The State Finals Are Set

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Having trailed for 44 minutes and still behind with half a minute remaining in the 3A state semifinals last Friday, the Severna Park girls lacrosse team stunned Westminster with two goals in the final 27 seconds to tie the game. They later added the golden goal for a 13-12 overtime victory.

With that comeback effort, the Falcons became the first of four lacrosse teams from Severna Park and Broadneck high schools to punch their ticket to the state finals this spring.

For the Severna Park girls, senior attacker Charlotte Diez played hero with three goals in the frantic rally. Diez and Regan McDonnell both scored four goals in total to pace the Falcons, while Alyssa Chung scored twice. Sophia Miller, Maria Bragg and Stella Bordone each added a goal.

“You have to keep positive; there’s nothing else you can do,” Diez said. “I lost my freshman year to COVID. Sophomore year we lost to [state champion] Broadneck when we were 4A. Last year we lost a heartbreaker [in the championship game]. It wasn't ending like this.”

The Severna Park boys lacrosse team left no room for dramatics on Friday as they secured a 23-4 win over Chopticon and booked another trip to the state championship game.

Sophomore attacker Jack Fish led the way with seven goals. In addition to Fish’s haul, Daniel Stack, Tim Sullivan, John Burkhardt, Andrew Myers and Benjamin Ruppert each scored twice. Nolan Grizzle, Duke Sealey, Alex Stroble, Dillon McConnell, Tucker Moran and Hunter Reed also found the net.

Plenty of Broadneck players made an impact in their 9-8 sudden-death overtime victory over Urbana in the Class 4A state semifinal at Crofton High School on Saturday.

On the winning goal, Ryan Della took a feed from Ryan Salazar from behind the cage, curled around to the front and shot it to the upper left corner.

“It’s such a surreal moment,” said Della, who scored a game-high four goals. “You would never think as a kid a moment like that could happen.”

The two-time defending state champion Broadneck girls lacrosse team had a moment to remember on Saturday as well. They cruised past North County, 17-4, in a Class 4A state semifinal.

Seven Bruins got into the scoring party. Senior midfielder Lilly Kelley paced her team with four goals, Sienna Miller finished with a hat trick, Olivia Orso totaled two goals and three assists, Mary Moore had two goals and two assists, and Nora Lopes added two goals.

With those semifinal wins, the championship round is set.

On Wednesday, both Broadneck teams will head to Stevenson University in Owings Mills in the Class 4A finals. The Broadneck girls will face Dulaney at 6:00pm and the Broadneck boys will take on Sherwood at 8:00pm.

The currently undefeated Bruin boys beat Sherwood, 20-5, during April.

Severna Park’s teams will compete Thursday night at the same Baltimore County site in Class 3A. The girls will play first, against Towson at 4:00pm. At 6:00pm, the boys will face Mount Hebron, whom the Falcons beat 13-8 on March 28.

The girls are looking to capture a title after a tough loss in the finals last year while the boys hope to win their seventh straight state championship, and what would be a state record-extending 12th overall title.

Not to be outdone, the Severna Park track and field team will compete later this week at Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex in Landover. The boys are the defending champions.

Co-hosted by Baker Park and Frederick High School, the tennis state quarterfinals and semifinals are slated for Friday, with championships on Saturday.

Best of the Rest

Two other teams came close to finals appearances.

Severna Park’s baseball team lost to Sherwood in the state semifinals, 9-2, on Tuesday after reaching the state finals the last two years. Both times, their season was also ended by the Warriors.

Despite the losing streak, senior infielder and pitcher Seamus Patenaude does not feel like Sherwood has Severna Park’s number.

“Whether we’re playing Vanderbilt or we’re playing a Little League team, it’s just another game,” Patenaude said. “Those guys on the other side of the field have to make the same plays we do. You go into it expecting to come out on top. Sometimes it doesn’t.”

Broadneck’s softball team did not come out on top of their state semifinal matchup either. Despite rallying in the sixth and seventh innings, the Bruins’ season ended Tuesday with a 7-2 loss to Dulaney in the 4A state semifinals at Bachman Sports Complex in Glen Burnie.

The loss marked the end for seniors Adrianna Compofelice, Samantha Sprouse, and Addison Hurst. Broadneck coach Beth Mackel recognized them after the game, noting their impact on a young team that has a lot of growth potential ahead of it.

“It was very important for them to get this experience,” Mackel said. “This is the first time for most of them to be here. They’re competitors, and they want to win. They’re young, and they’ll be back.”

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