The Maumee Valley field hockey team overcame inexperience and a size disadvantage to advance to the Elite Eight of the high school state tournament this fall.

The Hawks had only two seniors among a roster of just 19 players that made the surprising postseason run.

Longtime Maumee Valley coach Terri Herrmann said the state ride was "somewhat unexpected."

"Every coach is hopeful and looking forward to a good season," Herrmann said. "But we didn't really expect to make it to the state quarterfinals. It was really great for the girls. It proved that hard work pays off. It was the idea of perseverance."

Herrmann said Maumee Valley's situation also is unique because it is the smallest school in the state that competes in field hockey.

"We have only about 70 girls in our high school, and we're competing against some schools that have close to 1,000," Herrmann said.

Yet Maumee Valley finished with a 10-5-2 record and reached the regional final on Oct. 26. The Hawks, who were unseeded in the tournament, defeated Dublin Jerome (2-1), sixth-seeded Granville (1-0), and then fourth-seeded Bexley (1-0) to reach the elite eight.

But the unexpected run ended in a 6-0 loss to Columbus Academy on Oct. 29.

Herrmann has been the head coach of the Maumee Valley field hockey program for 21 seasons and has a career record of 189-148-39.

Maumee Valley's Audrey White (14) vies for the ball against a player from Saline, Mich. White, a junior, was the Hawks second leading scorer. ROGER L. SPURGEON Enlarge

This year's team matched the longest postseason run in the program's history. It is the fourth time a Hawks' team reached the quarterfinals in Herrmann's tenure.

"That has been the breaking point for us," she said. "It's been very hard to get into the state semifinals."

She said at that point Maumee Valley is facing teams from bigger cities that also play the sport year round.

There are no divisions in field hockey, and 36 schools have varsity teams.

In past seasons, Herrmann had enough players to have both a junior varsity and varsity team.

But this season she had 19 total players and had only a varsity squad.

"I attribute that to our culture and society," she said. "There is so much available to kids today."

The only other school in northwest Ohio that has a field hockey team is Ottawa Hills.

"So we have to travel a lot," Herrmann said. "We play double-headers on Saturdays in Ann Arbor, Detroit and Columbus. It's a lot. The girls have to be really strong to endure the sport, let alone [travel that much]."

Herrmann said she had two seniors and eight freshman on her team.

"The rest were a mix of sophomore and juniors," she said.

"We were inexperienced and a young team. But it was a team willing to work hard from the get go."

Herrmann said she runs strict, aggressive practices starting with two-a-days in early August.

"The girls are well conditioned, and they work hard on a lot of skills and tactics," she said. "They're willing to work hard."

Junior Katie Meyer of Holland led the team in scoring with 11 goals and six assists. The forward from Maumee earned the team's MVP award and was named a tri-captain prior to the season.

"She is the play maker," Herrmann said. "She does great things on the field. She's a great kid all around on and off the field."

Meyer also plays for an Olympic development team and is a national futures tournament player, according to Herrmann.

"She is well decorated and has a lot of great opportunities," Herrmann said.

Meyer provided the only goal in the 1-0 win in the regional final.

Junior Audrey White of Holland finished as the team's second leading scorer with seven goals and four assists. White played a key role in Maumee Valley's playoff run. The forward/wing scored three goals in the state tournament.

"She had some serious back issues and back pain she had to overcome," Herrmann said. "But she absolutely loves the sport of field hockey. She came through in the clutch. She's fast and loves to score."

Senior Genna Danes of Perrysburg has been in the program for four seasons. Herrmann called Danes, a center midfielder, the team's field marshal.

"She has a very strong, powerful drive," Herrmann said. "She's pretty intimidating to opponents. She's been a strong asset for us."

Danes was a tri-captain along with fellow senior Delaney Lonsway of Toledo.

Herrmann moved Lonsway to the sweeper position this season.

"She did a fantastic job on defense," Lonsway said.

Danes and Lonsway were both members of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School national academic squad. The honor goes to seniors with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.

Junior Kelsie Snyder of Toledo has been the team's starting goalie for two years. Snyder had six shutouts this season.

"She came up with a lot of great saves," Herrmann said. "She helped us beat our arch rivals, Ottawa Hills [1-0]. She saved 12 shots against them. She came through and was solid and confident."

Sophomore Cammie Lonsway was the third-leading scoring with seven goals and three assists.

Herrmann said she was also impressed with freshman KayLou Stoddard of Perrysburg, who started on defense.

"She had never played field hockey before, but we had complete confidence in her," Herrmann said.

"We never worried about her or her position. She has amazing skills for a freshman. She was calm and collected. She made the difference in a lot of games."

Danes, Delaney Lonsway, Sarah Nathan, Cammie Lonsway, Delia Safadi, and Emily Boyk all were named scholar athlete award winners (3.5 GPA or higher) by the Ohio Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Next season bodes well for the Hawks as Herrmann said she can not recall having so many experienced players returning.

"I'm looking forward to the next few years, and I hope they continue to improve," she said.

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade