Two days after coasting past visiting Thomas S. Wootton High School in the 3A state quarterfinals to extend their win streak to 14 games, the Northern High girls lacrosse team looked to maintain its winning ways last Saturday morning in the state semifinals against Severna Park at Glen Burnie.
Northern (14-2), which had not tasted defeat since its season opener against SMAC and county rival Huntingtown, stayed close with the Falcons initially and the teams were tied at 1-all after the opening quarter. But Severna Park dominated the remainder of the contest and the Falcons cruised to a 17-4 victory over the Patriots with the running clock invoked through the fourth quarter.
Northern sophomore Mia Barber scored the Patriots first goal of the morning to tie the game early and she would add another goal later, but the SMAC champions were no match for the Falcons in the second and third periods. Severna Park took a 7-3 lead to the intermission then virtually sealed the verdict by scoring eight unanswered goals in the third quarter.
“We knew coming in here they were going to be our toughest opponent so far this season,” Northern senior Mia Halbert said. “This was only the second time we’ve gotten this far. We started out strong, but they were really good. We had won 14 straight games coming in here and we won the SMAC championship, so it was a really good season.”
Severna Park sophomore Maria Bragg ended the scoreless deadlock with seven minutes left in the first quarter, but Barber brought the Patriots even at one apiece with just under four minutes left in the first quarter.
The Falcons then opened the second quarter with four consecutive goals, including a pair of junior Erin Hussey who led all scorers with five goals on May 18, before Barber ended the drought with her second of the day.
“We really came out with a lot of energy,” Barber said. “We knew they were going to be tough. But in the second quarter they were winning the draws and they had good possessions. Overall it was a very successful season. We won the SMAC championship and regionals and it was exciting to get this far.”
Severna Park owned a modest 7-3 lead at the intermission then the Falcons broke the game open in the third quarter with seven unanswered goals from six different players. Hussey notched her fourth and fifth goals of the contest and the Falcons owned a 14-3 lead heading to the final frame which invoked the running clock for the final 12 minutes.
“I think it just took us a while to get our offense settled,” Hussey said. “Once we realized what was working we were able to generate better attacks. We just had to be patient then focus on taking better shots. It means a lot to be able to play for a state championship again this season, especially after last season.”
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