The Patriots appeared to be on its way to getting back to a district final when it took a 1-0 lead against Thomas Worthington in a district semifinal Oct. 28, but they were unable to maintain their lead and lost 3-1 to finish 9-9 overall.

Katie Dye scored early in the second half, marking the first goal Liberty has scored against Thomas in program history. But the Cardinals, who won the 2007 state championship, scored three goals in the final eight minutes.

Last season, Liberty reached a district final for the first time before losing 4-0 to eventual state runner-up Columbus Academy.

"We had people telling us to prepare to lose big and that we had no chance," coach Jen Martin said. "The girls took everything negative that was being said and just put it into their game. When Katie put that goal in, it was such an unbelievable feeling. For 50 minutes, that was our game and no one can take that away from us."

Liberty, which opened the state-qualifying tournament with a 3-0 win over Worthington Kilbourne on Oct. 23, finished 5-6 in the Central Ohio Field Hockey League to place eighth of 16 teams, behind Thomas (10-1), Academy (9-1-1), Watterson (9-2), Upper Arlington (8-2-1), Bexley (7-2-2), Kilbourne (7-3-1) and Dublin Jerome (6-5) and ahead of Hartley (4-5-2), Granville and Olentangy (4-6-1), Dublin Scioto (3-6-2), Dublin Coffman (3-7-1), Columbus School for Girls (3-8), Orange (1-10) and Lancaster (0-11).

"As the season progressed, we became more prepared for what we were up against and, although some of the scores don't show it, we gave a lot of the top teams in the state a run for their money," Martin said. "I am extremely proud of the way the girls played this season, and it will be a real challenge trying to match up to it next year."

Forward Emily Case led the Patriots with 15 goals. Dye had 10 goals and Kelsey Musson and Morgan Dye each scored six. Musson and Case were the team leaders in assists with seven and six, respectively. Goalie Katie Wright ended the season with 87 saves, including 12 in the loss to Thomas.

According to Martin, each player showed improvement throughout the season and the players jelled into a competitive team, which she hopes will springboard the Patriots into the 2010 season.

"They all really took the time to focus on what needed help and how to fix it," Martin said. "Each one of them grew as a player as well as a person on the team this year, and that is what is most important to me. I think every one of them can walk away from this year thinking, 'I am better now than I when I came.'"

Liberty loses three seniors in Case, Musson and Wright but expects to return a strong nucleus of players. Among those expected to return are Marissa Beaumier, Katie Dye, Morgan Dye, Torie Dye, Bethany Flannigan, Erinn Gharrity, Sarah Kuney, Madeline Rocco, Erica Steinhoff and KT Tallarico.

"(We have) three huge holes to fill on the field, but I also have 11 juniors taking on the senior role," Martin said. "I know those players are ready to step into those positions and take on what the three left behind. All of them have this passion in their eyes to go far, and I know every single one of them will step up and try to take our team where we want to go. I am confident that next year we will be a force to be reckoned with."

•Olentangy ended its season with a 2-0 loss to Scioto in the first round of the state-qualifying tournament Oct. 21. The Braves had defeated the Irish 3-2 at home in the teams' regular-season matchup Oct. 2, but the tournament game was played at Scioto.

"Scioto played very well against us," coach Marty Mearhoff said. "Their girls were more aggressive and quick compared to us, and they passed the ball well, being able to switch fields often and taking advantage of their team speed. When we played them at home earlier in the season, I think the grass neutralized their team speed and passing, but that was not the case on their turf."

Olentangy finished 5-10-2 overall and 4-6-1 in the Central Ohio Field Hockey League, tying Granville for 10th.

Sam Frazee led the Braves with four goals and was honorable mention all-league, as was goalie Biz Brehm, who had 148 saves on the season. Melanie Brady had three goals and made second-team all-league, as did defender Kaela Roeder.

"In some games where we played defense for virtually 60 minutes, Biz was phenomenal," Mearhoff said. "But it takes more than a good goalkeeper to keep you in the game. Kaela Roeder played great defense, and that combination kept us in most games. Emily Manganello and Katie Fenstermaker switched off on defense with each other and did a great job as well, back with Roeder and Brehm."

The Braves lose four seniors in Brady, Fenstermaker, Frazee and Molly Gilbert. Among those expected to return are Brehm, Manganello, Roeder, Lizzie Bargdill, Kelsey Cunningham, Payton Hagerdorn, Kait Sherry and Ari Yant.

"I am very encouraged about next year," Mearhoff said. "Our girls realize that we will lose a lot of offense with Brady and Frazee graduating, and that is an area that we need to pick up. Our girls are committed to work hard to improve their field hockey skills and get better. We are confident that others will step up to fill the huge void (on the offensive side)."

•Orange lost to Watterson 8-0 in the first round of the state-qualifying tournament Oct. 21 to finish 1-13 overall.

"Our tournament game against Watterson was probably the best the girls played all year," coach Cara Evans said. "Although the score does not reflect how well we played, we did not let Watterson score until 20 minutes into the game. The girls continued to work hard and continued to improve their skills all the way through the season."

Orange's only victory was a 2-0 decision over Lancaster on Sept. 22. The Pioneers, who finished 1-10 in the Central Ohio Field Hockey League to place 15th, scored nine goals this season, a four-goal improvement from their inaugural season a year ago. Goalie Ali Phillips had 193 saves and gave up 68 goals.

"Ali works really hard and is a great asset to our team." Evans said. "She will continue to be a leader and top player."

Orange loses four seniors in Elle McGill, Jenna Sahutske, Arielle Schoen and Holly Walton. Sahutske was named second-team all-league.

Among those expected to return are Phillips, Jessie Forrester and Bailey Metzger.

"We will have a strong returning roster, so I look forward to being able to continue building on our skills," Evans said. "We will also have at least five new freshman joining our team next year who have experience playing, and that will only help our team."

At a glance

LIBERTY

•Record: 9-9 overall, 5-6 (eighth) in Central Ohio Field Hockey League

•Seniors lost: Emily Case, Kelsey Musson and Katie Wright

•Key returnees: Marissa Beaumier, Katie Dye, Morgan Dye, Torie Dye, Bethany Flannigan, Erinn Gharrity, Sarah Kuney, Madeline Rocco, Erica Steinhoff and KT Tallarico

OLENTANGY

•Record: 5-10-2 overall, 4-6-1 (tied for 10th) in Central Ohio Field Hockey League

•Seniors lost: Melanie Brady, Katie Fenstermaker, Sam Frazee and Molly Gilbert

•Key returnees: Lizzie Bargdill, Biz Brehm, Kelsey Cunningham, Emily Manganello, Kaela Roeder and Kait Sherry

ORANGE

•Record: 1-13 overall, 1-10 (15th) in Central Ohio Field Hockey League

•Seniors lost: Elle McGill, Jenna Sahutske, Arielle Schoen and Holly Walton

•Key returnees: Jessie Forrester, Bailey Metzger and Ali Phillips