Field Hockey: Warpinski’s goal gives Bulldogs 1st region title ; Warpinski’s goal sends Bulldogs to state semifinals [Capital (Annapolis, MD)]

Hannah Warpinski's first-half goal proved to be the biggest in Southern's program history.

The Bulldogs made Warpinski's goal stand up in a 1-0 victory over Loch Raven in the Class 1A South Region field hockey final.

"Our team prides ourselves on sportsmanship, having fun and learning the game, and the wins meshing with that really strengthens our program," Southern coach Cindy Gray said. "And now, not only is it a fun program; but it's a successful program."

Southern (8-10) pressured Loch Raven from the very beginning of the contest -- and never let up -- to win a region title for the first time in its field hockey history. Southern will play Patterson Mill in the state semifinal.

The Bulldogs peppered Raiders goalkeeper Cori Kosko with shots all night, though Warpinski's with 5:23 remaining was the lone one to get into the cage. Lauren Hoffman controlled a ball deep in Southern's offensive end and fed it inside the circle to Warpinski, who fired her shot into the cage.

"We worked so hard our whole season," Southern midfielder Lily Oliver said. "It just takes a lot of heart."

Oliver was the catalyst for many offensive rushes that began on the defensive end and resulted in several scoring opportunities.

"It's so important to play an offensive game and to keep it out of the defense," she said. "One of those times it's going to go in if you keep it up there."

Aside from the goal, Kosko was a brick wall for Loch Raven. Her 12 saves kept the Raiders in the game until the final whistle.

"I just did what I could, and I left it all on the field," Kosko said.

The Raiders couldn't muster much of an attack, but had a great opportunity to score the equalizer in the final two minutes. And Southern goalkeeper Aimee McBride came up big in the final moments.

With 1:33 remaining, Veda Nowowieski took a pass at midfield and raced by a defender into her offensive zone. She had a one-on-one with McBride and fired a shot from the right of the cage that McBride kicked away to ultimately ice the game.

"She also did a great job of keeping her head in the game and communicating to her defense," Gray said. "She stepped up, took the ball, put the pressure on her shoulders and took care of her team."

Loch Raven coach Danielle Grzebien called a timeout with under five minutes remaining, sensing the team had one more offensive push in them.

"Just got the kids pumped up, and they really wanted it," she said. "It just wasn't going to fall our way unfortunately, today."

Loch Raven almost took a 1-0 lead in the first half when Taylor Dodd fired in a goal, but she was ruled to be outside the shooting circle.

Southern had several chances to add insurance goals, including two opportunities off penalty corners in the second half that slipped just wide of the cage. With 16 minutes remaining, Morgan Collinson had a chance in front of the cage, but Kosko fell the ground and knocked it away.

The region championship has been a long time coming for the Bulldogs.

Gray, a Southern graduate in 2000, noted all the championship banners hanging in the school -- none of which belonged to the program. The history was not lost on her players, and they have bigger goals in mind.

"This is our first time ever even being to regionals, so it's an honor," Warpinski said. "We're just going to keep working hard in practice and keep working on our stuff."

Loch Raven (1-8);0;0;-;0

Southern (8-10);1;0;-;1

GOALS: SO -- Warpinski. ASSISTS: SO -- Hoffman. SAVES: LR -- Kosko 12; SO -- McBride 2. SHOTS: LR -- 2; SO -- 21. CORNERS: LR -- 1; SO -- 9.

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