Lions complete their turnaround

6 years after going winless, Liberty tops Queen Anne’s, 2-0, for first title since 1982

CHESTERTOWN — Brenda Strohmer crouched alongside her players and cracked a big smile while photographers snapped away.

She held her pose for about a minute, then turned to leave the group before being called back by shouts from the bleachers.

Strohmer resumed her stance and grinned.

“I feel like a movie star!” the Liberty coach shouted.

Call it the spoils of winning a state championship, the Lions’ first in more than three decades.

Liberty claimed the Class 1A state title Saturday by beating Queen Anne’s, 2-0, at Washington College, the program’s first crown since 1982.

The Lions (16-2) ended the fall on an eight-game winning streak and notched their eighth shutout in the final. An early goal by junior Brooke Heffler and an insurance score by senior Hannah Miller in the second quarter lifted Liberty to the title, but its defense was a major contributor as well.

Sophomore goalie Grace Fenner made 10 saves against a Queen Anne’s attack that applied pressure for much of the final 40 minutes. Strohmer praised juniors Erin Risch and Fallon Spittel and freshman Christine Goetz for giving Fenner a sturdy back line.

And they gave her more support after the game.

“We couldn’t have won without her,” said senior midfielder Abbie Busch, clutching the state trophy. “That’s not a statement — that’s a fact.”

Added senior forward Ashley Caldwell: “Oh, my goodness, Grace was unbelievable today.”

Fenner stood tall, and Liberty’s offense struck in a hurry.

The game was less than 2 minutes old when Caldwell created space down the far sideline and waited for her teammates to crash the circle. She darted a pass along the goal line, where Heffler was waiting on the far post for a tap-in.

The goal seemed easy for Liberty, but the rest of the half was the opposite.

Queen Anne’s (14-2-1) asserted itself in the latter part of the half with some offensive pressure, and finished the first 30 minutes with five penalty-corner tries. The team had a great chance with 4:45 to play when Gabrielle Corder weaved through Liberty’s back row into the top of the circle and got the ball to leading scorer Sara Walford. Walford sent one toward the cage, but the ball went wide as Fenner came out for the save.

Caldwell drew two cards in the second half, meaning Liberty was without one of its top offense weapons for four minutes. But the Lions didn’t bend despite Queen Anne’s final flurry.

Seconds ticked away, and at the final buzzer, Liberty rejoiced. “The best feeling ever,” Miller said. When Strohmer took over six years ago, Liberty went winless. But steady progress followed, and Strohmer said it was the Lions’ mission to not only win again but also return to the state tournament.

And win.