South Carroll coach Erin Soulen had the perfect motivational tactic to inspire her No. 11 Cavaliers heading into yesterday's Class 3A state field hockey final. She made sure they knew all about how her Cavaliers team had won the state title back in 1991.
"She always rubs it in our faces how she won," said Cavaliers midfielder Liz Fries. "Now we can rub it back in her face because we won. We're getting the jackets. We're going to be No. 1."
The Cavaliers could not have capped off their unbeaten season in more sensational style, upsetting No. 1 and defending champion Fallston, 2-1, in double overtime at Goucher College.
Jess Naper scored the game-winner in the 79th minute of play - just a minute and a half before co-champs would have been declared.
"Once we knew she hit that ball, everyone's mouths dropped open," Fries said. "I can't even put [the feeling] into words. I'm in such awe. Our team played so well."
Naper, a junior forward, initiated the fast break that sparked the goal, ending Fallston's domination of the second 10-minute, seven-on-seven overtime period. The Cavaliers (15-0-1) set up on the right, but Naper stayed behind the defense in the middle of the circle.
When the cross came from Alena Looserarian, Naper showed remarkable poise. With no defender on her, Naper settled the ball, got her feet around and lined up the shot to the left of goalie Maddie Goetz.
"I always stop and look at the goalie, see where she is and just push it," said Naper, who also scored the Cavaliers' first goal. "It was like 3 seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime to me. I sort of like block out everything and just do it."
The Central Maryland Conference champs were the new kids on the block yesterday against perennial contender Fallston (16-2). The Cavaliers had won three previous titles but had not been to the final four since 1992, while the Harford County champs had won nine state crowns in the previous 14 years.
Experience paid off for Alice Puckett's Cougars in regulation as they rallied from a 1-0 deficit to tie with 3:04 left. Fallston forced overtime when Maryrose Rappold sent a pass hopping across the circle to leading scorer Riki Reuben.
Naper had given the Cavaliers the lead with 33 seconds left in the first half after Kerrie Wuenschel centered a ball for a shot similar to the game-winner.
In the first overtime, South Carroll's Stephanie Kisic took the only shot, but Fallston back Brandi Burdych stopped it. The Cougars pounded out four shots in the second overtime, but Cavaliers goalie Abby Treworgy turned away three of them and one sailed wide.
"We wanted this game. We wanted to defend our state championship," said Fallston midfielder Kim Ziegler, "but they were ready to take it from us. We tried as hard as we could, but they were just a great team."