First there was the Twinkie defense and now there is the Twinkie offense.

Alayna Markwordt and Kristy Black, dubbed the Twinkies because the pair of blondes look so much alike, led Glenelg to the Class 1A/2A girls lacrosse state title. Each had six goals as Glenelg defeated Loch Raven, 17-11, May 20, rewriting the state record book in the process.

"They have been a good combination all season long. They find each other," said Glenelg coach Ginger Kincaid.

The frequent play May 20 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County was Black to Markwordt, the reverse or one of them dishing to someone else. Black set a new 2A championship game record with five assists. Her point total (goals plus assists) is also a new standard (11). Markwordt, who had four assists to go with her six goals, broke the old record as well.

"With a 1-2 punch, it is very difficult for anyone to stop them," Kincaid said.

"We were aware of them," said Loch Raven coach Danielle Grzebien. "We were trying to limit the (first) step that they got, but as quickly as they got the ball in their stick, it was shot right out of their stick."

Loch Raven, making its first state final appearance since 1997, led, 5-4, with nine minutes left in the first half, but Glenelg soon made a slight adjustment that paid great dividends. The Gladiators moved Black to center to take the draw.

"Katie (Grogan) wins almost every draw, but we are not exactly a tall team and when the draw is a little higher than we like it, we make the switch to Kristy, whose draw is more direct," Kincaid said. "At the time I made the switch, we were six-six on draws."

Glenelg dominated the remainder of the half, took an 11-5 lead into intermission and then basically maintained that same spread the rest of the game.

"We've been working all season for this. It is unfortunate to lose," said Loch Raven's Gabi Miller. She scored four goals as did teammate Taylor Moyer.

Although Glenelg knew it had a powerful offense returning this season, there were concerns about the defense when the team's veteran goalkeeper decided not to play. Katie Beaver, last year's junior varsity keeper, stepped into the cage and had a rocky start in her first game, a one-goal loss to Westminster.

"I can't tell you how huge Katie has grown over the season," Kincaid said. "She stepped up game after game after game."

"Being a first time varsity player the seniors really helped me. They were so supportive," said Beaver who had 10 saves against Loch Raven and a like number as Glenelg shut out Rising Sun, 23-0, in the state semifinals.

Glenelg's two-game total (40 goals scored) eclipsed the old 2A state record (39).

Black, Kate Selfridge and Lauren Giraldi -- all seniors -- were members of the Gladiators' 2005 state championship squad. Tara Sones, Alyssa Felix, Brooke Costantino and Markwordt round out the senior class that led Glenelg (16-4) to its first victory over Mt. Hebron, its first county title and now its second state title.

E-mail Carol Gralia at cgralia@patuxent.com.

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