Girl's Lax loses to Wildcats

In its fourth year in existence, girls' lacrosse clearly showed that it could compete with the powerhouses of the county. The team advanced to the second round of the playoffs on May 11, giving Walter Johnson High School a run for its money before falling 12-8.

The Wildcats, one of the best girls programs in Montgomery County, were surprised by the Blazers tough competitiveness. Expecting an easy win, the Wildcats underestimated the much-improved Blazer team that they crushed 15-3 earlier in the season. The Blazers failed to convert on several chances late in the game, however, and ultimately lost to the defending 4A/3A champs, dropping their record to 5-9.

Coach Mike Horne felt that the final score did not represent the game. "We had them on the ropes a couple times," he said.
The most impressive game of the season was in the first round of the playoffs on May 9, when Blair got a second chance against a Churchill High School squad that they had lost to on Apr 19 and last year in the first round of the playoffs. In the rematch, the girls had trouble with the Bulldogs at first but pulled away with an 18-8 win. Senior co-captain Karin Brown tallied nine goals and one assist.

Horne felt that the Churchill game was a turning point in the year. "That was the defining game of the season. It just proved to the girls what they were capable of doing," he said. "Rarely was it brought together all on the same day, but I think on that day they did."

Blair will be losing most of their offensive firepower next year with seven seniors graduating. Brown and senior co-captain Sara Hirschler led the team in scoring. Brown, Blair's all time leading scorer, had 134 goals and 7 assists, and Hirschler, with 72 goals and 21 assists, had the most assists. Combined, they scored seven of the eight goals at Walter Johnson.

As for next year, Horne is optimistic. "We are losing our biggest scorers, but I think we have a lot of young players that will step up the void that is being left," he said. Blair's outstanding starting goalie, sophomore Anna Benfield, who, according to Horne, bailed the team out on many occasions this year, will return.

A superb starting defensive unit composed of juniors Brigid McCarthy, Kristina Cammen and sophomore Mckenzie Robinson will also be returning for an encore season.