MARYLAND 4A/3A GIRLS' LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
Severna Park's 40th Straight Win Is an Easy One
Severna Park 17, Catonsville 6
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Thursday, May 22, 2008
CATONSVILLE, Md., May 21 -- It took Severna Park a little more than four minutes before gaining possession for the first time in Wednesday night's Maryland 4A/3A girls' lacrosse championship against Catonsville, and when the Falcons did, they already trailed by a goal.
But those early jitters and missed groundballs were a distant memory a few minutes later, when Severna Park began to flex the muscle that had manufactured 39 straight wins dating back to the start of the 2007 season.
All-Met midfielder Julie Gardner scored at the 19-minute 11-second mark, junior Jaci Gassaway stuffed home a pass from senior Hayley Rausch two minutes later and the Falcons coasted from there, extending their winning streak to 40 with a 17-6 victory at UMBC.
The Falcons (20-0) are the second-most decorated public school team in Maryland, their eight state titles trailing only the 15 won by Mount Hebron since the tournament began in 1990.
Catonsville finished 13-7. Senior Jessica Nonn and junior Abby Sneeringer led the Comets with two goals each.
"The past two years have been incredible," Severna Park Coach Carin Peterson said. "To go as far as they've gone this year, with all the pressure to carry this streak, has been phenomenal."
Gardner had six goals, including four in the first half when Severna Park opened up an 11-1 lead. Her final tally of the first half was especially impressive. Her initial shot from five yards was saved and bounced left, but on the run she stayed with the ball, scooped it up and fired it past the Catonsville goalie.
Seven players scored for Severna Park. Gassaway had four goals and an assist, while Rausch and Kendall Pittinger each scored twice. Rausch also had an assist.
"With so many offensive weapons, it's hard to contain them," Catonsville Coach Dorothy Gill said. Seven Falcons seniors will play Division I lacrosse next year.
Severna Park was fortunate to even be in the state championship game; it trailed Broadneck by two goals with five minutes left in last week's East Region final, and by one in the final seconds. But the Falcons forced overtime and survived to make the state final four for the 10th time in tournament history.
"The Broadneck game was a wake-up call," Peterson said. "But just because we got by Broadneck didn't mean were going to slide by. They had some athletes on this [Catonsville] team."
