Sunday, Jul. 17, 2011

A new lacrosse team is not in plans

It's no secret that lacrosse is growing in the area.

But that growth doesn't mean you will be seeing a varsity team at Fuquay-Varina High School next year.

Fuquay-Varina, which fields a club boys lacrosse team not connected to the athletics department, is one of just five N.C. High School Athletic Association member schools from Wake County that does not field a varsity boys or girls lacrosse program.

It's a dwindling group, with Leesville Road recently making official its plans to play boys and girls lacrosse next year.

Two other Wake County schools - Garner and Southeast Raleigh - field boys teams but not girls.

Fuquay-Varina athletics director Bruce Hemphill said he would like to do same thing at some point, but not next year.

Hemphill said the school's athletic budget isn't ready to take on the expenses involved with starting a new program.

"You've got (to pay for) officials, added maintenance to your fields, uniforms and coaches, too," Hemphill said. "It's a big expense."

Fuquay-Varina does not have a club girls lacrosse team, but Hemphill said if the school was to add to its programs it would want to have both a boys and girls lacrosse program with a junior varsity team for each.

"You're talking about adding four teams and hoping in the not-too-distant future that economy-wise we'll be able to add those," Hemphill said. "And not just have a sport, but we can make it to where we can be successful in that sport and supply them with everything we need to be successful in that sport."

Potential rematch of Cary-hosted exhibition: Should Japan and the United States women's soccer teams each win today in Germany, it would mean that the game held May 18 at WakeMed Soccer Park was a preview of the Women's World Cup championship game.

Both are competing in the World Cup semifinals.

The U.S. won 2-0 that night in front of a large crowd WakeMed Soccer Park. Heather O'Reilly and Amy Rodriguez each scored.