Boys lacrosse
Falcons pick up where they left off in last year’s title game
No. 4 Severna Park gets off to fast start, dominates Howard in second half, 15-5
Severna Park boys lacrosse is about playing fast, aggressive and confident.
It’s about getting in extra shooting during days off and making the scoreboard the priority on gameday.
Mostly, it’s about winning.
In Monday’s Class 4A-3A East Section I final against visiting Howard, the defending state champion Falcons continued their season-long roll. They got off to a good start and then confidently handled the Lions’ second-quarter push before dominating the second half for a comfortable 15-5 win at Kinder Farm Park.
The No. 4 Falcons improve to 17-0 this season and will take a 34-game winning streak into Wednesday’s region title game. They will return to Kinder Farm Park to host Section II winner South River at 3:30 p.m.
Monday was a rematch of last year’s state title game — a 9-3 Severna Park win over the Lions that produced the program’s sixth championship. Outside of a dominant effort from Howard junior faceoff specialist Felix Knorr, who won 22 of 23 draws, the Falcons were simply across the board better in the rest of the facets Monday.
Senior attackman Trevor Patschorke finished with six goals and four assists; sophomore goalie Shane Carr made nine saves; and the defense led by senior Cullen Joyce stood its ground with the Lions getting so many possessions. Chase Cope added three goals.
“I think our guys came out and played really hard today, put in 100 percent effort from the beginning of the game to the end. Our execution lacked at times, but that’s when our effort makes up for it and I think that’s attributed to everything we do in practicing coming out here and just getting better,” Patschorke said.
The last thing Severna Park coach David Earl told his Falcons before the game was to win the first quarter and go from there. They did just that, taking hold with two goals from Cope, another by Patschorke and a big save from Carr to take a 3-0 lead after one quarter.
After the Lions cut the lead to 3-2 on a goal from Michael Travisano (three goals) with 7:34 to play in the half, the Falcons took over. They got goals from Patschorke and Dean Draughn for a 5-2 halftime lead and scored the first three in the third quarter to win going away.
“It’s a great group of guys — I love this team,” Joyce said. “We had a good group of seniors, but it’s all about this year and we talk about what’s on the front of the jersey. We don’t really care about what’s on the stat sheet. I know we got guys with a ton of points, some ridiculous number, but all we care about is what’s on the scoreboard.”
Howard, which outscored Meade and Arundel by a combined 38-5 to reach Monday’s section final, finishes the season 11-6. Coach Jimmy Creighton said that, much like last year’s title game, the Falcons’ team speed was too tough to stay with.
“Failed clears, turnovers in the middle of the field turned right into goals, and we just couldn’t avoid those enough today to be successful,” he said.
In addition to applauding the precise and tireless work from Knorr on Monday, he was pleased with what he got from his Lions this season.
“Effort level was through the roof — wouldn’t want it any other way and I wouldn’t want to go to battle with any other guys. I’m just proud of their effort,” he said.
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