As the girls' lacrosse season winds down through a process of elimination, at the end of each game there are two basic emotions — unbridled joy for the winners and sobs for the losing side.
That's how it was Thursday afternoon as Glenelg Country School defeated Park School, 12-8, in an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference semifinal.
While the Dragons were celebrating, the Park players sat with their heads down, contemplating what led to the end of their season.
It's easy to point out Glenelg Country's draw control and ground ball control as being important factors.
The Dragons also had a more balanced attack, led by sophomore Julia Sheehan's five goals and two assists, and the home team figured out how to play against Park's new backer zone defense.
"We've learned the backer defense in the last two days of practice, and I think it was really successful," said Natalie Rudin, one of 10 seniors on the Park team.
"We really have not been exposed to the backer," which is like they have a double-team on the ball, explained Sheehan. "You have to constantly keep moving the ball."
The first half went back and forth as Glenelg Country tried to figure out what worked offensively.
Rudin's goal with 1:26 left in the first half tied the score, 4-4, and also became a turning point in the game.
With Megan Hooper taking the center draw, Lizzy Rice came up with the ball, which ended up in Hannah Glaros' stick. The freshman weaved her way through Park's defense to put the Dragons up 5-4 with 19.7 left in the half.
Rice also got the following draw and scored on a restart only 12 seconds later.
"That was almost a back-breaker," said Park coach Robin Lowe, whose team could never quite catch up the rest of the game.
"One thing we do really, really well is adjusting," said Hooper.
Sheehan said the Dragons are a second-half team. "That's when it kicks in."
With a several-goal advantage in the second half, Glenelg Country was able to spread its offense and run time off the clock.
The move put Park's defense in a quandary. Go out and pressure or stay back and wait?
"You want to put pressure on the ball, but you also don't want gaping holes in the defense," Rudin said.
Glenelg Country's patience paid off.
"We took care of the ball when we needed to," said coach Paige Walton. "All of our girls played great. They played as a team and the defense stepped up."
The Dragons got good games from defenders Julia O'Loughlin, Deja Hursey and Koko Etokebe and goalie Kelly Layton (five saves).
Glenelg Country will play Mercy for the B Conference title at 1 p.m., Sunday, at Gerstell Academy in Finksburg. Mercy reached the championship game by upsetting second-seeded Friends, 11-9.
Glenelg Country is the tournament's top seed.
Glenelg Country School 12, Park School 8
Goals: GCS — Julia Sheehan 5, Lizzy Rice 2, Alyssa Arnold 2, Hannah Glaros 2, Carly Costello. P — Sabina Diaz-Rimal 3, Natalie Rudin 2, Daisy Olshansky, Michelle Pais, Kenya Boston.
Assists: GCS — Julia Sheehan 2, Lizzy Rice. P — Natalie Rudin.
Saves: GCS — Kelly Layton 7. P — Lexi Kuntz 3
Halftime: Glenelg Country, 6-4.