Beefed up schedule, too tough

Laurel Pfahler
Special to Rivals High
They say a better schedule makes for a better team, but a beefed-up slate might actually end up hurting the three-time defending state champion Vero Beach (Fla.) High girls' lacrosse team.
The Florida High School Athletic Association has received reports that the Fighting Indians (19-1) violated a new rule requiring teams to play at least 60 percent of their schedule against in-state opponents. The guideline is a stipulation for playing in the FHSAA State Series, which is now under way, and could prevent Vero Beach from defending its throne.
Cristina Alvarez, the FHSAA director of media relations and marketing, said a ruling is pending because Denarvise Thornton Jr., the associate executive director for athletic administration, is out of the office until next week.
"We are going to look into it, and once that occurs, we can find out where to go from there," Alvarez said.
The Indians played just 44 percent of their schedule against in-state teams during the regular season, with eight games against FHSAA opponents and 10 against out-of-state opponents, according to results reported to Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers and LaxPower.com, which were confirmed by Vero Beach coach Shannon Dean.
Dean did not want to comment until after speaking with his athletic director and could not be reached.
FHSAA Policy 10 of the State Series Commitment Form Policy and Procedures guidelines states, "Effective with the 2008-09 school year, a school must play not less than 60 percent of its regular season contests in the sport against FHSAA member schools" in order to be eligible for participation in the FHSAA State Series in any sport.
There were no variations of that rule last year.
Vero Beach athletic director Tim Tharp said he could not comment in detail until he meets with fellow administrators next week when the school returns from spring break.
"We feel our programs are in compliance with FHSAA guidelines," Tharp said. "But it's an allegation we will address when we return to school."
The Indians won the first FHSAA-recognized state title last year, marking its third consecutive state championship with the first two coming in the non-sanctioned Florida Lacrosse League.
In the past, Dean, who owns a 138-17-1 record over the past four seasons, has attributed his team's success in part to playing more-seasoned out-of-state competition. Vero Beach started its program in 1998 and is one of the few public schools in Florida with an established feeder program, as the two middle schools within its boundaries formed teams in 2002.
Lacrosse is a fast-growing sport in Florida but just became an FHSAA-recognized sport last year, and the competition is not yet up to par with teams from northern states, where athletes grow up playing lacrosse.
Vero Beach has outscored its opponents 303by more than 250 goals this season and hasn't lost a game to a Florida team since a 7-6 loss to Lake Brantley in the 2007 season opener, which it went on to avenge in the FLL state championship. Archbishop Spalding (Md.) handed Vero Beach its only loss this season, a 9-4 decision.
Though the Indians have dominated Florida, they are power-rated just 42nd nationally, according to LaxPower.com. Florida's second-rated team, Lake Worth (Fla.) Park Vista, which Vero Beach thrashed 18-2 in last year's state final, sits at No. 316 in the national ratings.
Dean said he believes his team has the recipe and ingredients to win a fourth consecutive title this year, but the only thing that might stop the Indians is a ruling against them.
Although FHSAA State Series competition has begun, Alvarez said it is possible Vero Beach's postseason run could end.
"We have kicked teams out of the playoffs for violations before," Alvarez said.