Severna Park seniors Julie Gardner and Allison Behringer grew up together, played lacrosse together and were recruited by the same Division I schools together.
And with the way they are playing, they could very easily accomplish another feat together: win a second straight Class 4A/3A state title.
“We have been playing together since we were young,” Behringer said. “We are always together in preseason, shootaround, running to get in shape and we kind of do everything together.”
And that?s the way Gardner likes it.
“We have been together forever,” she said. “I consider [Behringer] my best friend and it?s great to play with her throughout elementary, middle and high school.”
But as good as Gardner, who had 50 goals and 15 assists last season, and Behringer, who also is an All-Examiner selection as a field hockey player, have been, the midfielders are buoyed by a team that is becoming closer each week.
Gardner jokingly described it as “mixing and mingling,” but Coach Carin Peterson said the growth has been paramount to the team?s success. On bus rides to away games, the seniors can?t sit in the back of the bus or beside each other, as they must interact with younger teammates. The same goes for pregame warmups and practices: no cliques.
When it comes time to carry in water jugs or equipment after the game, grade or status as a starter are moot.
Peterson?s philosophy certainly has worked. The top-ranked Falcons (13-0 overall, 10-0 Anne Arundel County) have steamrolled the competition. The Falcons, led by 12 seniors who will play at a Division I or II school next spring, have defeated fourth-ranked Severn, 14-8, fifth-ranked Broadneck, 18-9, and St. Mary?s, 14-4.
“It?s hard to stop a team, but easy to stop an individual,” Peterson said. “As long as they continue to do what they are doing, they will do very well.”
But it hasn?t been easy trying to duplicate last season?s 20-0 record. Behringer, who will play for Princeton next spring, said getting the team focused for each game is her job as a team captain.
Gardner, who is committed to Virginia, agreed that sometimes in games against lesser teams that can be difficult, but the Falcons looked totally focused in a 22-0 win at Old Mill (2-8) on Tuesday.
“They stay late and they work hard,” Peterson said. “It?s always 100 percent, and they work on their weakness and it?s hard to find a weakness in them. They can play right-handed, they can play left-handed, they can play offense, they can play defense and it?s because they work at it.”
