Severna Park girls lacrosse earns state-record 16th title by beating Dulaney, 12-6, in 3A final

Severna Park girls lacrosse knew Dulaney’s ability to keep pace was self-inflicted. As familiar as the state title stage was to the Falcons, threaded into the program’s legacy before they’d arrived, they’ve collected both silver and gold medals.

Heading into the second half, with only three goals between them, the Falcons had to remember what brought them to Stevenson University on Tuesday night.

Communication. Discipline. Dominance.

Severna Park leaned into its best qualities to stave off Dulaney, 12-6, and win the Class 3A state title for the second straight year. There will now be 16 girls lacrosse state championship trophies sitting proudly in the Severna Park hallways, surpassing Mt. Hebron for the most in Maryland history.

“We came together and [reminded] each other what we’ve been going by all year,” sophomore Maria Bragg said. “Play our game, not worrying what the other team is doing, but what we do right.”

The Falcons carried the pressure of expectations into the title game, but they knew they weren’t exactly pioneers; winning lacrosse games is baked into every Severna Park girl from generation to generation. Mt. Hebron, whose record the Falcons tied last spring, amassed the majority of its titles in the 1990s. Severna Park (19-1) spread its dynasty across four decades.

“Getting that ‘Sweet Sixteen’ is great, but Severna Park is lacrosse. With that comes pressure, and all these girls stand up to the pressure,” coach Annie Houghton said. “We play every game knowing everyone wants to beat us. It’s fun.”

Six scorers contributed to the Falcons’ triumph, a testament to just how balanced this year’s team had to become after graduations and the untimely injury of leading scorer Alyssa Gore-Chung in mid-April. Already, many of the current roster’s starters were new to their roles, and by withstanding that shake-up they were able to deal with the harshest challenges the season threw at them — the last of which will be carrying the program’s legacy into the future.

“Losing almost two people from every position, even the starters now, everyone has to push and get better at practice in games, understanding that there are positions to be filled and one game at a time to get to the state championships,” junior midfielder Erin Hussey said.

The Falcons battled from behind in the first quarter Tuesday only to nurse a fragile 4-3 lead at the buzzer. The second quarter didn’t afford them much more breathing room, with a goal apiece from Bragg and Hussey securing only a 7-4 advantage at halftime.

The defensive discipline that allowed an average of six goals per game fell just south of expectations in the first half. Despite their familiarity with the stage, the Falcons were tense. Dulaney managed to unsettle Severna Park by design, too, cycling in a constant wave of subs — a trick the Falcons only saw once all year.

Chemistry won over nerves in the third quarter. For two straight minutes, Severna Park’s defenders fended off Dulaney until junior defender Avery Saviano rattled free and “booked it,” per senior Ryn Feemster’s estimation, back down the field. The Falcons remained aggressive, but not too much — they’d learned to curtail some of their bite after too many cards cost them their one loss to Archbishop Spalding on April 19.

After letting a few shots slip by early, goalkeeper Allison Schiavone made three saves in the third quarter alone.

“It encouraged the offense to play for her, and play for each other,” senior midfielder Francesca Dunoyer said. “We just go on a run after that because we just pick each other up and keep going.”

The Lions’ tricks had run their course and timeouts did nothing to change it. Dulaney’s last goal flew in halfway through the third quarter, but the Falcons weren’t done. The Severna Park attack held for as long as it could until the Lions forced a turnover. In response, the Falcons quickly stole the ball back and launched two more goals from Bella Van Gieson and Sarah Stefancik.

“They’re good under pressure,” Feemster said. “They did it with Glenelg, every close game we’ve been into. They work so well under pressure, it’s unreal.”

Emotion clutched Dulaney as the Lions faced the end of a “magical” year. They shirked an early losing record (which included a defeat to the Falcons) to secure 10 consecutive victories and the Baltimore County championship.

“They’ve never given up, ever. Not in the last 22 seconds, not ever in this season,” Lions coach Kristi Korrow said. “They’ve got a lot of heart. This crew is unmatched. They went through so much together. It’s not one I’m going to forget.”

Dulaney — 3-1-2-0 — 6

Severna Park — 4-3-3-2 — 12

Goals: DU — Emde 1, Connor 1, Keppeler 1, Center 1, Jones 1; SP — Bragg 4, Van Gieson 2, Hussey 2, Dunoyer 1, Evans 1, Stefanick 1

Assists: DU — Crowley 1, Connor 1; SP — Bragg 1