When you have a game plan that works, you stick with it. Score early and often has been Glenelg's mantra this season.
The Gladiators worked it to perfection Wednesday, defeating Queen Anne's, 7-1, in a Class 2A state semifinal game at Broadneck High School. Glenelg will play Poolesville, a 2-1 winner over Century in the other semifinal. The championship game is slated for 11 a.m., Saturday, at Washington College.
Just one minute into play, Glenelg barely missed a tip-in goal, but the Gladiators quickly came back to score for real. Meagan Guthrie, Alyssa Parker and Meghan Milani put in goals in fast succession, giving their team a 3-0 lead after less than 6 minutes of play.
"We were expecting a difficult game, but it was shocking" how quickly Glenelg scored, said Queen Anne's Mollie Stevens.
The Lions were making their first trip to the state semifinals, and Glenelg wanted to take advantage of that.
"Our thing was to come out hard and strong," said Glenelg coach Ginger Kincaid. "We knew since they were inexperienced here, we knew we could put them back on their heels and there would be no way they could catch us."
Glenelg, the defending Class 2A state champion, was appearing in its fourth consecutive state semifinal.
Parker scored the second of her game-high four goals and Mary Kate Olson added another tally to put Queen Anne's in a 5-0 hole with nearly 12 minutes left in the first half. The five-goal difference forced a running clock.
Stevens put the Lions on the scoreboard with a solo run up the right side of the field.
"I was the only one up there. I dodged the defender and the goalie left the corner wide open, so I put the ball in," she said. It was her 14th goal of the season.
Queen Anne's had some other opportunities, but not many.
"If we got off quicker (on attack) we could have easily dodged their defense, but unfortunately we weren't able to get up (on attack) because we were defending our goal," Stevens said.
"It took us a while to get warm," said Queen Anne's coach Stephanie Kevan. "When Mollie scored that goal, that really helped us out.
"We kept up with Glenelg with good passes and everything, but when they are in the circle, they take every opportunity to score."
Glenelg led, 5-1, at the half. The Gladiators extended their lead to 7-1 with two more Parker goals, her 35th and 36th of the season.
"I've never seen us so excited to play a game. It's like an honor to be here because a lot of teams don't make it," Olson said. "From the start, we just had that energy. We were on our game tonight."
With a comfortable lead, Kincaid was able to get her eight seniors into the game. "That was important to me. It gave me great pleasure to get them all in," she said.
Reaching the state final game is something that Glenelg has been working toward all season.
"It was in the back of our minds every game," Parker said. "To get a chance to get back and play in that game."
Queen Anne's ended its season 12-4. Glenelg's record is now 17-1.
Goals: G - Alyssa Parker 4, Meghan Milani, Meagan Guthrie, Mary Kate Olson. QA - Mollie Stevens.
Assists: G - Morgan Philie 3, Danielle Baker 2, Emily Russo, Meagan Guthrie.
Saves: G - Amanda Hoyt 1. QA - Lauren Willmore 8.
Halftime: Glenelg, 5-1.