RAIDERS OF THE LOST LAX

 

By Mike Buchanan
mbuchanan@digitalsports.com

(Video below)
 

“Raiders of the Lost Lax” is back for a re-run performance  today, as Loch Raven is in search of the treasure – namely, a state lacrosse title.

Yesterday, in Towson, Loch Raven moved one step closer to finding that lost treasure, defeating Pikesville, 12-8, to win the girls’ 2A-1A North Region championship.

Because of the recent rain, Loch Raven was forced to play – and win – on back-to-back days to earn a berth in the State Final Four.  The Raiders dispatched Eastern Tech on Wednesday and then were right back on the field Thursday to face the Panthers from Pikesville.

After two wins in two days, Coach Danielle Grzebien’s squad will have to come back and win for a third straight day in order to advance to the state championship game.  The Raiders, a 1-seed from the North, will face Southern-AA on Friday at Reservoir High at 6:00 p.m., weather permitting.  Southern-AA, the 4-seed in its region, ousted Queen Anne’s, 8-7, to win the East Region.

On the other side of the 2A-1A bracket, Rising Sun (1-seed) eliminated North East (Cecil) to win the South and 3-seed Glenelg sent 1-seed Liberty home, 13-9, to win the West.

It was the third meeting of the season between Loch Raven and Pikesville.  The Raiders won the first two meetings, 13-5 and most recently, 12-10, just two weeks ago. Grzebien was a bit apprehensive about having to meet and defeat and a quality opponent for a third time.  But her Raiders were up to the task.

“This was the third time we’ve played Pikesville, and because of how tight it was both times, we made the adjustments we needed to make,” said Grzebien.  “The ladies stuck with the game-plan, with what works.  From the beginning of the season, this was the goal, to get to the Region finals, and beyond.”

After an initial stalemate, Kayla Stolins gave Loch Raven a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the game.  A Gabrielle Miller goal gave the hosts a 2-0 edge, but the Panthers answered with back-to-back scores to tie it.  Saval found the upper left corner of the net for Pikesville, and then Kreshtool rebounded a missed shot in front, with a nifty quick-stick score.

But Loch Raven answered with authority, going on a quick three-goal run in less than 60 seconds to reclaim the lead.  Stolins was the culprit again, scoring two straight goals at 9:24 and 9:00, the latter on a nice feed from Lindsey Ferris.  Draw control and another LR score made it a 5-2 lead with 8:48 on the clock.

A free position score from Kreshtool ended the run, but the Raiders added two more, both by Taylor Moyer.  First, the senior split two defenders from the left side and then added another score on a perfect  pass from Miller.

Pikesville got the final score of the half on a free position score from Seidman, but the hosts took a 7-4 lead into the break.

All coaches know that the opening few minutes of the second half are all-important.  If you trail, you want your team to get back in the game; if you lead, you want to prevent the opponent from creeping back in.  Loch Raven junior Emma Davis wasted no time in making a statement for her team, firing one in from the left side just 28 seconds into the half to push the lead up to four.

After a Panther score, the Raiders ran off three straight scores, the final two by Moyer, to build a commanding 11-5 lead with 6:19 left on the clock.  But instead of closing it out, Loch Raven left the door ajar, allowing two quick Pikesville goals.  However, that would be the extent of the comeback, as LR went on to win by four.

Moyer and Stolins led the Raider attack with four goals each, and Stolins added two assists.  Davis and Miller scored two each. Alyssa Russell was solid in goal with 10 saves.

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