From the moment the Glenelg girls lacrosse team stepped back onto the turf this spring, its goal was to get back to Stevenson for a chance to claim a second straight 3A-2A state title.

On Tuesday at Mustang Stadium, the hours of practice the No. 2 Gladiators put in culminated in a 12-3 victory over C. Milton Wright, completing the goal they sought from the start of the season.

“Our coaches have been telling us from the beginning that our goal every year is states or bust, and I think that is something we’ve really been working towards,” said Glenelg senior Lindsay LeTellier, who finished with two goals and two assists. “We work so hard in practice. Our coaches push us so hard and it really paid off today.”

The victory not only clinched the Gladiators’ fourth state championship, but completed the first undefeated season in program history after finishing 20-0.

“This group of kids is just awesome. To go 20-0, it’s wonderful because they work hard all the time,” Glenelg first-year coach Nicole Trunzo said. “They want to go hard. They get along. They get it done and it’s just amazing. They make coaching the best job ever. I love it.”

The Gladiators dominated possession against the Mustangs (10-7), winning all but two draw controls.

After winning the game’s first draw, Glenelg settled in offensively and after two minutes, LeTellier found some space around the crease, sliced her way to the cage and gave her team a 1-0 lead.

Jordan Landsman won the ensuing draw for the Mustangs, who put their first shot on Glenelg’s Maddie McSally (five saves) about 10 minutes in, but the sophomore made the stop. The Gladiators then pushed the ball down field, leading to a goal by Callahan to push the lead to two.

Taylor Marchetti scored C. Milton Wright’s first goal with 16:47 remaining before the break to cut the deficit in half, but Glenelg responded with four straight goals by Renehan, Maddy O’Brien, Alayna Pagnotta and Callahan to bring the halftime lead to 6-1.

The Gladiators continued their dominance in the circle in the following 25 minutes, winning all eight draws in the second half, which helped extend their lead to eight before the Mustangs scored again.

“I have never worked so hard for something in my life and that is what makes it feel even better, because we know how hard we have worked and we just wanted to prove that we belong up top,” Callahan said. “Finishing with a state championship is just the best feeling in the world.”

Glenelg’s motto has been “Level 10,” a mantra assistant Pagnotta brought this year. After every game, the Gladiators talked about bringing that “Level 10” effort to every practice, every game and every possession. And with the state championship trophy in hand, they agreed the work they put in was well worth the feeling of claiming another state championship.

“They both feel great. This one feels better,” LeTellier said. “I just feel like personally, our team worked even harder than last year even though last year we didn’t even think it was possible. We just wanted to come back here so much. Every day coach Alex and coach Trunzo, telling us that ‘Level 10,’ and every day it made us really hungry to come back here and get another one.”

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Goals: G — Callahan 3, O’Brien 2, LeTellier 2, Pagnotta 2, Esmond 1, Renehan 1, Scheinberg 1; CMW — Hoover 1, Marchetti 1, Murray 1. Assists: G — Renehan 2, LeTellier 2; CMW — Hoover 1. Saves: G — McSally 5; CMW — Dipeso 6. Halftime: 6-1, Glenelg.