Loch Raven High School made history Wednesday afternoon.
The Raiders won their first boys lacrosse state title by defeating defending champion, and previously undefeated, Parkside, 10-7, in the Class 2A-1A state final. The last appearance in the state finals for Loch Raven was a semifinal loss in 1991.
Junior attackman Eric Friant scord four goals and notched two assists for Loch Raven (13-4) at UMBC.
“This has been building up for two years. The majority of the starters are seniors. This was for them,” said Friant, whose team had 14 seniors on a roster of 30.
Later Wednesday, the Dulaney girls defeated Severna Park, 11-9, for the 4A-3A state title at UMBC.
Friant scored twice in the first half, which ended with the Loch Raven leading a low-scoring battle with Parkside, 3-1. The tempo picked up in the second half as the Raiders and Rams combined for 11 goals in the third quarter.
Parkside ended the year at 17-1.
Tim Homa and David Meninger both scored for Loch Raven, while Homa added two assists and Meninger had one. Danny Hunter had a goal and an assist and Matt Chase scored a goal.
Senior Tom Kuntzman was busy in goal for Loch Raven. Kuntzman had 15 saves.
“I was just feeling it out today,” Kuntzman said. “I wanted this so bad, I was not letting anything by me.”
Loch Raven head coach Rob Persing praised Kuntzman. “He was a brick wall,” Persing said.
Parkside senior Mike Ruark had four goals.
“We knew we had a dogfight going in,” said Persing, who played lacrosse at Syracuse from 1987-1990. Persing said that he scouted Parkside and made adjustments after seeing game films of the Wicomico County team.
“These seniors are going out making history, becoming the first team ever to win a state title,” Persing said.
RAIDING THE CHAMPIONSHIP
» Eric Friant finished the season as the scoring leader for Loch Raven with 50 goals, with 11 assists.
» Danny Hunter was the points leader for Loch Raven in 2006 with 66 (37 goals).
