Bishop Guertin now has a Division II plaque. There are a few words the girls lacrosse team’s players and coaches plan to change next year.

After a title-game loss to Bow on June 4, the Cardinals look to leave Southern New Hampshire University with a state championship trophy next season.

Guertin entered the match with the Falcons looking for redemption after a final four exit in last year’s tournament.

The fourth-seeded Cardinals hung close throughout the early going, but what started as a back-and-forth contest ended in a 13-7 loss.

Bedford’s Rosemary Buchanan opened the scoring only 18 seconds in on an assist from Anna Lepore, but Bow struck back with three straight goals to capture a 3-1 advantage with 20:31 remaining in the first half.

Rachel Karaska and Bedford’s Meghan Maguire found the back of the net to tie the game at the midway point of the half, but the seasoned Falcons scored six of the next seven goals to take control of the game and cruise to a fourth state championship since 2002.

Kristianna Purington and Laura Bee, both of Bedford, added goals in the final minutes, but the Cardinals were unable to seriously challenge Bow after intermission.

“We took one step further than last year, so it was a successful year,” said Purington, who returns in 2010 for her fourth and final season. “Next year, we’ll do it.”

Purington, who recently score her 100th career goal, faced a smothering Bow defense all day and managed that late goal and an assist on Maguire’s goal.

Head coach Ron Cote said his team’s focus each year is to continue forward momentum.

“Making it to the final four last year, we knew that the next step was to get here,” said Cote. “Next year we hope to get to the state finals again and finish it.”