Carroll County has had at least one field hockey team reach the state tournament in every year since 1976, and the streak was extended this fall with regional champions Century and Manchester Valley.
The Knights and Mavericks each lost in the semifinals, making this the first year since 2006 a Carroll team didn't play in a state championship game.
But both Century and MV appeared in a final four game for the fourth consecutive season, which ties for the third longest streak in county history.
Francis Scott Key leads the way with 10 straight trips from 1985-94, followed Westminster with five in a row (2007-11).
Carroll was going for a third straight year of having at least one state champ. Westminster won the 3A crown in 2010 and 2011.
The county has 19 state championships and five schools have won at least one crown - Westminster has seven, FSK has five, South Carroll has four, Liberty has two, and North Carroll has one.
The Owls have the fourth most titles in state history according to the MPSSAA's online record book, and they might not lose any ground this season.
Neither Severna Park (20), Pocomoke (18), nor Bethesda-Chevy Chase (13) reached the state tourney, but Fallston can add a 14th state title if the Cougars beat Crisfield in the 1A final Saturday.
Fallston needed overtime to defeat Manchester Valley in Monday's state semifinal.
Hereford can tie Westminster with seven state crowns if the Bulls beat Atholton on Saturday afternoon in the 3A final.
The Owls' 23 state tournament appearances is still good for third, tied with B-CC and trailing only Severna Park (29) and Pocomoke (25). Fallston is next with 22.
PATRIOTS POWER: Carroll Christian's volleyball team recently took second in its division at the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament in Dayton, Tenn.
A year after winning the Division 2 national title, the Patriots were bumped up to Division 1 this fall and didn't disappoint. Carroll went 2-0 in pool play, then knocked off Leesburg (Va.), and Hickory (N.C.), before falling to Calumet (Ind.) in the tourney semifinals.
The Pats battled back to beat Asheville (N.C.) in the consolation round before falling to Calumet again in the championship.
Senior hitters Kristen Douglas and Jane Underman were named to the NACA all-tournament team for Division 1.
Carroll won its 11th straight Maryland Association of Christian Schools Athletic Conference tournament title earlier this season, with Douglas and Underman garnering all-tourney honors (Douglas was the tourney MVP).
