If you want to see what a dynasty resembles, just take a look at Garrison Forest.
The Grizzlies already own three of the last four Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championships, and could well be on their way to making it four in five years.
Of the nine teams in the A Conference, the Grizzlies (9-1) are the only one without a loss and are outscoring opponents 32-6.
None of this comes as a surprise to Garrison Forest coach Traci Davis, who said she expected top performances from her team all along.
"We have a large number of returning players from last year's team," said Davis, noting nine starters. "We are in our second year with this group, and that's a really good thing."
It wasn't a good thing when starting goalie Kendall Kuntz broke a foot in the preseason, leaving the team without another goalie.
That is, until the unflappable Ali Flax stepped in to save the season and a slew of enemy shots.
Although the senior had never played goalie before, she already looks like a seasoned veteran in the cage. The Garrison Forest coaching staff raves about her progress.
"It's a very tricky position," Davis said. "You have to have someone who is mentally tough, has confidence in her teammates and has a very positive demeanor. And she has done it in amazing fashion. She is special."
Flax could be the Grizzlies' MVP after recording five shutouts only halfway through the season with several more a possibility.
"All of our players have relaxed into their positions because she is a really good athlete," Garrison Forest assistant coach Leigh McDonald said. "She has enabled everyone to not even think about her being a new goalie."
Flax must have a ton of confidence a defense that features an all-junior backline of Claire Schuler, Merritt Davis, Garland Mooney and Claire Forbes.
On Sept. 28, Severn simply couldn't figure out Garrison's defense in a 4-0 loss to the host Grizzlies.
"They play a team defense," Severn coach Jen Steele said. "They have one girl pressuring the ball and she always has two girls on either side of her. They are ready to pick up anything that goes either way. They are really hard to get around."
The Grizzlies can score, too — in bunches, thanks to a strong frontline of juniors Adler Brooke, Austin Davis and Erica Marshall.
Feeding the frontline is the talented midfield spearhead by senior Lauren Cover, junior Geagy Pritchard and sophomores Megan Rossi and Julie Legar.
"We have some highly skilled players who can literally move the ball down the field, dodging people," said Davis, whose team's only loss came at the hands of perennial Class 4A state champion Severna Park. "It might not be easy, but they make it look easy. They just have some nice stick skills."