PHOTOS: River Hill Girls' Lacrosse Comes Together In Win Over Howard

There are just three regular season games remaining, but the River Hill Lady Hawks say they are ready for the stretch run after a 15-11 win over Howard’s Lady Lions.

“That was one of the first times we’ve managed to put a whole game together that I was pretty pleased with,” River Hill Coach Jay Bond said after the game.

River Hill jumped out to an early 4-1 lead just eight minutes into the game. The lead had grown to 8-3 just before the half but Howard got a goal back with 11 seconds to play, again bringing them within five.

Even with a commanding lead, Bond told his team during halftime that they had to “come out in the second half, just like in the first half.” River Hill got on the board with two quick goals right after the half.

River Hill played Howard to a draw in the pre-season, but Kate Marlatt, who scored four goals, said “this time [not only are] our team’s skills better, but our confidence has gotten better.”

Bond said it’s a confidence that comes from the leaders on the team. Marlatt, who he called a “playmaker,” stole the ball and ran the length of the field to score on a breakaway.   

“Everyone was emboldened” after that, Bond said.

In the second half, Howard would come within five again with 13 minutes left in the game. River Hill, up 11-6, would put Howard away with three quick goals in the next two minutes. Howard scored four goals in the waning minutes of the game, but not enough to erase the 14-7 lead River Hill had built.