The game remained tied through the opening two overtime periods, but an undefeated Cosby team found a golden goal in the third. Cosby senior Deniss Hayes arrowed a free kick from just outside the penalty box into the bottom corner to lift the Titans past McLean, 2-1.
The Highlanders (17-3-2) were playing in the second state final in program history and first since 1995. They earned their spot with a 2-1 win over Gar-Field on Friday, but came just short of their first state title after Cosby’s game-winner.
“The heart in this team is amazing. We put some of our best games together when we’re 1-0 down,” Coach Leland Jameson said. “[They] have that kind of heart, desire, fight and grit and they showed it again today. I thought after halftime we were the better team the rest of the game. Sometimes the chips just don’t fall your way.”
The Highlanders came close to taking the lead early with multiple opportunities on set pieces but fell behind after Cosby senior Evan Gaines scored in the 38th minute.
McLean played its way into the game as the second half progressed and eventually found an equalizer in the 63rd minute. Junior Ada Karatepe dribbled into the penalty box and unleashed a shot that deflected off a defender and beat the goalkeeper to tie the game at one.
The Highlanders used that goal to force extra time and didn’t concede in the first two overtime periods. But Cosby crushed their hopes in the third period. When it happened, McLean players fell to the ground as Cosby players rushed past them from the bench to celebrate the golden goal.
Saturday’s defeat was the Highlanders’ third of the season. Their only other losses were a pair of regular season defeats against Herndon, losses they avenged with a 3-2 victory over the Hornets in last month’s Class 6 Region D championship.
McLean could have played the Hornets a fourth time, but Herndon fell to Cosby, 3-0, in the other Class 6 semifinal Friday. The Highlanders kept it much closer against the undefeated Titans.
McLean used last season’s district final defeat as fuel to get to its first state championship game in 29 years this spring. Jameson believes Saturday’s loss can serve the same purpose to inspire next year’s group.
“We used [the district final loss] as fire all season long. Every training session, we talked about unfinished business,” Jameson said. “Now just getting here, I’m sure they all feel the pain. So we’ll remember that and we’ll store that and then be back next year.”