This spring, there was no such thing as stopping Manchester Valley girls lacrosse; you could only hope to contain them. Even that proved to be a challenge no opponent could meet.
With a roster stacked top to bottom with scoring threats, tenacious defenders and a team chemistry so tight they spoke their own language on the field, the Mavericks found success not only in blowout wins but in high-pressure, gut-check moments.
“Today was a reflection of all the hard work we put in this season,” Addison Meyer said. “We came out, and we wanted it more.”
As the final seconds ticked off the Mustang Stadium clock at Stevenson University on Wednesday night, Emma Penczek launched the ball into the sky in celebration. The Mavericks capped a perfect 19-0 season with a 17-9 victory over Glenelg to win the Class 2A state championship.
After the game, the Mavericks donned hard hats in honor of George Boiardi, a Cornell University lacrosse player who tragically passed away during a game in 2004. The team had embraced and embodied his spirit throughout the season from the opening draw in March, to Wednesday’s final whistle.
“He was such a hard worker, and we tried to implement that throughout the season,” Meyer, who scored four goals and added an assist said. “He was also such a great teammate, so we tried to grow our relationships as a team. Everything about him, we wanted to have in this team.”
The Mavericks were tested early, falling behind 3-2 midway through the first quarter. But in that moment — under a steady monsoon — Boiardi’s spirit surged through the team. They regrouped, locked in and never looked back.
“We talked about staying disciplined, knowing what our game plan was, and sticking to it,” Manchester Valley coach Shelly Brezicki said. “Some things weren’t going our way early on, but we asked them to trust the plan and trust us — and I’m so proud that they did.”
From the second quarter on, Manchester Valley returned to form, excelling in every phase of the game and overwhelming the Gladiators.
“We couldn’t stay close enough to execute our game plan,” Glenelg coach Alex Pagnotta said. “When you’re playing a team like that, every bounce, every lucky break has to go your way if you even want a shot as the underdog and for us, that wasn’t the case tonight.”
Throughout the season, opponents found themselves in “pick your poison” mode against a Mavericks team that could strike from anywhere starting, of course, with Carroll County’s all-time leading scorer — Penczek. Fighting through tears, Brezicki kept her postgame thoughts on her star brief but made a loud and proud statement as Penzcek held the championship trophy.
“We’ve had some incredible players come through Manchester Valley and through Carroll County,” she said. “She’s the best player to ever play this sport in Carroll County.”
Penczek, a Clemson commit, ended her decorated career with a four-goal, four-assist performance. Whether she was firing shots, finding cutters with perfect timing, or collecting critical draw controls that extended possessions, her fingerprints were all over the game.
With Glenelg putting heavy attention on Penczek, it was Haylee Bittinger’s turn to shine — starting in the draw circle. A stabilizing presence throughout her career, Bittinger sparked a 7-2 Mavericks run to close the first half. The Mount St. Mary’s commit, one of nine seniors set to play at the collegiate level, led all scorers with five goals.
“We have sayings depending on if the ball is in my stick or not,” Bittinger said. “The communication and the trust we have with each other plays a huge role.”
With Penczek playing like the star she is and Bittinger controlling the draw, the game-clinching stretch belonged to Brezicki’s defense — a unit she’s praised all season.
The group held Glenelg scoreless for nearly the entire third quarter. Penczek and Meyer were joined by Taylor Fique, Lindsay McCory, Payten Younkins and goalie Molly Pulliam to form an almost impenetrable wall.
The defense’s unity was a reflection of the championship culture built by a remarkable senior class, a group that won 56 of its final 57 games together. The only loss came to Glenelg in last year’s state semifinals, an outcome they avenged Wednesday. After winning an undefeated state title as sophomores in 2023, they repeated the feat two years later, ending their careers on top of the mountain and forever etched in their coach’s heart.
“The love they have for each other, for this sport, and for this program is unmatched,” Brezicki said. “This is going to be a hard group to say goodbye to.”
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