Hereford Boys' Lacrosse Wins State Title

Hereford High School boys lacrosse notched their fourth straight Class 2A-3A state title with a 14-7 win over Middletown High School on Tuesday in front of a boisterous cow bell jingling crowd at UMBC Stadium. 

The Bulls won nine straight on their way to capturing the title. 

Senior attackman Tyler Dimes scored five goals and assisted on two others, junior midfielder Teddy Demiris scored once and won 18-of-23 faceoffs, and sophomore attackman Joe Seider had two each in goals and assists.

Junior midfielder Morgan Pritchett had two goals and an assist and senior attackman Chuck Stafford scored twice for the Bulls (19-1), whose lone defeat was by, 6-5, on April 23 to Class 2A-1A state champion Glenelg High School (19-1), ending the program's winning streak at 28-games.

But the Bulls went on a tear following the setback to the Glenelg Gladiators, and went a run that included a 11-4 rout of Class 4A-3A state finalist South River High School (16-3) on May 5.

"We were definitely flat in that [Glenelg] game. We just decided after that that we were not going to lose another one. We came out fired up after that game," said Seider. 

"It didn't matter who we were playing or where we were playing," Seider said. "We were going to try our hardest and just go 100 percent all of the time. We did great the rest of the season... We won states."

On Tuesday, the Bulls led, 2-1, early in the first quarter before scoring seven straight times for 9-1 lead at 4 minutes, 51 seconds of the second quarter. 

Their lead grew to as much as 10-2 at halftime, 12-2, early in the third quarter, and, 14-4, in the fourth, a period during which the Knights scored three times.

Freshman Jason Aswood scored once and sophomore Jack Adams had an assist for the Bulls, who also vanquished last year's Class 4A-3A state champion, Severna Park High School, 6-4, on April 4.

"No one outworks us. When we go out there, we might mess up on a few ground balls, or we might miss a couple of shots, or miss a pass here and there, but we don't get out-worked. Ever," said Dimes. "Our rides, we're on them, 24-7. Our defense, if you don't come out with 110 percent intensity, they can walk all over you."

In victory, the Bulls tied a record of four straight crowns that was set by Baltimore County rival Dulaney High School under Gary Schreiber from 2000-through-2003.

The triumph was the Bulls' third crown under Brian King, whose three-year record improved to 57-3. The Bulls were also Class 3A-2A-1A champs in 2000 under Whit Morrell, and 2A-1A and 3A-2A titlists, respectively, in 2003, and, 2008, under Carl Runk.

"We have had a lot of support from our administration. Mr. [Principal John] Bereska supports us, and we've got the best athletic director [Mike Kalisz.] Our recreation program is great," said King, a 1994 graduate of Harford County's C. Milton Wright High School, who played for a national championship team at Washington College in 1998.

"You saw a lot of community support out here tonight. We saw a lot of little kids who are future Bulls, and we're excited about them," King said. "The telephone is ringing all day from the alumni. That's how you sort of get paid back is when you hear from those guys who have played for you in years past, coming back. As a coach, that feels great."

Junior midfielder Luke Verdi (two goals) and senior midfielder Sam Michels (one goal, one assists) led the Dulaney Knights (15-2), who had won 15 straight since losing their season-opener, 10-5, on March 22 to South Carroll High School(13-3).

But the Knights had major problems against a Bulls' defense that was centered round senior Nick Bittner, Cory Nettleton and Austin Brown, as well as short stick defenders Vince Depaola and Tim Gunn -- all playing in front of  sophomore goalie Conor Cunningham (four saves).

"They're [Knights] a very athletic team. They're coming around," King said. "They're doing a lot of great things out there. They have four Division I players on their team, so they definitely have some talent."

King credited assistant coach, Steve Turnbaugh, who also worked with the Bulls' three-time state title-winning football team, as well as late, former assistant, Tom LaMonica, who died last fall. 

"Our seniors, the ones who came up with me from the junior varsity during our sophomore years, we are 70-something and three, and that's incredible," said Dimes. "When the final whistle had blown, and we had won, I was simply at a loss for words."