To be successful in the postseason, a team not only has to get off to a solid start, it also needs to finish strong.

Closing out the opposition is usually a key component to advancing, and on Thursday Pleasant Valley was able to do just that in the quarterfinal round of the District 11 3A girls lacrosse tournament.

The Bears were able to gain important momentum in the first half, and carried it over to the final minutes, defeating Parkland 15-11 to advance to the semifinals.

In the first half, the No. 4 seeded Bears were able to get going offensively, putting up an impressive eight scores.

“Draw controls have been our ticket this season, and in the first half - and really throughout the whole game - we were able to be good there again.” said Pleasant Valley head coach Toni Bush. “Any time this season when we’ve been able to maintain possession of the draw, we’ve been in good shape. It really sets the tone when you’re able to control possession.

“I was a little concerned coming in, because it was 10 days since we last played in a game, but I want to give a shout out to our boys team, who came over and scrimmaged with us a little bit. But defensively, we made the adjustments we needed, and offensively, we had good spacing and everything clicked for us and we were able to come away with the win.”

In the second half, it looked like PV was going to pull away after taking a 9-5 lead at the 21:33 mark following a Summer Storm score. But the Trojans closed the gap, fighting their way back to a 10-8 deficit. Back-to-back scores by Sophia Delavega and Sophie Marcotte got the rally started. After an answer from the Bears’ Alexandra Bush, Parkland kept the pressure on with a Gigi Leonzi score off a penalty to make it just a two-point contest with 12:11 remaining.

But learning how to win, and learning how to close teams out, has been something Pleasant Valley has focused on this season, and the Bears certainly were locked in late in the contest.

PV’s scoring dynamos in Bush and Brielle McInaw, simply took over, as McInaw (three goals) and Bush (two) combined to score five goals in the game’s waning minutes.

McInaw, who possesses a lethal first step and quickness to get around defenders, scored back-to-back goals right around the six-minute mark to put the Bears up six (14-8).

“This is so great,” said McInaw. “(This is) the first time we’ve ever made it this far in districts. I’m just proud of my teammates and coaches; it’s really a great moment.

“Late in the game, I think the difference was we were just spread out more. When we have all that space to drive into the goal, set picks for each other and then my speed combined with Alexandra’s speed, we can do some good things.”

Pleasant Valley first started its varsity girls lacrosse program in 2016. Thursday’s quarterfinal victory was its first postseason win in school history.

“This season has really been a fairy tale season,” said coach Bush. “Coming off COVID, we didn’t really know what to expect. We have some young girls out there giving us some significant time too; this really is a young team.

“One of the things I’m most proud of with this team is the way they’re learning the game, and the I.Q. they’ve gained this season. To see them out there communicating, and setting up the defense and offense without me telling them what to do. That’s a proud coaching moment for sure.”

LEADERS … For the Bears, McInaw led the way with seven goals, with Bush adding six. Storm, Shupp and DeYoung all scored a goal each for PV. For the Trojans, Marcotte led the way with four goals.

NEXT UP … Pleasant Valley will take on No. 1 seed Easton at Easton on Monday at 6 p.m. in the District 11 3A semifinals.