By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
DUBLIN, Calif. – San Ramon Valley High (Danville) girls soccer coach Mark Jones promised his team a trip to Disneyland if it could pull off the nearly impossible, a victory over Foothill (Pleasanton), the nation’s No. 1 team that is considered the best ever assembled in the soccer-rich Bay Area.
But following a seen-only-to-be-believed 4-3 victory in the North Coast Section 3A playoff finals at Dublin High Saturday night, the Wolves were clearly already soaring abound their happiest place on earth.
When sophomore midfielder Allie Begin rebounded home an Allie Tao rocket that slipped through the hands of Foothill goalie Megan Leoni two minutes into sudden death overtime the Wolves let loose with a spectacular celebration that matched their spectacular comeback.
They scored four goals in the final 20 minutes against a team that had allowed five goals (while scoring 74) the entire season, a perfect 21-0 season coming in, one that included two victories over the same Wolves, 5-0 and 3-2.
They persevered despite being absolutely dominated for the first 64 minutes and a dazzling display from superlative talent Carlee Payne, who scored all three three Foothill goals.
They sent the match into overtime three minutes into stoppage time and just seconds before the final whistle sounded when junior forward Grace Leer somehow flicked home a header following a 30-yard free kick by freshman Julia Scheimer.
Leer, who endured a concussion the previous week, was instructed by doctors not to head any ball under any circumstance.
But this was no ordinary moment.
“This was for the championship,” she said. “This was to beat Foothill."
This was for history.
When Bergin scored two minutes later, the Wolves (19-5-2) had clinched their fourth straight title, an unprecedented feat in the 27-year history of the NCS. It was their sixth title overall against the two-time champion Falcons, who were buyoed by 13 seniors, a dozen of whom had secured soccer scholarships.
“It was absolutely crazy,” Begin said when asked her immediate feelings when her shot hit the back of the net. “I couldn’t think of what to do because I had to breathe first. We had a chance to win our fourth straight against the No. 1 team in the country so I just went for it. I was just the lucky one to be at the right spot at the right time. … I can’t believe what just happened.”
Nobody could.
Nobody.
As the Wolves dog piled and danced, Jones just kept shaking his head. He normally thwarts boorish over-the-top celebrations - especially with a defeated opponent in sight.
"Honestly, I was so stunned myself I didn't know what to do," he said. "I just let them go."
While the Wolves danced, the Falcons (21-1) collectively dove face first into the artificial turf and wept.
And wept some more.
"You can't take away our heart at the end but you still have to give it to Foothill for how well they played," Jones said. "They controlled this game. They won all the headers and most of the balls. But when we got some momentum everything changed. I don't know how to explain it. ... Soccer is a funny game."
The only explanation in the first half was that Foothill was worthy of its top national ESPN billing.
The Falcons got goals at 5:00 and 39:00 by Payne and a third scored by Sophie Metz off a cornerkick that inexplicably was waved off by officials at 7:00. Foothill coach Ronald Lambert and Jones both agreed the goal should have counted.
Then again, the Falcons were dominating so thoroughly it didn’t seem like it would matter.
It mattered.
“I told the team at halftime they could either create the greatest best memory of their life or have a lot of regrets,” Jones said. “The way we were playing it looked like the latter.”
But the Wolves got a sudden burst of momentum with 16:02 left in regulation on a goal by sophomore Caitlin Lahonta off a feed from Begin.
When Payne answered just one minute later, any notions of a comeback seemed absolutely crushed. The Falcons were back up by two goals 3-1 with 15 minutes remaining.
“I pretty much thought that was it,” Jones said. “I don’t know where we found the guts to come back from that.”
But Leer did. She scored off an assist from Begin at 67:30 and the Wolves were within striking range again, down 3-2.
“Foothill is an awesome team, but we just kept fighting and fighting and not giving in,” Leer said.
When referees added four minutes of stoppage time, the Wolves had more life. More life than they deserved, according to Lambert.
“You can't compete against two teams - you should only have to go against one," he said referring to the referees. “San Ramon played really hard and we played hard. We just came up short. But it didn't help having a second team against us out there.
"The sad things is that everything comes down to one game - an NCS title, an undefeated season and national (championship). That's what makes the ending so tough.
"The referee added four minutes to the game. The last goal (in regulation) was scored well past the time limit - way over. Hey, it happens. It's soccer. We can't dwell on it."
Lambert was clearly frustrated. His team lost in last year’s finals to San Ramon Valley and a goal was taken away that would have allowed the Falcons to win in regulation. Instead they lost on penalty kicks.
Jones understood Lambert’s frustration. He was completely empathetic.
He was also moved by the sportsman ship displayed by Payne and Metz, who somehow picked themselves off the turf and graciously congratulated the Wolves.
“I’ve always had great respect for (Lambert) and their program,” Jones said. “Their girls play hard and aggressive but they are great sports. I’ll never forget what those two girls (Payne and Metz) did. They showed great heart to come over and do that.”
The only thing more moving to Jones was his team’s grit over the final 20 minutes.
When Begin scored the game winner he had an unusual reaction.
“I just started to cry,” he said. “I’ve never had that reaction from a game and I doubt I ever will.”
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.