Nansemond River High School’s field hockey team played its last regular season home game Thursday evening, and it resulted in a 3-0 loss to the Lady Dukes.

Gloucester High School is the reigning 5A state champ, so the game proved to be tough for the Lady Warriors.

The game was tied 0-0 until the final eight minutes of the second half, when the Lady Dukes started to pull away.

“They played with intensity,” Lady Warriors coach Allison Dize said. “I feel like we really earned Gloucester’s respect after the game. They are a tough team, a state championship team. My girls played well.”

Despite the loss, it was senior night for the Lady Warriors. Seniors Ariana Samuel, Mackenzie Roach, Bailey Vandewater and Kara Foster were acknowledged through decorations around the field and cheers from the crowd.

“They are a really good group of seniors,” Dize said. “They come to practice every day to play team hockey. It’s not about themselves. I’ve never had an issue with any of them. They are true team players.”

Next for the Lady Warriors is conference tournament time, and opponents have yet to be determined. Regardless of the loss, the Warriors feel like they have been playing solid all season long, including three of their last four games being shutouts and a tough overtime win against Grassfield High School.

“I think we are ready,” Roach said. “We had a great week with the Grassfield win and mercy rule win over Kecoughtan. Those wins really brought us together. We’re ready to give everything we have in the tournament.”