Fallston won its fourth Class 1A-2A North region boys lacrosse title in five years Wednesday in dominant fashion, beating host Harford Tech, 18-1.
Bel Air, meanwhile, won its second region title and first since 2012, beating visiting Franklin, 15-8, for the 3A-4A South region title.
In Fallston's win, the Cougars (13-4) took nearly half a quarter to score, but once they did, the rout was on. The Cougars scored three first quarter goals and added six in the second quarter for a 9-0 halftime lead.
Six more goals in quarter three blew the game open completely and it initiated the running clock for the rest of the game.
The Cougars defense of RJ Olin, Andrew Taylor and Luke Tamberino wreaked havoc on the Tech attack, limiting shots, forcing numerous turnovers off bad passes and winning most of the ground balls after jarring the ball free from a Tech stick.
"I think we had a lot to do with them not being able to transfer the ball and our guys were in their hands the whole time," Cougars coach Matt Parks said. "Not doing crazy checks, but just enough to harass them into knowing that those guys are there and that's what we've been trying to get them to do and I'm glad they're doing it now."
When the Cobras were able to keep possession and get a shot, Cougars goalie Liam Wilcox was up to the test. His first two saves were from point blank range and he finished with eight, before giving way to Scott Olin, who made two.
"He played phenomenal," Parks said of Wilcox. "He's been our starter for three years now and he's been here before. I think he took last year's loss to Southern to heart a little bit and put a little bit on himself, so I think, now, it's that time, and he's ready to go."
The Cougars lost the region final in double overtime last year.
Ben Claffee and Matt Wollenweber netted four goals apiece to pace nine Fallston players with goals. Dylan Wolf, Andrew Stump and Ryan Buckler had two goals each. Single goals were scored by Joe Maranto, Sam Gold, Jake Lippa and Jake Hornbeck.
Tech (10-3) avoided the shutout with Justin Steen finding the nets as time expired.
Wilcox had eight saves in the goal for the Cougars, with Scott Olin coming on to make two. Tech keeper Chris Stallings finished with 14 saves.
Fallston will meet Pikesville at 11 a.m. Saturday in one state semifinal at Northeast-Anne Arundel High School.
Bobcats win
Justin Calbrese scored four goals to pace the Bobcats (12-4). Finn Gottschalk added three goals, while Chase Oberlin and Evan Hulse netted two goals apiece. Devin Adams, Dylan Bielatowicz, Kasey Davenport and Keegan McHugh each had single goals.
Gottschalk added three assists and Oberlin had two. Hulse, Calabrese and Davenport had one assist each.
Bobcats goalie Chris Hagy finished with 14 saves. The Bobcats led at half, 6-3.
Bel Air will play Howard Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Gaithersburg High School.