On November 8, Linganore High School (LHS) Girls’ Field Hockey took on the Westminster Owls at Stevenson University, the designated site for the class 3A state championship game.
With a 10-2 season record, LHS field hockey landed first in the Class 3A West I Region and 12th in the state. After defeating Marriotts Ridge High School and South River High School in Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) bracket play, the Lancers advanced to face Westminster, the number two seed, in the state final.
After losing 3-1 to Westminster last year in the state quarterfinals, the Lancers came back with a mission. LHS junior and defensive midfielder Amilia Nasto, who finished the game with one goal and one assist, played an essential role in the field hockey team’s return.
Nasto recognized how the team developed throughout the 2025 season and the changes they made that lead to the penultimate moment.
“In the beginning of the season, we had a few losses that made us realize what we needed to work on,” Nasto said. “We have an amazing new head coach, McKenzie Ridgely, who… helped bring the team together.”
That connection between teammates on the field strengthened the team and allowed them to push past their losses.
In the end, the Lancers defeated Westminster 4-3, ending the season with a 88% win rate. LHS senior and left back Madison Wallace, finished the game with two goals, while senior Jordan Zimmerman, a center forward, left the field with one goal and one assist.
Nasto views the field hockey team as a family on and off the field. Junior transfer student Maja Goehring from Castrop-Rauxel, Germany agrees with sentiment, sharing that the team took her under their wing and making her one of their own.
“[The team] came to me and asked me who I am,” Goehring said. “They were very interested in my country, and they … include me very well. [This victory] is a big, big thing … and an amazing end to the season.”
The last time Linganore’s field hockey team won a state championship was in 1993. But with this new win, Lancers see a bright future for coming seasons, as the team prepares to re-establish their dominance on the field hockey field. This victory has inspired the team and showed their goals are achievable.
“In the beginning of the season, we set a goal for ourselves to win a state championship as a family,” Nasto said. “We were able to pursue our goals and have that dedication with the team. It was a monumental moment, and it brought us together so much.”
