Severna Park boys lacrosse couldn’t shake Marriotts Ridge. Its shots didn’t strike with the same pinpoint accuracy, its defense didn’t stop opposing attacks with the same aggression. As such, the Mustangs trailed by only two goals in the final minute of the first half and threatened to pull even closer.
Falcons coach Bob Zichelli appreciated the lead. “The bad news is, we’re not playing well,” he said.
By the coach’s estimation, all the Falcons needed to start the second half on the right foot was possession of the ball and a couple decent clears. Ultimately, those directions and the three goals they provided were enough to push Severna Park over the top in the Class 3A state semifinals, 10-7, for a chance to win its eighth straight state title against Towson at Stevenson University next week.
Marriotts Ridge toiled through tough battles at nearly every step of the playoffs — a walk over coals the Falcons (16-1) couldn’t relate to. Severna Park won its previous game by double-digits. They needed this wake-up jolt before next week’s final.
“We know it’s not going to be a cake walk [next week],” senior Jack Fish said.
At the risk of a “bad-mouthing” moment, Zichelli gave an honest assessment: “Our offense was awful. The worst we’ve been all year.”
The Falcons netted five first-half goals but turned the ball over seven times. Each time they did, the Mustangs used the chances cleverly, holding the ball as long as they could before shooting to manipulate the clock. Midfielder Quinn Jenkins followed through, launching two early shots past Severna Park goalkeeper Calvin Winship.
When the Falcons overwhelmed the Howard County squad by 12 goals in early April, they didn’t move with the same “intensity” Fish recognizes can only be sparked in a state semifinal atmosphere. He never expected another easy ride to the championship game like the Falcons had last year when they routed Chopticon by double figures.
The senior attackman tipped his glittering gold helmet to Mustangs goalkeeper Ian Murphy, too.
“He had a few doorstep saves where I couldn’t believe he did it. Even that first shot I took at the beginning of the game — pretty good shot, right through the five hole, and he denied it right away,” Fish said.
Winship didn’t have the best start. After accidentally knocking down the net the minute he stepped onto the field for warmups, a flash headache and stomach ache ripped through him so blindingly that the goalkeeper wandered offsides mid-play just to find relief on the sideline in the first quarter.
But he, too, rallied and amassed nine saves, especially when the Falcons worked to pull ahead in the third. Winship stood tall, snatching most of Marriotts Ridge’s attempts.
“For us, it was about keeping a level head. If you let one in, don’t let too many in after that,” Winship said. “If they start to pile on, settle everybody down.”
Jenkins answered Fish’s early third-quarter goal with his own to make it 6-5, and Severna Park was no closer to its goal. The Falcons swirled around the Mustangs’ net and Marriotts Ridge moved with them, nipping the chance to break away for a goal.
Things changed when Fish spotted Nolan Grizzle in a spot of open field. One goal was enough to put two between themselves and the Mustangs. Three threatened to derail Marriotts Ridge’ momentum for good at 9-5.
Even as the attacks pressed in, Marriotts Ridge dragged to respond until, finally, Boston Brown slipped a goal past Winship. The Mustangs surged against the Falcons’ defense.
But it wasn’t enough. That third quarter padding sustained Severna Park through another pair of Mustangs goals.
But one more Falcons goal to ice the cake didn’t hurt. After Murphy ate another of his teammates’ shots, Fish curled around the cage and funneled most of his power into his goal — and the rest into a celebratory spin and elbow pump.
“We were clicking, starting to pick it up,” Fish said. “They weren’t beating us, we were beating ourselves. If we played the way we usually played, it would not have ended up 10-7.”
Marriotts Ridge — 1 3 1 2 — 7
Severna Park — 2 3 4 1 — 10
Goals: MR — Jenkins 3, Ma. Machiran 2, Brown 1, Mi. Machiran 1; SP — Fish 4, Grizzle 2, Williams 1, Sullivan 1, Moran 1, Ruppert 1; Assists: MR — Jenkins 2; SP — Moran 1, Fish 1
