The final Carroll County girls lacrosse team to kick off the 2024 season didn’t seem to have an issue against a team with multiple games already under its belt.
Already looking in midseason form Wednesday night, Tom Brandel’s Liberty Lions got off to a fast start and held on at Ruby Field, defeating Westminster, 9-6, for the reigning Class 1A state champions’ first win of the season.
“We came out really hot,” Brandel said. “We came into this game really well prepared and the girls executed the game plan.”
With it being the first game of the season, the Lions didn’t have much to go off besides a couple of preseason scrimmages, but for Brandel, it was more than enough.
The Lions return many players with multiple years of varsity experience. The team leaned on it, not looking like one taking the field for the first time. Team captain Sydnie Bolger’s goal started a 4-0 run as Liberty took the early lead.
“We really got to work through our plays and start strong early because we know what the other person is going to do,” Sophia Carpentti, who finished with two goals and two assists said. “Once we got started, it gave us a ton of energy.”
While the Owls did respond, courtesy of two Brinley Tozer goals and two more from Aspen Higgs, the depth and talent of the Lions proved to be too much in the end.
Five different Lions scored as Carpentti, Kourtney Goff and Annika Wray each finished with multiple goals. Brandel loves the atmosphere created when all of his weapons can find the back of net, each goal and assist serving as the sweet payoff to years of hard work by the girls in one of the state’s most dominant programs.
“We have a lot of girls on this team, a lot of weapons,” he said. “They do a really good job of staying positive.”
Being the last county team to start the season may have been for good reason as the Lions have a tough stretch ahead. Brandel’s program will host the annual 4 Causes 4 Champions Tournament on Saturday, where it will face last year’s Baltimore County champion, Towson, and then either last year’s 4A champion Broadneck, or 2A champion and county rival Manchester Valley, who is currently on a 21-game winning streak.
The schedule then gets even tougher as the Lions face off against a reloaded Gerstell Academy team before hosting St. Ignatius, a nationally ranked school hailing from San Francisco, California.
Regardless of the schedule, the formula is simple for Brandel as the veteran coach looks to have his team playing its best lacrosse come playoff time. Tuesday’s win certainly got them off to a great start as he knows the biggest key for his girls to have maximum success in 2024.
“Staying positive,” he said. “Being all on the same page and cheering each other on, we do that and we’ll be fine.”
Liberty 9, Westminster 6
GOALS: L — Kourtney Goff 3, Sophia Carpenetti 2, Annika Wray 2, Sydnie Bolger 1, Maddy Smith 1; W — Brinley Tozer 2, Kate McAlonan 2, Aspen Higgs 2. ASSISTS: L — Carpenetti 2, Smith 1, Goff 1, Cailyn Marsicano 1; W — Kate McAlonan 1. SAVES: L — Halley Feaga 6; W — Corrine Michael 8
