The Mercy girls soccer team battled through adversity all through the year but still managed to be playing on the season’s final day — losing valiantly to defending champ and No. 1 Archbishop Spalding in Sunday’s Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game.

The No. 3 Magic (12-5-3) learned two standout players had transferred just before the start of the season and then overcame various injuries and illnesses along the way. One thing that was never missing from the team was leadership, thanks to senior center midfielder and captain Jordan Stenger.

Over the summer, Stenger’s father got a job in San Diego, but instead of moving away immediately, she and her mother, who had a baby a few weeks ago, stayed in Baltimore so she could play her last season at Mercy. Stenger played a pivotal role in the Magic’s playoff run, helping control the middle of the field in a 1-0 upset of then-No. 2 McDonogh in the quarterfinals before doing the same in a 1-0 shootout win over Notre Dame Prep in the semifinals. After giving 100 percent in a 2-0 loss to Spalding on Sunday, she was packed and ready to go to San Diego, leaving Tuesday.

“The family separated so Jordan could play the season for the team. She led us all season long, and it was unbelievable to watch,” Mercy coach Albert Oni said.

-- Glenn Graham