The odds were extremely stacked against Loch Raven before they lost 7-0 to Pocomoke in the Class 1A state semifinal field hockey game.
Pocomoke coach Susan Pusey was going for her 300th career win, and the Warriors were on a mission for the school's ninth straight state title and 18th overall.
That mission will continue in the state championship game at Washington College, Saturday, Nov. 19.
The Raiders (6-10), who absorbed a nine-game losing streak during the regular season, were on a mission to slow down the potent attack the best they could.
"We came in hoping we could beat them, but knowing they were a strong team and they've had championship after championship," Loch Raven coach Liz Miller said.
Pocomoke (15-3) had outscored its first two regional foes, 27-0, before winning the regional title over Parkside, 2-1.
They kept the pressure on the Raider defense the entire game, taking 38 shots, while holding the Raiders without a shot.
But the Raider defense of juniors Courtney McCoy, Erin Nolder and Emily Kight, senior Caroline Stith and sophomore goalie Cori Kosko were especially tough in the first 10 minutes, when they held the Warriors scoreless despite facing six shots and four penalty corners.
McCoy stifled several Pocomoke chances in the circle, but the Raiders barely struggled clearing the ball past midfield.
"We did get off to a slow start, but I felt once we did get scoring and had the momentum going we penetrated a lot and we were getting the ball in the cage," Pusey said.
Pocomoke broke the ice when Abbey Shobe (2 goals, 1 assist) flicked a pass to Shelby Woods for her team-leading 19th goal of the season.
Phoebe Rantz and Shobe added goals later in the half for a 3-0 lead at intermission.
Loch Raven got a takeaway from Annie Miller near midfield and nice clear from Jill Fieldler, but didn't get the ball into the Pocomoke circle until Carmella Ziccardi sent one in with 2:50 remaining in the half.
That set up a long hit from Lauren Livengood that was cleared by the Warriors and the Raiders never threatened the circle again.
That put the spotlight on sophomore goalie Kosko and she shined brightly, despite watching 20 Warrior shots in the second half.
She made 15 saves in the final 30 minutes and kept the score from mounting even higher.
"I thought she had an outstanding game," Pusey said. "She kept us from scoring more and she hung in there and did a very nice job."
During one 2-minute stretch she saved seven straight shots with all parts of her body, before Jessie Todd snuck one in.
"She finally started diving," said teammate McCoy. "We've been trying to get her to do it all season."
"After a while, I just felt like diving would be the best thing to do because it kept going to the corners," Kosko said.
Besides Todd, the only Warriors to get balls past Kosko in the second half were Skylar Hall, Ma'Nasia Ross and Shobe.
"What she has done from the first day of practice to this last game, is become a totally different player and her confidence has come out," Miller said.
The whole team's confidence helped the Raiders win its final five games, including three straight in the regionals, with the last, a 1-0 victory over Pikesville, bringing them their first regional crown since 2008.
"We made it to state semis so that is pretty awesome," McCoy said.
"From where we've come, it's just so impressive how they played tonight," Miller said. "I hope they are proud of themselves, because Pocomoke is insane."