Rams upset in girls lacrosse playoffs

Linganore 11, Rockville 9

‘‘We were disappointed,” Rockville coach Janis Maloney said. ‘‘At the same time, I think the girls understand that when you step outside Montgomery County [competition], you do not know what you are going to get.”

In fact, the Lancers followed a distinct game plan to a tee. After seizing an early lead on Rockville (10-2), Linganore tried to run, but that tactic let the speedy Rams back in the game. The Lancers had trouble keeping Schmidt off the board, as she scored five goals to help Rockville’s charge.

But after allowing Rockville to score two goals to open the second half, to cut its lead to two, Linganore pulled off an epic stall. Passing the ball back and forth, and refusing to take shots on goal even when presented with that option, the Lancers held the ball for the final 17 minutes to claim the victory.

‘‘I have never seen anyone not take a shot on goal when they had the opportunity,” Maloney said. ‘‘But, they did what they wanted to do. They are fast, they are skilled and they are well coached. They executed their game plan.”

The game also gave Rockville a bit of a lesson on how much farther it may need to go in order to win a regional title. In Montgomery County’s 3A⁄2A⁄1A Division, where the Rams play most of their games, there is marked disparity. While division winner Poolesville has advanced to the 2A-1A West Region final, every other team in the division was eliminated by the end of the first week of the playoffs.

‘‘We know that there is a difference in the skill level in the teams that we face in the regular season,” Maloney said. ‘‘We understand that we have to get out of the county. This game showed us how important it is to be a well-balanced team.”

On the offensive end, however, Rockville should flourish again next season. The Rams will lose Schmidt, who led the team with 76 goals this season, and finished her three-year varsity career with 175 goals. And they will lose Johnsey, who led the team in ground balls the past two seasons. But returning are junior attackers Emily Owen, Danielle Duplain and Anna Weber.

‘‘We are looking forward to next season,” Maloney said. ‘‘We have kids that can score, and they are still developing. We aren’t going to stop here.”