Towson's boys soccer team had not been to a state final since 1991, and its coach, Randy Dase, said that may have been the biggest reason for the Generals' 3-2 loss to Stephen Decatur last night in the Class 2A championship game at UMBC.
Senior midfielder Terry Gallo scored the game-winner on a header with just under 15 minutes to play, ending a wild 12 1/2 minutes and giving the Seahawks (14-1-1) their first state title in program history.
It was the also first state title in any sport for the Worcester County school since 1986. Steve Berquist's team returned 10 seniors from last year's squad, which lost in the final to Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
The loss ended the No. 10 Generals' 14-game winning streak.
"My kids are down, but I'm telling you, I'm so proud to walk away from this field because they've ridden a wave like nobody would believe," said Dase. "I think the difference was [Stephen Decatur was] here last year and they have a lot of seniors."
After a scoreless 52 minutes, Towson (15-2-2) struck first as Jeff Routh ran on to a through ball in the box from Tyler Zentz. Routh's shot deflected off a Seahawk defender's foot and wound up in the net for the junior's 20th goal of the season.
But Towson's celebration was short-lived. Two minutes later, at the 25:17 mark, Seahawks senior Kelly Moore converted a pass from Anthony Perlozzo to tie the game, and the Seahawks would need only five minutes to take the lead.
Senior Alex Sananikone settled a James Cosby shot and fired a right-footed shot from 15 yards past Tom Franklin.
Towson answered, tying the game with 17:38 to play on a goal by sophomore Michael Novotny, who fought off two defenders to finish Andrew Bickel's low cross.
But Gallo's goal, three minutes later, put away the Generals.
"I'd rather make it here and lose, then not make it here at all," said Franklin, who kept the Generals in it with 10 saves, several of which were spectacular.
It was a bittersweet victory for Berquist, who is the older brother of Towson assistant Ben Berquist and played soccer and lacrosse for Dase.
"If we'd of lost, I wouldn't have lost to any other team," said Steve Berquist. "This is the ultimate of sibling rivalry victories."