Klatzkin Stars in Talent Show
Wootton Senior Scores Five Goals in a Battle of Unbeatens

By Dave Yanovitz
Special to The Washington Post
Sunday, May 4, 2008

Unlike some areas that hold county championship games in girls' lacrosse, Montgomery County does not. So yesterday's game between the only two remaining undefeated teams in the county -- Wootton and Quince Orchard -- was for the right to bear the moniker of league champion.

In a game that spotlighted the skills of each squad's star player -- Wootton senior Julie Klatzkin and Quince Orchard junior Alissa Peterson -- it was Wootton that jumped out to an early lead and withstood a furious comeback by the visiting Cougars before prevailing, 10-7.

Klatzkin, who will play for Cornell next year, showed the skills that made her a Division I recruit, weaving through the middle and from behind the net to score five times. She also had one assist. Senior Liza Kaplan scored three goals and added an assist as Wootton beat Quince Orchard for the first time in recent memory.

"We've got a bunch of people that can score -- not just one person -- and that's what pulled us apart from them," Klatzkin said.

Wootton (12-0) jumped out to a 5-1 lead at halftime and increased the advantage to 8-3 about midway through the second half before Peterson (who likely will receive some Division I offers next year) almost single-handedly brought Quince Orchard back.

With the Cougars (10-1) down five, Peterson repeatedly penetrated through a staunch triple team at the top of the 12-meter circle trying to get a shot off. Wootton fouled her, awarding her a free-position shot. Peterson scored three of her team-high four goals on such free-position shots during a six-minute span in the second half. Those goals, combined with Alicia Vincenty's free-position goal, helped the Cougars pull to 8-6 with 7 minutes 15 seconds remaining.

"We know Alissa Peterson is a great player, and knowing that we talked about being aware of her," Wootton Coach Anne-Marie Ritzell said. "We were always looking for her. We had great communication today."

But Klatzkin would not let her team lose. She buzzed from behind the net with just under two minutes to play and stuffed home a goal for a 9-6 lead. When Quince Orchard's Alyssa Odenkirchen scored to cut the deficit to two, Klatzkin struck again, scoring with 10 seconds left to leave no doubt which team was tops in Montgomery.

"Normally we're a second-half team," Klatzkin said. "This time the team worked hard to hold the lead."

Wootton 10, Quince Orchard 7 Great Saves: Wootton goalie Amelia Titus played a superb first half, making six saves in helping her team build a four-goal lead. She finished with nine. "We took her from soccer and got her excited about lacrosse," Coach Anne-Marie Ritzell said. Playoffs on Deck: Wootton and Quince Orchard are in separate 4A/3A regions in the playoffs, so the teams would not meet again this season unless both advance to the state championship later this month. Wootton 10, Quince Orchard 7 Great Saves: Wootton goalie Amelia Titus played a superb first half, making six saves in helping her team build a four-goal lead. She finished with nine. "We took her from soccer and got her excited about lacrosse," Coach Anne-Marie Ritzell said. Playoffs on Deck: Wootton and Quince Orchard are in separate 4A/3A regions in the playoffs, so the teams would not meet again this season unless both advance to the state championship later this month.