Towson assistant Ben Berquist called it "a once-in-a-lifetime deal." It was "destiny" to coach Randy Dase, and simply "my nicest goal" to midfielder Jeff Routh.

Routh's 30-yard shot from the left of goalkeeper Matt Wickman found the upper right corner of the net with 1:30 to play as visiting and 13th-ranked Towson dethroned fourth-ranked Eastern Tech, 2-1, in yesterday's Class 2A North region boys soccer title game.

"It was a clear from their defense; I settled it, dribbled it. A defender came forward, so I had to release," said Routh, who has 18 goals and eight assists this season. "Their keeper was in the middle of the goal, so I aimed far post. It was a good strike that curled in there."

The Generals (14-1-2) earned their 12th straight victory and vanquished a 14-2-1 Mavericks squad that had captured its second straight Baltimore County crown on Oct. 23 over Dulaney - the last team to beat Towson. Towson advanced to the state semifinals, ending the Generals' dejection of having been runner-up in the region two consecutive years.

Towson lost to Catonsville two years ago and in overtime to Eastern Tech last year, both by 1-0 scores.

"Having been on the other side the past two years, it's great to win," said third-year starting goalkeeper Tom Franklin (12 saves), who has 10 shutouts and allowed only his ninth goal in a game that was tied 1-1 at halftime.

"I was waiting the whole second half, like, 'When are we going to score?' " Franklin said. "But I knew it was just a matter of time."

Towson took a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute as sophomore Tyler Zentz converted a cross from Mike Novotny from a few feet in front of the goal. But after tying the game off a pass from Bryan Kauffman in the 20th minute, the Mavericks' Bryan Moffa dreamed of ending the regionals the way his brother Matt did. The elder Moffa, who has since graduated, beat Towson last year with a goal nine seconds into overtime.

"That felt horrible," Zentz said. "We wanted some revenge."

In the second half, Franklin thwarted chances by the Mavericks' Andrew Kordula (twice) and watched a shot by Zach Adair bounce off the post, and shots by Moffa and Isaiah Ramsey - the latter on a penalty kick - sail just wide of the goal.

"I got some breaks, which is part of the game," said Franklin, crediting Tyler Wyman, Tyler Kholer and Nick May for their defense. "I did my best to make my own luck."

Moffa, one of two starters back from last year's 16-2-1 squad, said: "I wanted to outdo my brother. We had a great season. I just can't believe it ends like this."