The old Owyn Manson might have panicked and missed.
The new version, the 2009 Class 4A state girls soccer champion one, remained composed Friday night. When Bethesda-Chevy Chase teammate Vic Gersh laid a cross at her feet 25 seconds into the second overtime, Manson patiently settled and placed a shot just inside the right post.
The goal was the difference in the Barons' 2-1 win over longtime rival Urbana in the state championship game at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
"I was just thinking, Owyn, don't kick it over the goal,'" Gersh said. "Then I was just so excited."
Added Manson: "Throughout the season, those kinds of kicks, I tend to get excited and just kick it over the goal. So, I wanted to show everyone I've been working hard and make sure it went in."
The win gave the Barons (18-1-0) their second consecutive state title, after they won the 3A crown last season. It was their fourth title in nine years.
While Gersh, who finished with a team-high 20 goals and four assists, and U-17 National pool midfielder Alex Doll (10, 13) are the Barons' two most reliable players, Manson's speed, power and tenacity at forward make her their most impactful.
Inconsistent earlier in her career, she proved to be a game-changer during the postseason. She finished with 14 goals and five assists on the season.
"I used to coach Owyn in middle school; I've always known she could be this type of player," said ninth-year B-CC coach Rob Kurtz. "Her maturity, her growth on the soccer field ... She turned it on at the right time. What you saw in playoffs was the Owyn Manson [that] Howard (D.C.) University is going to see for the next four years. I'm very proud of her."
Friday's contest was a typical B-CC-Urbana duel: little separated the two. The Barons and Hawks (16-3-0) have played six times in the past seven year, usually for the 3A West Region crown. Three of those meetings were decided in overtime, and after Friday, each team has won three of the six.
The Hawks, led by sisters Julie (19 goals, four assists) and Amie (eight, 10) Ruhe, controlled the first half, outshooting B-CC, 5-0. Julie finished Amie's free kick in the 26th minute to put Urbana ahead, 1-0 at halftime.
But the Barons rebounded in the second half. Sophomore Kara Klontz evened the score on a corner kick in the 42nd minute and B-CC outshot the Hawks, 5-2.
Gersh and Manson connected on the Barons' first chance in overtime.
"We've been in some pretty close games this season, some overtime games, we've fallen behind by a goal, so we knew we could bounce back and score late," Doll said. "I think it shows a lot about our team that we could graduate 11 seniors then eight seniors and still get back here and win. We all have worked really hard; we like to be at practice. We trust each other on the field and know each other's strengths and weaknesses."