Winters Mill High School attacker Katie Leech (left) and goalkeeper Katherine Russo each came up clutch in the final moments of the Falcons' 11-10 win in the Class 3A-2A state semifinals Friday.
by Aaron Grayagray@digitalsports.comSee videos belowWinters Mill High School sophomore Katie Leech said she didn't buy a school class ring because she wanted to hold out for a state championship ring.
Leech took a step closer to the prized possession after she scored on an open net with 1 minute, 28 seconds left. It would prove to be the game-winning goal in a thrilling 11-10 victory over
Centennial in the Class 3A-2A state semifinals at Annapolis High School on Friday.
The Falcons (16-2), the West Region champions out of Carroll County, will meet
Towson -- a
15-6 winner over
Annapolis -- in the state championship Wednesday at 4 p.m. at UMBC
"I want that ring so bad," said Leech, who finished with a team-high four goals and an assist. "We've been planning for this for a while."
Said goalkeeper Katherine Russo: "This is my senior year. We're ready for this."
Russo made a crucial save on a free-position shot from senior Sarah Parks with 29 seconds left to preserve Winters Mill's one-goal lead. It was one of the biggest saves she's ever made, according to coach Courtney Vaughn.
"I guess that's why she's going to Cincinnati," Vaughn said. "She came up big -- just big. It saved us because it could have gone into overtime. It was huge. That's senior leadership."
After going into halftime tied, the Falcons started the second half with five straight goals and opened a 9-4 lead with 16:56 left. Freshman attacker Erin McMunn netted the first two goals and sophomore midfielder Amalie Trentzsch capped the surge when she fit a free-position shot past Centennial goalkeeper Mary Teeters (six saves).
The Eagles (14-4) rallied back when five different players scored to cut the deficit to 10-9 with 4:25 remaining.
"We all just kept our heads in the game," Leech said.
Junior defender Amanda Matthews ran the length of the field but the Winters Mill defense intercepted her entry pass and held the ball until Leech's final tally.
Sophomore attacker Kelsey Norris scored the second of her two goals to cut the Lions' lead to one again and then won the next draw control with less than a minute left.
Enter Russo.
"The pressure was on," said the goalkeeper, who finished with seven saves. "It was a high shot and I got my stick out there. The defense was solid the whole game."
Senior midfielder Jen Peters had three goals and an assist for Winters Mill while Parks paced the Eagles with two goals and three assists.
Centennial (14-4) 4 6 - 10
Winters Mill (16-2) 4 7 - 11
GOALS: C - Norris 2, Parks 2, Heckman 2, Michael, Lancos, Burrows, Catalano; WM - Leech 4, Peters 3, McMunn 2, Zawacki, Trentzsch. ASSISTS: C - Parks 3; WM - Peters, Leech. SAVES: C - Teeters 6; WM - 7.