The South River boys lacrosse team is something to watch when at its best in settled situations on attack.
The passes are crisp, and the finishing is exact. And senior midfielder Matt Gregoire is usually in the middle of all the fine work.
In the third quarter of Wednesday night's Class 4A-3A state championship against Urbana, the No. 11 Seahawks brought surgeon-like precision - scoring five unanswered goals that lifted them past Urbana, 11-6, at UMBC Stadium.
Gregoire (five goals, one assist) scored three goals and added an assist in the pivotal quarter as the Seahawks turned a 6-5 halftime deficit into a 9-5 lead that grew in the fourth quarter. Celebration would soon follow for the Seahawks (18-1), who claimed their first state title since the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association went to the current format in 1990 (they won district titles in 1984 and 1986).
"At halftime we said, 'Don't hit the panic button; get a goal ... and keep plugging away from there,' " South River coach Paul Noone said. "I'm telling you, these kids have so much heart and so much determination, so much desire and the will to win."
Senior attackman Alex Carros provided three goals and one assist, Drew Lee added a goal and an assist, and the Seahawks' defense put a blanket on the Hawks, who didn't score in the second half until 4:41 remained in the game.
Quickly putting a sluggish first half behind them, the Seahawks tied the score at 5 when Gregoire finished off a chance from Lee with 10:21 to play. Carros gave the Seahawks the lead for good with 8:07 left and made it 7-5 moments later. Gregoire left no doubt for South River with the last two goals of the quarter.
"Once we got the momentum, we knew we could score a couple goals and make a run there," Gregoire said.
