Finding motivation shouldn't be a problem for Hockaday at the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League state tournament, which begins Saturday in Houston.

Hockaday's 9-7 loss to Houston St. John's in Friday's SPC final is fresh on the players' minds.

Hockaday (16-2-1) gets a chance for redemption as one of two area teams, along with Episcopal School of Dallas, in the Division I bracket. Ursuline is entered in Division II.

"We've had several days to regroup," Hockaday coach Patty Wick said. "That hunger of just being beat when we were so close should give us fuel for our confidence."

MILTON HINNANT/DMN

Taylor Thornton (center) will try to help Hockaday win a state title this weekend after the team was the SPC runner-up.

In last week's SPC final, Hockaday dominated possession, but its normally stout defense had some lapses at key moments that St. John's cashed in for scores.

"We had possession of the ball for the last five minutes, so we had some opportunities to win," said senior midfielder Haley Huffines, who signed with Pennsylvania's Lafayette College of the Patriot League. "The fact that we weren't able to capitalize makes it more painful."

St. John's is the three-time defending Division I state champion. St. John's and Hockaday are 1-2 in laxpower.com's state power rankings.

St. John's has accounted for Hockaday's two losses; the other was decided in overtime, 14-13. Hockaday's tie came against Houston Memorial, the state's third-ranked team. For Hockaday, those close results against the state's best teams are an indication that a breakthrough is near.

"This gives us more drive and more passion," junior defensive midfielder Taylor Thornton said. "We're coming into this week more focused than we've been all season."

Then there's this: No team outside of the Houston area has won a girls Division I state championship. Last year, Hockaday defeated St. John's in the SPC final but finished fourth in the state tournament.

"We didn't play up to our ability," junior attack/midfielder Randall Neely said of last year's state tournament. "We let [winning SPC] get in the way of our actual play. This year, we are going to be focused every second of the way."

At Henry Winston Stadium, Friendswood

Division II semifinals

10 a.m.: Highland Park II vs. Cedar Park

Noon: Cy-Fair vs. Coppell

Division I semifinals

2 p.m.: Highland Park vs. Austin

4 p.m.: The Woodlands vs. ESD

10 a.m.: Division II final

12:30 p.m.: Division I final

Presbyterian School's Outdoor Education Campus, Houston

Division I quarterfinals

9:30 a.m.: Houston Memorial vs. Cedar Park; Round Rock Westwood vs. ESD

Division I semifinals

1:45 p.m.: Hockaday vs. Memorial/Cedar Park winner; Houston St. John's vs. Westwood/ESD winner

Division II quarterfinals

11:30 a.m.: Austin St. Michael's vs. Ursuline; Klein vs. Austin

Division II semifinals

3:45 p.m.: Houston Kinkaid vs. St. Michael's/Ursuline winner; Shreveport (La.) Byrd vs. Klein/Austin winner

11 a.m.: Division II final

1 p.m.: Division I final