It was the ending that the Parkland girls lacrosse team was hoping for, just maybe not the opponent. The Trojans (17-5 overall) wanted a chance to win another District 11 championship, but they would have liked to have faced Southern Lehigh, the team that beat them in the final a year ago. The Spartans were also the last District 11 opponent to get the better of Parkland.

But instead it was Easton, the team that the Trojans bested just two weeks earlier in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference final. A flurry of goals in the beginning, and a defensive unit that held strong in the end, helped Parkland to an 11-9 win last Thursday night in the District 11 final at Northampton High School’s Al Erdosy stadium.

“We didn’t really care who we were playing,” said senior attack Cat Gaffney. “It would have been nice to have played Southern Lehigh again and have a chance at some revenge, but we are just happy we won districts again.”

It was the second district title for the Parland girls lacrosse program, the first coming in 2014.

Parkland came out fast and put a stronghold on this one from the get-go.

Sophomore Abby Pope opened the scoring just under four minutes in. Then seniors Cat Gaffney, Sarah Stagaard and Ana Emrick combined for four more goals as the Trojans opened up a 5-0 lead with 14:15 left in the opening half.

“The first time we played Easton (during the regular season), we only won by one,” Emrick said. “So every time since, we’ve tried to really come out, set the tone, and be a strong team to start. We just knew that we needed to control the ball and control the momentum of the game.”

The Red Rovers got on the board midway through the first with two straight goals from Hannah Dorner and Leann Deegan in a 40 second span. But Stagaard added two more, Emrick tallied one and Parkland took an 8-3 lead into halftime.

“We started off strong. We started off great,” said Gaffney. “Everyone looked good, from our goalie (freshman Mackenzie Galucy) to our attack. Our defense played really strong, which was key.”

Sophomore Camryn Barnett was first to tally a goal, and she was followed by Emrick and Pope. But the Trojans defense would have to hold off a late rally behind four straight Easton goals.

Parkland will now advance to the PIAA state tournament to face Bishop Shanahan, the fourth place team out of District 1.

Stagaard had a game-high four goals. Emrick, Gaffney and Pope all scored two goals. Barnett added one.