Baltimore City's first entry in the MPSSAA state lacrosse semifinals may not have fared well on the scoreboard, but the experience gained yesterday at UMBC Stadium will last Edmondson's players a lifetime.

The fourth-seeded Redskins fell to top-seeded Annapolis, 18-0, in the 3A-4A state semifinal, but Edmondson coach Crawford Dennard considered it a great game.

"We've been blessed," said Dennard. "We were just fortunate to stand on this field and play such a talented and well-coached team as Annapolis.

L "I just told our kids that this was another lesson in life."

And Annapolis was the teacher.

The Panthers (15-2) outshot the Redskins, 32-9, controlled 16 of 20 faceoffs and had built a 12-0 lead by halftime.

Junior attackman Eric Morgan led Annapolis with four goals and three assists. Seniors Taylor Boone and Scott Regina had three goals each.

"We weren't trying to embarrass anyone," said Annapolis coach Dan Hart, who played his entire roster in the game. "We were just trying to execute. It's important for our starters to get some running time in preparation for the state championship game."

Annapolis will play Centennial, which beat Perry Hall, 9-5, in the other semifinal, for the 3A-4A state title 8 p.m. Wednesday at UMBC.

"We've scouted Centennial a couple of times, and that's going to be a tough game," said Hart.

"But we're humble enough and smart enough to know that you're only as good as your last game, and we have to come out and play 40 minutes of championship lacrosse.

"We want to return the state championship back to Annapolis."

The Panthers won state titles in 1984, '85 and '87.

Dennard says that playing teams such as Annapolis will help city schools learn the finer aspects of lacrosse.

"All the city schools are grouped in the same region," said Dennard, whose Redskins (11-4) beat Poly in the Eastern Regional final.

"How do we get better playing each other?

"We have to branch out and play county teams or what happened [yesterday] will happen every year."