MPSSAA Lacrosse State Finals Day 1

4A/3A Girls

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Dulaney won its first state championship in lacrosse since 2008, and its first in girls lacrosse since 2006, as the Lions beat Leonardtown 15-10 to win the 4A/3A state championship.

"These girls have worked really hard to get the program back to this position," Dulaney head coach Kristi Korrow said. "Early on in this season we sort of talked about it being the 10 year anniversary and how it would be a pretty awesome accomplishment to bring that back. It feels great to be back here, and these girls have really pushed for that."

Dulaney got out of the gates quick, getting four goals from Mackenzie Gandy, Charlotte Lipstein, Annie Sachs and Kaitlyn Dabkowski by the 17:11 mark in the first half. After Leaonardtown got one back, the Lions went on another four goal spree to make it 8-1 with 10:53 remaining in the half. During that stretch, Melanie Gandy scored twice, Mackenzie Gandy scored once, and Sachs registered her second.

Leonardtown clawed itself back into the game by scoring the next four goals to make it 8-5. Karson Harris scored twice during the run, while Kate Sites and Lilia Cruz also tallied goals.

Mackenzie Gandy bagged another two goals to build Dulaney's halftime lead up to 10-5.

The Lions scored the first two goals of the second half through Mackenzie Gandy and Casey O'Grady. Leonardtown wouldn't go away though, as Chelsea Kibler and Harris both puled ones back.

Dulaney began to slow down the pace to eat up the clock, but O'Grady scored twice, and Maggie Kelly netted too, making it 15-7.

Kibler scored twice, Carly Bowes and Josie Brodfuehrer each got one to cut the Lions' lead back to 15-11, but that was all Leonardtown could muster as Dulaney held on to win.

"Since tryouts we knew our chemistry was going to be so strong and I think that once we hit playoffs, we realized it was all or nothing. From the first game, we went hard," junior midfielder Kaitlyn Dabkowski said. "We really worked together as a team."

3A/2A Boys

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Linganore's defense shut Mt. Hebron out in the first half, and Daniel Ross scored five goals as the Frederick County School won the 3A/2A boys state title 9-7.

"I preached to them that they were destined for the state championship as long as the coaches didn't mess it up," Linganore head coach Rich Thompson said. "We had a lot of talent, and hard working kids."

It was a defensive battle early, with few chances for either team to score. Linganore broke through first though, with Ross burying his chance in the first period, the only score of that frame.

Linganore would add to its lead in the second period when Daniel Murphy would catch a long pass from goalie Kyle Browne, spin away from his defender, and score. Both Ross and Murphy would add a goal a piece, to make it 4-0 Linganore at halftime.

"We knew immediately that we could do this. We felt that we were the better team and we came out fast," Ross said. "I think that was a big factor in our win- that we came out quick."

The scoring began to pick up midway through the third quarter when Mt. Hebron tallied its first of the game. Chris Munko was set up well by Kyle Sutton, and was able to score from close range to cut the Linganore lead to 4-1. Linganore responded when Ross scored his third goal of the game but Mt. Hebron answered with two of its own, from Sutton and Dylan Scheeler.

Linganore countered with a score from Brett Cruickshan, Mt. Hebron scored twice more, through Scott Mackrell and Scheeler, to make it 6-5 Linganore entering the final quarter.

"We weren't giving the defense very good support at that time. We knew that if we settled the ball down, we were going to score," Murphy said. "We started to force the ball inside, make turnovers, which led to Mt. Hebron getting those goals."

Linganore scored first in the fourth quarter through Alex Martinezzi, but Scheeler scored again to make it 7-6. Ross would score his fourth goal of the game on a beautiful move that had him shooting over his back, but Sutton responded for Mt. Hebron. Linganore continued to lean on Ross though, who got his fifth with 3:27 left in the contest to make it 9-7.

Linganore withstood a late push by Mt. Hebron to win the school's second state title.

3A/2A Girls

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With 20:13 left in the first half, it looked like the state final between Glenelg and Oakdale was going to be a high scoring, tight affair. Both teams had already scored one goal, and the action was back and forth. Only Glenelg would score the rest of the game though, as the Gladiators went on a 13-0 run to win the 3A/2A championship 14-1.

"Changing from my freshman year to where we are now is so incredible," senior midfielder Julia Salandra said.

Glenelg had the early possession and scored after over just a minute of play through Alayna Pagnotta. Oakdale would respond a couple minutes later when Hannah Clingan found herself unmarked in front of the net and shot low into the net.

Glenelg would retake the lead with 16:18 left in the first half, when Anna Callahan would go on an excellent run from Gladiators' territory, dish the ball to Georgia Esmond, who beat Oakdale's keeper, Megan Semkiw. Courtney Renehan and Lindsay LeTellier would add goals, giving Glenelg a 4-1 lead with 10:52 left in the first half.

Glenelg goalkeeper Maddie McSally would come up with a string of fine saves to keep the Oakdale attack from cutting into the Gladiators' lead.

"Starting with the playoffs I started coming to my senses, feel comfortable with the team and really know that I belong," McSally said. "We really work as a unit and together on defense, we've just dominated."

Semkiw was called into action and would respond with saves of her own, totaling 10 in the first half, but Esmond scored with just 3.9 seconds remaining in the first half.

LeTellier would tally her second goal of the game after making a nice cut towards goal, and being fed the ball by Esmond. Pagnotta added her second, once again off a pass by Esmond, which was followed by Rachel Scheinberg and Peighton Stone each scoring their first goals of the game to give Glenelg a 9-1 lead midway through the second half.

After Glenelg's run, Oakdale called a timeout to regroup, but the Gladiators kept on scoring, this time through Jenny Giampalmo, Renehan, Pagnotta, Maddy O'Brien and Callahan to round out the scoring in the game.

"There's no way this happens with just me. My coaching staff, there isn't a better one around," head coach Ginger Kincaid said. "Every practice was an intense practice and there was never a wasted moment."
May 24th, 2016By: Wick Eisenberg

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