The girls on the Foxcroft Lacrosse Team couldn't disagree with Vince Lombardi more. For them, winning isn't the only thing, its only one thing. The thrill of traveling to the "Final Four," the experience gained by playing really good teams, and the many other achievements of the season kept them in good spirits Friday after they fell, 17-0, to Cape Henry Collegiate in the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Division II Girls Lacrosse Tournament semifinal at Old Dominion University.

It was Foxcroft lacrosse's first trip to the semifinals of the state tournament in five years. Foxcroft's field hockey team reached the first round of the state tournament last fall before losing to Cape Henry Collegiate. On Saturday, Cape Henry's lacrosse team took its fourth girls state title of the year with a 14-3 victory over Highland School of Warrenton, a team Foxcroft beat out for the DAC title. Cape Henry placed four players on the All-State team.

"It was fun," said co-captain Maeve Couzens after the lopsided loss Cape Henry Collegiate, which went on to beat Highland School of Warrenton 14-3 in the final to claim the title on Saturday. "Making it that far is awesome and we played really well."

Patrick Finn, one of the triad of Foxcroft coaches who were named Delaney Athletic Conference Coaches of the Year earlier this month, agreed with Couzens' assessment of the team's effort.

"Although we were out-matched," the former UVA All-America said. "Our team played with heart and hustle and kept fighting until the final whistle, despite the score. They represented the Foxcroft spirit quite well and we are all proud of them" Athletic Director Michelle Woodruff and Student Life Assistant Kathy Gonzalez were Finn's co-coaches.

Foxcroft, seeded fourth, did its best against a talented top seed. Cape Henry held only a 3-0 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first half, as Foxcroft's defenders played their best game of the season. They turned back a strong attack many times and sophomore goalie McKenna Andrews posted 8 saves early to stay within striking distance.

But draw controls and ground balls by the Dolphins proved to be the difference. With the vast advantage in ball control this gave them, they kept the Foxcroft defense stayed under constant pressure and began to score. Foxcroft fell behind 9-0 at half, and although the players kept hustling and fighting through injuries and exhaustion, in the end the Dolphins proved just too much for the visitors.

While there are no inconsequential losses in the playoffs, the team had much to be proud of in 2012, including a 10-5 record, the regular season Delaney Athletic Conference title, and its first trip in the state semis in five years, earned with a gritty 11-8 victory over Fredericksburg Academy. Five Foxcroft players were named First-Team all DAC players -- juniors Caroline Fout, Olivia Jane Johnson and Carter Ware and MacDonal sisters Charlotte, a senior, and Lilly, a sophomore. Freshman Emma Rogers, who scored 25 goals in conference play, received Honorable Mention.