Despite falling in the 2008 Division II finals to Hanover and graduating seven seniors, Bow High School girls lacrosse remains in the midst of a dominant run that began in 2002, when the league was first established.

“This program has a certain amount of history, and they have pride for that,” said head coach Chris Raabe. “They don’t want to be the class to break that.”

Raabe’s Falcons left the gate quickly in 2009, easing past firstyear Bedford High School with a 20-3 victory. Five goals from senior attacker Caitlin Pratt and a hat trick from sophomore Lindsay Bucknam led the team.

Even in victory, Raabe wasn’t completely satisfied. She has plenty of time to work with her group. The team’s next scheduled game is Saturday, April 25, against St. Thomas Aquinas.

The coach said her team’s passing against Bedford was sloppy at times. She said poor passing was one of the causes of Bow’s title-game loss in ’08. Mackenzie Langsten scored 2009’s first goal, tallying 43 seconds into the contest and adding another little more than two minutes later.

Bow’s high-octane style of play utilizes its deep roster of experienced players, including seven seniors.

“I lay more on them because I know they’ve been through it,” said Raabe. “And I know what they are able to handle.”

As Bedford continues its inaugural season, the Bulldogs eye the Falcons as a model program. “It was a great learning experience (opening against Bow) and a chance to see the caliber of play and where the bar is set,” said Bedford’s head coach, Jill Bartlett. “That’s a team that we can look at and try to emulate.”