There’s a reason Liberty coach Brenda Strohmer scheduled early-season games against traditional field hockey powers like Notre Dame Prep, Broadneck and McDonogh.

That reason quickly became evident in Saturday’s Class 1A state final against Fallston.

Bolstered by a talent-laden lineup accustomed to playing top competition both in and out of powerful Carroll County, Liberty took command early, scoring three goals in the game’s first 22 minutes and rolling to a 6-1 win at Stevenson University.

“This is why we play the tough teams,” Strohmer said. “Carroll County doesn’t have any turf, so we like to pick up the tough turf games because it only makes them better to get up to this level… It picks apart what we need to work on in practice.”

“I think the higher level of competition really gets

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