; Kelsey Steinbach, Burnsville, so., attacker; Michelle Tremblay, Blake, jr., attacker; Ashley Duffy, Benilde-St. Margaret's, sr., middle; Abby Fink, Blake, jr., goalie; Kelly Kosiek, Benilde-St. Margaret's, sr., attacker; Ali Nelson, Maple Grove, sr., midfield/attacker; Hannah Riggs, Eden Prairie, sr., middle; Gretchen Seim, Minnehaha Academy, sr., defender.

THREE TEAMS TO WATCH

1. Eden Prairie: To no one's surprise, it looks like the Eagles will be able to fill all the holes left by graduation. In addition to returning starters Hannah Riggs, Andrea Peterson and Caz Marie Norwich, the Eagles will rely on senior goalie Emma Zieske.

2. Blake: 2007 first-team All-State juniors Margaret Chute, Michelle Tremblay and Abby Fink lead an experienced group that has played together for several years.

3. Bloomington Kennedy: A perennial entrant in the state tournament, the Eagles will have a solid defense that includes seniors Remi Famodu, Tess Sasse and Kari Hunter.

CHUCK FITZER