Glenelg won its fourth consecutive regional field hockey title, and fifth in six years, when the Gladiators defeated Marriotts Ridge, 3-0, Wednesday.
The score was not indicative of the game, which was contested from start to finish.
When Glenelg's Alyssa Parker scored the first goal of the Class 2A South Region final, her coach, Ginger Kincaid, called a timeout.
"See this face?" she asked her charges. "It's not a happy face."
Then she proceeded to tap dance on the Gladiators' pride, pointing out all the things they weren't doing. She told them what she thought they were playing like, and explained why they had just spent the opening minutes of the game against county rival Marriotts Ridge playing on their heels.
"The first 5 minutes was lights out," said Marriotts Ridge's Molly Fleming of her team's effort. "We had the ball on our side of the field as much as they did, maybe more."
Kincaid's timeout was "really smart," said Marriotts Ridge's Anne Zabel. "I think that their timeout kind of ruined our momentum. We still had it going, we wanted (to win) so bad, but I think that timeout messed us up."
Kincaid's timeout got her squad to focus on the task at hand.
"We had to regroup," said Parker. "We had to readjust and focus on our game."
Marriotts Ridge, which lost to Glenelg, 4-1, in the regular season, came out fired up.
"They had nothing to lose and being defending state champions, we had everything to lose," said Glenelg senior Mary Kate Olson. "They were going at it strong and we weren't playing our game."
Parker's goal, which came on a corner nearly 12 minutes into the game, was the first step to reset the tone. Nearly four minutes later Meagan Guthrie scored on another corner, with Parker getting the assist.
Stephanie Asher, assisted by Parker, tallied the final score of the game one minute before halftime.
The second half each team had opportunities, but neither scored.
"Ever since I've been on this team, they've ended our season," said Zabel.
Marriotts Ridge (12-4) was playing in its first regional final.
"Honestly, I think we played them tough," Fleming said. "We played a great game. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Glenelg is a great team, they really are."
"They got the job done," said Marriotts Ridge coach Stacie Gado.
Glenelg (16-1) advances to the state semifinals where it will play Queen Anne's Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. at Broadneck High School.
Goals: G - Alyssa Parker, Meagan Guthrie, Stephanie Asher. MR - none.
Assists: G - Alyssa Parker 2.
Saves: G - Amanda Hoyt 0. MR - Sophia Hamilton 10.
Halftime: Glenelg, 3-0.
Class 3A East
Mt. Hebron ended Centennial's bracket-busting march through Class 3A East with a 2-1 loss in the regional final.
The teams traded goals, with Mt. Hebron's Kelly Jones scoring on a corner midway through the first half. The Vikings lead held until three minutes into the second half when Erica Heaphy scored with an assist from Carey Whittenberger to tie the game up.
Just over three minutes later Jones sent the ball to Tianna Wallpher, who was playing the post, and Wallpher hit it in, giving Mt. Hebron a 2-1 lead.
"Then the game when back and forth and back and forth," said Mt. Hebron coach Jeannette Ireland. "It was a nail biter."
Centennial (9-8) had three offensive corners near the end of the game, but couldn't punch in another goal.
"At the end of the game, we finally cleared the ball to our 25," Ireland said. "When the final whistle blew, we all fell down. I am so proud of my girls, they hung on. They were running out of gas but they gutted it out."
Mt. Hebron (12-5) will play Huntingtown in the state semifinals at 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7 at Franklin High School.
"We've got our work cut out for us," Ireland said. "Everybody's good at this point."
Goals: MH - Kelly Jones, Tianna Wallpher. C - Erica Heaphy.
Assists: MH - Kelly Jones. C - Carey Whittenberger.
Saves: MH - Maddy Fisher 4. C - Caitlin Cleveland 7.
Halftime: Mt. Hebron, 1-0.