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By Andy States
SMAC Content Manager

During his time at the helm of Leonardtown's girls lacrosse team, Coach Ken McIlhenny has tried to produce an offensive attack as balanced and dangerous as possible, with the goal being for seven players to account for 75 percent of the team's goals.

While the team has had its top five or six goal scorers account for that total in the past, this year its hit that number seven. The Raiders hope that balance will help them achieve greater success when the regional playoffs begin late next week.

"I have seven girls sitting out there that are threats," McIlhenny said following Leonardtown's 12-3 win over the visiting Huntingtown Hurricanes on Thursday night. "It's hard for [the opposition] to defend against seven girls that are threats to everybody."

On Thursday night, Leonardtown (10-0) rolled out to a 7-0 lead at the end of the half. The Raiders have scored in double digits every game this season, and while the 12 goals was its lowest output of the regular season, it featured nine different goal scorers against one of the tougher opponents in the conference in Huntingtown (7-4).

"It was a good game," said McIlhenny, whose team defeated Great Mills 17-7 on Tuesday. "Today we knew it was going to be a little more intense.

"Our girls really stepped it up. It was probably the best I've seen them play in a long time."

Katelyn Blondino, Shannon Bonnel and Taelar Errington each tallied two goals to lead the Raiders.

"We definitely came into this game knowing it would be an intense game," Errington said. "We were pumped up and ready to go."

Katherine Athens scored early in the second half to get the Hurricanes on the board, and scored twice to lead the visitors. But as has been the case for all other SMAC clubs this season, the Hurricanes were overmatched against Leonardtown.

The Raiders, three-time defending SMAC champs entering this season, have averaged a winning margin well into double digits. Leonardtown is scheduled to play at Saint Mary's Ryken today and caps the regular season against Patuxent next Tuesday in a game that could clinch a fourth straight conference championship. Leonardtown was a 15-4 victor over Patuxent, swhich occupies econd place in SMAC with one loss, when the teams met close to a month ago.

"It definitely comes down to teamwork," Errington said. "We've all been working hard in practice and it all goes into what we do in practice and how hard we work. We've been working really hard and it's been paying off for us."

Leonardtown 12, Huntingtown 3
H    0    3
L    7    5
Goals
Huntingtown: Athens 2, Ross
Leonardtown: Blondino 2, Bonnel 2, Errington 2, Day, Donovan, Finkelston, Lynch, Roper, Tippett

astates@digitalsports.com