TEX GIRLS: St. John's Upsets Cy-Fair to Win 7th State Title

The third time was the charm for the St. John’s girls lacrosse team.

After losing in the Southwest Preparatory Conference championship game and the Houston city title game last week, the Mavericks had one last chance to bring home a title. And in the biggest game of the season, St. John’s played its best.

Senior middie Catherine Franklin and sophomore middie Sarah Urdahl each scored a co-game-high four goals to lead No. 9 St. John’s to a 12-6 upset victory over No. 4 Cy-Fair in the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League Division I state championship game Sunday afternoon at Episcopal School of Dallas.

St. John’s won its seventh TGHSLL state championship and first since 2007.

“We had two tough losses in the SPC championship and city final,” St. John’s head coach Angie Kensinger said. “I’m just so impressed with the way the girls regrouped and didn’t let that be the final statement on the season.”

Senior attack Lacey Rybarczyk added three goals, and junior middie Caroline Gibson scored once to round out the offense for St. John’s (19-4), which avenged losses to Cy-Fair in the regular season and Houston city title game and dealt the previously unbeaten Iron Maidens their first and only loss.

“We changed things up a little bit,” Kensinger said. “We really focused on ball control and making the most of our possessions.”

In defeat, sophomore middie Chesley Hooker scored a team-high three goals for Cy-Fair, which had its 16-game winning streak snapped and finished the season 16-1.

St. John’s led 7-5 at halftime, and the Mavericks led 8-6 after the teams traded goals to start the second half.

But St. John’s took over in the final 20 minutes, scoring the game’s last four goals.

Urdahl started the decisive run when she scored with 19:21 remaining in regulation to give St. John’s a 9-6 lead, and Franklin capped it when she scored her fourth of the day with 5:05 to play.

“I thought the team played really well,” Kensinger said. “We stuck with our game plan, and everyone stepped up to play their best game of the year.”