The Hereford boys lacrosse team wasn't able to grab a lead against host C. Milton Wright until the final minute of the third quarter in Wednesday's Class 3A-2A North region title game.
But once the Bulls did, they showed how to protect it.
Hereford fended off a two-minute penalty early in the fourth quarter, got a goal from senior Ben Bittner and then played more impressive defense to claim an 11-9 win over the Mustangs.
It's the eighth straight state tournament appearance for Hereford, which finished as the runner-up last year after winning the previous six state crowns. The Bulls (13-4) will take on East region champion Kent Island in the semifinal round set for Friday or Saturday at Annapolis High.
On Wednesday, Bitner added five assists to his big insurance goal; Neil Lavietes scored four times and Matt Lewis added three goals an assist. Goalie Brody Bartell made nine saves with strong support in front of him. With the game tied at 7 going into intermission, the Bulls yielded just two goals the rest of the way.
"Our defense always plays a role in our big victories. We play very aggressive because we never worry if we're a man down — our man-down is just as good as our six-on-six. They're obviously well coached by Steve Turnbaugh and our goaltending is great," Hereford coach Sal Picataggi said.
Getting to states again didn't come easy for the Bulls with the Mustangs (11-6) doing all they could to try to make it their turn.
But after Lewis tied the game at 9 with 1:09 left in the third quarter, Cole Quattrocche (one goal, two assists) won the ensuing draw and the Bulls took the lead seven seconds later when Bryant Tiller made it 10-9.
Bittner's insurance goal, a couple saves from Bartell and some key possession time helped the Bulls secure the win.
Jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the Mustangs never trailed in the first half and had a second-quarter stretch where they looked primed to pull away. Tied at 4 early in the quarter, the Mustangs attack got rolling. Goals from Andrew Mastromanolis, Jacob Smucker and Robert Elliott — all coming in a one minute, 42 second stretch — gave the home team the lead and momentum.
But just as fast, the Bulls replied. Tim Popowski scored to end the Mustangs run of goals and Lavietes scored two goals just 28 seconds apart to get the Bulls even at 7 with 3:59 to play in the first half.
The Mustangs, who claimed a 6-5 win at Hereford early in the season, got a four-goal effort from Cade Dail with goalie Philip Venanzi strong in the cage with nine saves.
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