The unbeaten Meridian High School field hockey team hosted the Falcons of Fauquier County on Tuesday night in what was set to be a heated matchup between the district rivals. There was no shortage of chirping between the sidelines and passionate energy from the stands, with a crowd much bigger than normal in spite of the wet weather.

On the field, meanwhile, it proved to be a defensive slugfest as both teams struggled to find the back of the net. There was no score in the first quarter, though the Mustangs controlled the majority of the time of possession, and it looked as if the teams would go into the halftime break still knotted up before Lila Deering slipped one through with just under 90 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Meridian stayed on the gas pedal after the intermission, but Deering’s goal ended up being the game’s only tally. Goaltender Baelyn Reinfurt came up with a few big stops to secure the 1-0 victory, and the Mustangs improve to 7-0 on the season as they continue to pick right up where last year’s State Finals team left off.

Head coach Anne Steenhoek said postgame that she believes this was the team’s biggest test against a district opponent thus far this season. In that case, it should prepare them well for what figures to be another tough battle tonight, when they’ll travel to Sidwell Friends School in D.C.