On Tuesday, May 23, the Bel Air Girls’ Lacrosse Team took down Severna Park High School in the State Championship game by a score of 10-9. Severna Park had ousted the Bobcats in the same game two years ago by a score of 18-15. It was an incredible, nerve racking, edge-of-your-seat game, where the score was tied five times and the lead changed seven times. The Bobcats finished on top and hoisted the trophy for the first time in program history.

Severna Park scored the first goal after 1:45 into the game. The Bobcats struck back fast and took the lead after they scored two goals in 32 seconds, from juniors Julia Henry and Elizabeth Hillman. The Falcons followed with two goals and took the 3-2 lead with 16:03 left in the first half. After the Falcons got a yellow card and gave the Bobcats the man-up advantage, the Bobcats took the lead right back with two goals again from Henry and Hillman. Hillman netted another shot with 7:32 left in the half, putting the team up 5-3. The Falcons were able to come back and retake the lead to finish the first half with a 6-5 lead.

“Overall, the first half went pretty well,” says senior captain Taylor Patrick. “We were playing hard both defensively and offensively. Even though we were down by a goal, I was confident in our team that we would pull through with the win.”

The Bobcats started the second half on fire, going on a 3-0 unanswered run, with goals from Hillman, Henry, and senior captain Lexi Strobel which gave them the 8-6 advantage. The Falcons didn’t score until there was 12:02 left in the game. The Falcons then went on their own 3-0 run, in which they took the 9-8 lead with 4:51 left in the game. The Bobcats answered back with 2:12 left in the game with a game-tying goal from freshman Maggi Hall. After winning the next draw, the Bobcats held the ball and kept possession until there were about 30 seconds left. Henry took a shot which was saved by the Severna Park goalkeeper, but after she dropped it and tossed it out of the crease, Henry was able to pick up the loose ball, throw in a few fakes, and put the game-winning goal into the net with 11 seconds left. After sophomore Grace Wehland won the following draw, the Bobcats were able to hold it for the last few seconds and put the game away!

“The ball was rolling back into the goal, so she had to flick it out really quickly,” Henry explains, “and it popped out of the crease and she couldn’t get there in time, so I picked it up, grabbed it, threw in a couple fakes and put it right in.”

Hillman and Henry led the team with four goals each, followed by single goals from Hall and Strobel. Senior goalkeeper and captain, Molly Loughlin played an incredible game, with nine saves. Wehland led the team in draw controls with four, followed by Hillman with three. The game caps off an incredible season for the Bobcats, in which they won multiple huge games against great teams, including nationally ranked Episcopal Academy, John Carroll, C. Milton Wright, and Westminster High School in the Regional Final.

“This season was led by a special group of student-athletes,” says head coach Kristen Barry. “We had big wins over Episcopal Academy, John Carroll and CMW; however, we also suffered some heartbreak with losses to Fallston, Howard, and Westminster. With strong leadership from the captains and our family bond, the team stuck together and supported one another. This was one of the most talented teams I have been fortunate enough to coach, but the level of unselfishness was what made this team so awesome and ultimately it drove them to earn the program’s first championship title in school history. What a special time for Bel Air Lacrosse and I am just grateful to have been able to witness these girls’ accomplishments.”

The Bobcats will return next season with many key players, including soon-to-be seniors Hillman, Henry, Lauren Asher and Megan Dee, and will pick up many new talents. The team will look to continue the success that they experienced this year, and return to the coveted State Championship game. Congratulations girls on an incredible season! Go Bobcats!