All season, parents, coaches, players and even opposing soccer teams have said: "He's the heart and soul of that team."

They have been talking about Old Mill's diminutive, hustling senior, Wijy Jones.

Jones showed why they talk about him yesterday. He scored the only goal with 9:14 left to give No. 8 Old Mill its second region title in school history, 1-0, over No. 9 South River in Edgewater.

The 4A East title moves Old Mill (14-2-2) into the state semifinals Monday at UMBC against West region winner Churchill, which beat Whitman, 2-1.

Jones took a through-ball up top from Jason Stern, juked goalie Steve Ridgeway (seven saves), who had come out of the cage and leaped over him. Only South River's Scott Forney was between Jones and the net.

With the two Seahawks sprawled out on the turf at Joe Papetti Field, Jones booted the ball into the open net.

"Wijy is the hardest working kid I have coached in four years," said Old Mill coach Jeff Martin, who played on the Pats' first region champion in 1985.

"He's non-stop. He was sick today but played 78 minutes [of 80], and he just keeps working and working. Wijy is one of those kids that when he walks out the door to end his senior season, you cry. We've been lucky to have him four years."

Old Mill junior keeper Tim Carrier, who had 11 saves, made sure the goal stood up.

"We came out a little flat in the first 10 minutes, but I did my best to keep them in the game," Carrier said.

"Waiting a week and a half to play them again made it tough to get up, but we eventually did. This feels great, but we're not satisfied yet. The sky's the limit."

It was Old Mill's third straight win over the Seahawks (12-4-2) this season, making the Patriots the first to win the Anne Arundel County championship game and the region in the same season.

Since the county championship game began in 1994, winning it had been a jinx in the playoffs until yesterday.

Jones' late penalty kick gave Old Mill a 2-1 victory over South River for the Pats' first-ever county championship two weeks ago. The county final came on the heels of a 1-0 regular-season win over South River on Stern's goal that put Old Mill in the championship.

As a result of three meetings, the level of intensity in the first half was down yesterday.

"It was real hard for us to get up for this game, " said Jones.

"Not saying that they're a bad team because they are a great team. It's hard to get up for a game when you've already played the same game twice and won."