Twelfth-ranked Hereford entered Saturday's Baltimore County boys lacrosse championship game boasting one of the metro area's most stingy defenses. Facing host Towson, however, the Bulls' best defense might have been its offense.
Using efficient, clock-burning possessions that often ended in goals, Hereford kept the powerful Generals offense stagnant for much of the afternoon in an 11-8 win to capture their eighth county title in nine years.
"We had great offensive possessions," Bulls coach Sal Picataggi said. "They were smart. Even when we didn't score, I think we hit four or five posts. We got great looks. The possessions were time-consuming. They were smart. We didn't force it. That's huge. Towson is having a great year, so keeping it away from them … the more possession the better."
Junior Joey Chestnutt time and again gave Hereford (14-1) the ball by winning 15 of 23 faceoffs, then teammates Matt Lewis (four goals) and Cole Quattrocche (three goals, two assists) finished the job. Each scored during an eight-minute stretch during the second quarter in which Hereford broke an early tie by scoring four out of five goals to take a 7-4 lead.
"We go against the best defense in practice every single day. Going against a defense like that, you really learn a lot," Lewis said. "We were able to just translate it in this game against a very good defense, as well. We were able to invert and get looks inside, and everything just kind of clicked."
The Bulls still haven't allowed an opponent to score in double digits this season.
Early in this one, it seemed as if Towson (10-3) would make a run at it.
Paced by seniors Jack Ware (two goals, two assists), Jordan Hummel (two goals) and Bobby Wiglesworth (two goals), the Generals remained in contention much of the way.
Tied at 3 after the first quarter, Hereford took the lead with back-to-back goals by Roby Flynn and J.D. Nozemack in a span of 33 seconds.
After Ware cut the deficit to one on an unassisted effort, the Bulls — following a slashing call on the Generals — got an extra-man goal by Lewis, and followed two minutes later with Quattrocche's third goal of the half to extend the lead to 7-4.
Still up by three heading into the fourth quarter, Hereford extended its lead with a goal of the faceoff by Lewis just seven seconds into the period, then put the game out of reach on Lewis' fourth goal of the day minutes later, making it 10-5.
Chestnutt's dominance on faceoffs was critical throughout.
"I've just been practicing being able to fire off the ball quick and being able to beat the guy right away off the whistle," Chestnutt said. "I've been practicing all my exits so they never know what I'm doing."
After losing the county title for the first time in eight years last season, the Bulls fulfilled a season-long goal by regaining the honor.
Picataggi credited his team's repetitions in practice.
"We've worked really hard on sharper possessions," Picataggi said. "We shoot, shoot, shoot everyday. This is my 23rd year doing this as a head coach, and I can't think of [another] team I've shot every day. [With] this team we have because we needed to, and it's finally paying off."
Boys lacrosse
Baltimore County championship
(at Towson High)
Hereford 11, Towson 8
Goals: T- Hummel 2, Ware 2, Wiglesworth 2, Palmer, Bell; H-Lewis 4, Quattrocche 3, Nozemack, Tiller, Middleton, Flynn. Assists: T-Palmer 2, Ware 2; H- Quattrocche 3, Mozelack Nozemack, Tiller, Carr. Saves: T-Curry 9; H-Williams 5. Half: Hereford, 7-4.