George Mason High School’s varsity girls lacrosse team reached the Virginia High School League 4A state championship match last week, where they lost 18-6 to Woodgrove High School. They did beat the two-time state champion Wolverines earlier this year, in the Dulles Conference championship game, but weren’t able to repeat the magic of that 12-11 win for the conference title.

It was the Mustangs’ first trip to the state championship game and the fourth time they faced the Wolverines this season. The Mustangs stayed close to the Wolverines at halftime, due in part to sophomore goalkeepers Annette Schlitt’s ten saves in the first half, but the Wolverines put Mason away with an 11-1 second half.

Woodgrove’s second half rout of the Mustangs was led by Wolverine senior Nora Bowen’s five goals during a 9-0 Wolverine run. Junior midfield Sarah Lubnow led the Mustangs on offense in the state title match with two goals and one assist.

Four other Mustangs – junior attack Hannah Hiscott, sophomore midfield Amy Roche and Meredith Johnson and sophomore midfield/defense Claire Hiscott – scored a goal in the state title game.

Although the Mustangs lost the state title game, it was a banner year for the team and the postseason accolades awarded to the team are an example of their accomplishments throughout their 13-4 season that included a seven game win streak that started towards the end of the regular season and carried into the postseason.

Head coach Courtney Gibbons was named the Virginia High School League’s 4A Coach of the Year and four Mustangs, Lubnow, Schlitt, Roche and Claire Hiscott, were named to the 4A First Team. Lubnow also earned an Honorable Mention selection to The Washington Post‘s All-Met team.