With the clock winding down in the second overtime period, parents and fans of both Westminster and Manchester Valley were already crafting hypothetical lineups for a game-deciding shootout.
Little did they know, Mavericks senior Amanda Herrold — reigning County Player of the Year — had no intention of participating.
With just 55 seconds left in the second overtime, Makenna Etzel found Herrold for the game-winning goal, lifting the Mavericks to a 2-1 victory Tuesday night.
“We knew we just needed that one goal and we were doing so many good things,” Herrold said. “I knew I needed to be in front of the goal for Makenna, and then once [the ball] went behind the goalie, I had to hit it in because the goal was wide open.”
The Mavericks are young, but having a veteran like Herrold has made a difference in a season full of blowout wins, a rare loss, and now a back-and-forth overtime thriller. Through it all, they’ve found ways to overcome the season’s challenges.
“Today they showed they can do absolutely anything,” Manchester Valley coach Jenn Etzel said. “What we say to them is, ‘Listen, you love this game. So go out, play hard, have fun, put all the pieces together, because you have it.’”
Tuesday’s highly anticipated matchup featured the defending Class 2A champion Mavericks and, to some, their stiffest in-county competition: the Class 3A runner-up Owls, ready to rise to the challenge.
After controlling the ball for long stretches, Manchester Valley’s Georgia Wurzburger found Taylor Fique, who fired a strike into the cage — another goal this season for the talented junior. It was a typical start for those familiar with the Mavericks’ style of play.
“Westminster is a big rival for us, so we knew going in that they would want to beat us, but we want it just as bad as them,” Wurzburger said. “We’ve been trying to build our energy this season, and that’s really been big for our team. We just know we can finish it.”
Tuesday’s game reflected the Mavericks’ season as a whole. Etzel watched as Wurzburger and Fique anchored a defense that stifled and frustrated Westminster’s offense. Several Mavericks made key defensive plays, creating scoring opportunities on the other end.
“Our team has a really strong defense,” Wurzburger said. “We all talk to each other on the field to know who’s going where. We know who’s holding what position, and we know that the ball is going out. We don’t even think of them scoring on us as an option.”
Despite dominating possession and dictating the pace, Manchester Valley missed several offensive chances that kept the Owls within striking distance. Late in the fourth quarter, Westminster capitalized, becoming just the second team to score on the Mavericks this season. Abby Kerner delivered the equalizer.
But the Mavericks didn’t flinch. They showed the championship grit that’s carried them through their toughest test yet, setting the stage for Herrold’s decisive goal.
As the final whistle blew, the team sprinted across the field to mob their senior captain in celebration of a hard-fought win.
Etzel praised her team’s effort and the identity they’ve built as they continue their years-long dominance of Carroll County.
“This team has a lot of grit. They have a lot of heart,” she said. “They truly want to win, and they want to play for each other. They take every situation and give it 110%. That’s what I feel like I’ve seen all season.”
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