MPSSAA Lacrosse State Finals Day 1

Girls 4A/3A

Julia Henry scored the deciding goal with 11 seconds remaining in the game to win it for Bel Air. The Bobcats claimed the 4A/3A state title in a thrilling 10-9 victory.

The first half saw the lead change five times. Severna Park first took the lead in under two minutes when Claire Domshick scored, but just a couple minutes later the Falcons were behind after Julia Henry and Elizabeth Hillman netted for Bel Air. Severna Park managed to fight back though and led midway through the first half after Alex Miller and Sarah Elms scored.

Bel Air scored three straight goals- one from Henry and two from Hillman- to extend out to a 5-3 lead, but Severna Park responded with three goals in a row courtesy of two from Elms and one from Mallory Martel.

The second half was started with a three goal run by Bel Air to regain the lead at 8-6. Hillman and Henry added to their goal total, while Lexi Strobel got her first of the contest. Severna Park stalled to start the final frame, but Elms got the Falcons on the board with 12:02 left in the half, as well as with 11:15 left, to tie it back up at 8-8.

Domshick netted her second of the game to make it 9-8, but Bel Air's Maggi Hall scored with 2:12 remaining to tie it back up. Henry then had the deciding moment when she collected a deflected shot and fired it into the Severna Park net for the win.

Elms led all scorers with five goals, while Henry and Hillman each scored four for Bel Air.

Boys 3A/2A



Northern from Calvert County beat Glenelg 5-4 in a gritty contest that showcased two excellent defenses. The Patriots become the first team from the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference to win an MPSSAA lacrosse state championship.

It was an even first half that ended with both teams having scored three times. Glenelg jumped out to a 2-0 lead through goals from Eric Gruber and Kyle Dry, but Brandon Sulhoff scored for Northern with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter to make it 2-1. Tyler Reiff pushed Glenelg back in front by two goals when he found the back of the net with 32 seconds left in the quarter.

That was the last goal Glenelg would get until the fourth quarter though as Northern's defense stifled the Gladiators behind superb play from defenders Jake Purcell, Braden Sellner and Brandon McCutcheon, as well as goalkeeper DJ Walker.

Mason Chaney scored twice for the Patriots in the second quarter- the first come with 8:11 left in the quarter, and the second was a buzzer beater just before halftime.

Defense continued to reign supreme throughout the third quarter until Colten King managed to find the back of the net to give Northern its first lead of the night with 4:42 left in the third quarter. Tyler Nalls came close to equalizing for Glenelg just before the end of the third quarter, but Walker made an excellent reaction save from close range to preserve the lead.

When Chaney scored his third of the game with 4:48 left in the contest, it looked to be enough to put the game out of reach, but Glenelg refused to quit. Nalls fired a ball past Walker with 1:46 remaining to up the pressure on Northern, but the Patriots held on.

Girls 3A/2A



A balanced attack from Glenelg proved too much for C. Milton Wright, as the Gladiators won their second straight MPSSAA state title by the final score of 12-3. The Gladiators saw seven of their players score.

Glenelg jumped out to an early lead in the first half when Lindsey Letellier scored under two minutes into the game. Anna Callahan the Gladiators' second before C. Milton Wright got on the board through Taylor Marchetti with 16:47 left in the first half.

Glenelg then went on a 4-0 run to finish out the first half as Courtney Renehan, Maddy O'Brien and Alayna Pagnotta all scored. The run was capped off with seven seconds before the break when Callahan got her second of the game.

The Gladiators added to their total quickly in the second half as Callahan and Pagnotta both found the back of the net before four minutes had passed. Letellier got her second and Georgia Esmond found the net with 13:42 to give Glenelg a 10-1 advantage. O'Brien also scored a second goal, and Rachel Scheinberg got on the score sheet.

C. Milton Wright broke Glenelg's scoring run when Aubrey Hoover netted with 10:34 left in the second half. Meghan Murray added another one for the Mustangs with 6:18 left in the contest.

Callahan led all scorers with three goals. Letellier finished with three assists. Glenelg goalkeeper Maddie McSally also had a strong game, finishing with four saves.