It took 17 games to get there, but the No. 5 ranked Saint Thomas More Preparatory field hockey team finally lost its first game of the season this past week.

    Unfortunately for the Ravens (15-1-1), that first loss also will be the last for the 2008 squad as it eliminated them from the state tournament in the first round.

    Falling to No. 12 Caravel Academy, 3-2, Nov. 7, STM gave everything it had in its first-ever tournament appearance, but came up short.

    Despite the loss, head coach Debbie Windett said she was surprised at how well her team played and reacted to the pressure of the tournament for the first time.

    “I was worried we’d have the jitters,” Windett said. “But we looked like veterans coming out. I really thought we controlled play in the first 10 or 15 minutes, and scoring first got us right on track.”

    Sophomore Katie Price got things started off right for the Ravens, picking up the first goal. Caravel struck right back, however, tying it at a goal each.

    The second half went the opposite way for STM, as Caravel scored first. Sam Smiertka picked up the equalizer, knotting the score at 2-2.

    The Bucs scored the final goal late in the game, bringing the Ravens’ season to a close.

    It was a disappointing finish to a season that was in short supply of disappointing moments for STM. Windett, however, said the season was a special one for her team.

    “We had nine wins last season and we knew this group was special,” she said. “We didn’t have any injuries and we had to have a little luck, and it all fit together.

    “The more we played the more confident we got, and that’s what made it hard for the kids to lose that game.”

    Windett said she would have loved to go deeper into the tournament, but when looking at the big picture she thinks this season was a huge success for the young field hockey program.

    “When you have success a program builds upon that,” she said. “We had a lot of girls that came out this year that have never picked up sticks. Some of them got into the state tournament game, and that is a testament to how hard those girls worked.”

    The Ravens will graduate six starters from this year’s team, players Windett said could not be replaced but whose legacy of success she hopes will carry on.

    “I think that they’ve really left a lot behind for the rest of the players,” she said. “We have some really good young players, a super sophomore class and a large freshman class.”

    Looking on to next season, Windett said the Ravens want to increase the difficulty of their schedule.

    By playing and potentially beating tougher in-state teams, she hopes her team can gain more experience and a better position once the state tournament rolls around.

    “As our program grows, our schedule will become more competitive,” she said.

    Another thing Windett said helped the program is the support from the Saint Thomas More community.

    Playing at home in the tournament, the atmosphere was electric despite the cold and rainy weather.

    “I think the energy of the school behind us and a lot of the Holy Cross kids there is just helping us try to build a program,” Windett said. “It was such a neat atmosphere there. The staff was there cheering for the team.

    “The kids felt so appreciated. All of the hard work was being appreciated.”

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com