By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

Blake girl’s lacrosse coach Christine Denny doesn’t shout much from the sidelines. But she found herself hoarse following Tuesday’s 4A/3A West semifinal game.

That’s because the game went through two overtimes and was only settled in a golden-goal triple overtime, where Blake’s Justine Allen was assisted by Ashley Martin for the game-winning goal about a minute-and-a-half into the third overtime.

Final score: Blake 19, Churchill 18.

“It was a game,” Denny said. “It was amazing. I’m losing my voice now because it was crazy. … It was very very aggressive play on both sides. Ashley picked up a ground ball and fed it Justine. It was the perfect. She was wide open, shot scored.”

Blake (12-2) was trailing 15-9 with about nine minutes to play. Denny took a timeout and told the girls that they obviously had to step it up. But even Denny didn’t know how much that would help.

“At that point you’re thinking, ‘Ok we’re playing a good game, but they’re up 6,’” Denny said. “How likely is it that we’re going to win?’ My girls just came back with vengeance.”

Denny said the difference in her girls’ play from that point on was drastic, as if jogging had turned to sprinting.

Allen finished the game with seven goals and an assist. Martin notched four goals and two assists, Nicky Wannen scored five goals, Darin Murray had two goals and two assists and Jane Grenaldo chipped in a goal.

“My girls came from behind; that just means a lot to me because it shows they never give up,” Denny said. “They were absolutely focused and determined to win. They never gave up. At some point they started to get frustrated. They knew the mistakes they were making were easy to fix. At that point they knew they could fix it.”

Blake will now face Wootton, who beat the Bengals 18-8 on April 25, in the regional finals. Wootton handed the Bengals their only regular-season loss last year as well. But Denny feels her girls are more prepared to play Wootton this time around because Churchill plays a similar game to the Patriots.

“We are just ready to beat them,” Denny said. “It’s our time.”


Wootton 15, Bethesda-Chevy Chase 9

Wootton took an early lead and never relinquished it in a convincing 15-9 win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase in the other 4A/3A West regional semifinal.

Top-seeded Wootton, who went up 5-1 in the first 15 minutes, got five goals and four assists from Julie Klatzin, four goals and one assist from Liza Kaplan, two goals and an assist from Joanna Sonley and one goal and two assists from Molly Berman,who led the team in ground balls. Goalie Amelia Titus made 20 saves.

Wootton led 7-2 at halftime.

“I definitely think we’re playing pretty well,” Wootton coach Anne-Marie Ritzell said. “We’re definitely much more composed than we were last year and I hope we continue to be so tomorrow.”