Class M Girls' Soccer Championship: Fall Mountain tips Campbell in 2 OTs

MANCHESTER – Jordan Ferland didn't immediately recognize the significance of her sudden-victory goal that netted Fall Mountain of Langdon its second straight girls' Class M soccer title.

The senior midfielder scored in the fourth minute of double overtime in the top-seeded Wildcats' 1-0 victory over No. 2 Campbell of Litchfield before 427 frigid fans at Southern New Hampshire University's Larkin Field last night.

Ferland collected a pass from Morgan Greene at the top of the box and took three touches in preparation for a one-on-one opportunity. Her right-footed line drive crossed the net face and tucked inside the far post at 103:30.

"At first I didn't realize I'd won the game," said Ferland, the coach's daughter and leading scorer with 15 goals on the season. "Then it hit me that the goal ended the game and gave us the championship. There were tears after that and my legs went weak."

Ferland, who struck the game winner in her team's semifinal win, got plenty of help remaining upright as her team mobbed her before the net.

"I didn't know if we would ever score," said Greene, who sent a pass freeing Ferland from the right wing. "When she tapped it the first time, I thought she was going to score."

Fall Mountain almost netted a golden goal in the opening seconds of play. Katie Doyle's point-blank boot seemed ready to settle in the back of the net, but Campbell keeper Shannon Lavigne's last-second diving save kept the game scoreless.

Fall Mountain's Jordan Ferland, center, celebrates her game-winning goal with Jess Phillips, left, and Kenneally Kennedy last night. (DAVID LANE)

"That can be dangerous for us when we look good in the early going, because our players sit back and think they turn it on when they want," said Wildcats coach Bruce Ferland, whose team claimed the title with a 17-2 record.

He was right. Campbell (15-4) dominated large portions of the game, outshooting Fall Mountain, 34-6.

Fall Mountain keeper Christine Surber sent the game into double overtime by making a spectacular save of Shawna Trunca'a 12-yard shot with 6:20 left. She dove right and stretched to make an airborn deflection of the shot.

"I thought it was in. I thought we had it," said Campbell coach Bob Gannon, his eyes filled with tears, proud of his young squad sporting 10 underclass starters. "The keeper made a heck of a save. We had our chances. If only we capitalized."

Surber made 16 saves to preserve the shutout win, Fall Mountain's second 1-0 win over Campbell this season. She deflected Trunca's shot form the near post and then blocked a subsequent rebound in the opening minute of play following intermission and stopped quality shots Sarah Vance took in the final minutes of regulation.

Trunca banged a shot off the crossbar from 30 yards out in the 12th minute of play. Near misses continued, Olivia Planty's crossing shot just beat Trunca to an open sport at the far post. Minutes later, Surber blocked Savard's shot.

"(Trunca) can sure drive that baby. Our defense hung tough and she (Surber) is steady in goal. We're going to miss her next season," said coach Ferland.