Bel Air girls lacrosse routs City, 17-2, in regional final, earns first title in six years
By Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun,
2024-05-14
The Bel Air girls lacrosse team poses after capturing their first regional championship since 2018. Sam Cohn/Baltimore Sun/TNS
The closest thing to a mercy rule for girls lacrosse is that a 10-goal differential elicits a running clock. Bel Air’s potent offense helped speed their way to the program’s first Class 3A North II regional championship since 2018.
Mia Jourdan held possession in the back left corner surveying the field nearing the eight-minute mark of the third quarter. She snapped it to a cutting Sophia Harrison who pocketed the goal that put the top-seeded Bobcats on cruise control the rest of the way, routing No. 3 City, 17-2.
“I feel like we moved the ball really well,” junior attacker Delaney Burrows said. “And [credit to] our shot selection.” Senior midfielder Sophia Harrison added it was their team camaraderie and effective pace that made the difference.
Bel Air jumped on the Black Knights from the get-go. Paige Feick put her Bobcats on the board just 45 seconds in to Monday’s contest. A pair of goals from Burrows and scoring contributions from Jourdan and Brooke Conger gave the Bobcats a commanding 5-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Their passes were crisp, their cutting was intentional and their shots were carefully placed.
“I think they shared the ball,” coach Kristen Barry said. “That was the key. They were patient and really shared the ball. That was something the last couple games we’ve been really honing in on.”
Finishing off progressions and plays would come only as a result of a joint effort. On Monday, that was true to the tune of 12 different goal scorers. Feick and Burrows led all scorers, each with a hat trick. Riley Manzo had two. And half the roster chipped in for the rest.
“I think [it’s] maturity,” Barry said. “Last year, we had an interesting balance of upperclassmen and younger kids. I think some people were afraid to step on other people’s toes.”
The difference this year? Barry has seen her senior class effectively give permission to the team’s younger collective to contribute. Without that, Barry said, they’re not in this position, poised for the state tournament.
City had no answers in slowing them down. Its only offense came courtesy of midfielder Tayonna Jones, who had both goals –– including one solo mission through a herd of Bobcat defenders and flailing sticks.
Bel Air’s players and coaches congregated postgame for a team picture, posing with their new regional championship plaque. The group alignment was hectic and one player hopped in late, so when they broke, Barry muttered, “Well, we haven’t done this in a while.”
This, meaning it’s been six years since the 10th-year coach has seen her team achieve Monday’s feat. They were 8-9 and regional finalists last year, falling to Towson, and 9-6 the year prior, sent home at the same spot.
They finally got over the hump.
“I think they learned a lot from the last couple years from playing in tough games,” Barry said. “And I really think that this team doesn’t have one particular person that we rely on. … This year, everybody’s not afraid to step up and be that person of the moment.”
It can be hard to feel the weight of the accomplishment when it comes in blowout fashion. It might have felt different were it a narrow victory. Barry made sure to address the success with her girls postgame. She reminded them they earned it. “It’s been a long time coming,” she told them. But they have more to go and they haven’t played their best four quarters.
Their next chance will come after being reseeded for the state quarterfinal.
“My mind is already on Wednesday,” Barry said, “thinking about who we’re gonna play.”
Should they win, Bel Air would play in the state semifinal on Friday, May 17 or Saturday, May 18 at a predetermined site. The state championship will be played sometime between Tuesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 23 at Stevenson University’s Mustang Stadium.
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