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The first week of the 2009 regional field hockey playoffs went nearly true to form, with just one of the top four seeds in the 4A West, 4A South, 3A West and 2A West falling short of Tuesday's semifinal round.

Even second-seeded Springbrook's loss to Whitman in the 4A South Region quarterfinals was only a mild upset, considering the Vikings had already scored a victory against the Blue Devils earlier this season.

Also in the 4A South, top-seeded Paint Branch continued its best season to date with a 2-0 win over eighth-seeded Richard Montgomery on Thursday behind a pair of goals from Kelly Jenney.

"Our defense stepped up to the challenge," Panthers coach Daniel Feher said.

- In 4A West Region quarterfinal action, second-seeded Bethesda-Chevy Chase (11-2), the No. 1 team in the Gazette poll, cruised past No. 7 Churchill, 4-0, behind two goals from Meredith Storm.

Walter Johnson's Alexis Wang (11 goals this season) scored off a feed from Georgina Beven (14 goals, 14 assists) to help the Wildcats squeeze past Northwest and set up an all-Bethesda semifinal Tuesday.

- In the 3A West Region, Clarksburg picked up the program's first-ever playoff win Thursday, 3-0 over fifth-seeded Linganore. Katie Bertrand had 2 goals and 1 assist.

"The kids played really well in the second half," Clarksburg coach Sissy Natoli said. "We've been trying like heck the last few years."

The Coyotes' reward was a semifinal match against top-seed Quince Orchard, the only team in the bracket with a winning record, which breezed to a 4-0 quarterfinal win over Tuscarora.

- In the 2A West, second-seeded Poolesville (10-2) remained the county's lone chance to capture the regional crown entering the semifinals. Megan Flick's goal off Allyson Dahlen's assist pushed the Falcons past 10th-seeded Middletown, 1-0, in the quarters.

- Tuesday's semifinal round games finished too late to be included in this week's editions. See www.gazette.net/montsports for daily, up-to-date coverage.