Last week, Franklin?s boys lacrosse team was riding high after ending Dulaney?s seven-year reign as Baltimore County champions. Today, the Indians are left wondering what might have been after losing to Fallston on Monday in the Class 3A-2A North region semifinals, 10-8.
Sophomore Luke Raab scored six goals, and freshman attack Patrick Mull?s had two goals and two assists for Fallston (11-6), which now advances to Wednesday?s region final against either North Harford or Hereford. Senior Matt Higgins had three goals and two assists and Tom Montanye had two goals and an assist for Franklin (12-2), which was the region?s top seed entering the tournament.
“We knew we had a young team from the beginning,” said Fallston coach Matt Parks, who had 20 seniors graduate from last year?s team. “We had a lot of guys with little varsity experience, but with a lot of work and teaching, it?s all starting to come together.”
Franklin appeared to have the early edge Monday after jumping out toa 2-0 first quarter lead. However, after rallying to tie the score at 3-3, Fallston went on the offensive and outscored Franklin 4-1 in the second quarter. The Cougars eventually built a four-goal lead before the Indians scored the game?s final two goals.
Franklin?s biggest nemesis throughout much of the game was itself, as the Indians made a number of poor passes and had a hard time adjusting to the sloppy field conditions after heavy rain. Indians? coach Scott Laudman refused to use the field conditions as an excuse.
“We played sloppy, but it was not all because of the poor field,” he said. “We made too many mistakes and they played on the same field we did.”
Along with Raab?s and Mull?s offensive production, Fallston received solid defensive efforts from a number of different players, including sophomore goalie Brad Motley. Motley finished the contest with 14 saves.
“We wanted to come out and prove a point we?re not a young team anymore,” Motley said. “We thought we could be a good team next year, but now we have a chance to prove that?s true this year.”
UPSET WIN
» Fallston was a much different team when it faced Franklin April 19, as it lost that game, 12-6.
» Franklin recorded one of the biggest wins of the season May 9 when it defeated Dulaney for the Baltimore County championship. That loss snapped Dulaney?s 73-game county win streak.
