Golden Goal: Severna Park Girls Soccer Scores Third-Straight State Title With Overtime Stunner

To win one state championship, you need a lot of skill and a little bit of luck. To win two in a row takes a bit more good fortune and just as much skill.

Three straight? Skill, luck, and experience in spades.

All three played their part in the 2025 Severna Park girls soccer season, but Lady Luck had the final word.

Fresh off a throw-in early in the second half of overtime of the 3A state championship game, Harper Wallace floated in a cross from the right wing that beat everyone — including the Oakdale keeper. It bounced once and nestled into the side netting just inside the far post, and the far sideline quickly became a mosh pit.

Wallace’s mishit cross proved decisive as Severna Park survived Oakdale 4-3 in overtime, winning the program’s third consecutive state championship on November 13 at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

“It was supposed to be a cross in, but I just curved it into the goal instead,” Wallace said. “I don’t even know who I was trying to cross it to. It felt amazing because we were working so hard, and it paid off in the end.”

Wallace assisted Maria Bragg for the Falcons’ third goal, while Izzy Burleson and Addison Murphy also netted. They conceded first but ripped off three straight goals, only to see Oakdale score twice in five minutes late in the second half to tie the game.

They survived an onslaught in the first half of overtime, then bagged yet another title with their first foray of the second half.

“We know our game, we’ve been taught our game, and in those moments, we think about each other and how much we work for each other, and that pushes us,” said senior Emerson Scott. “We’ve had those moments where it gets to the nitty-gritty, but we have had those golden-goal moments and been able to get it done.”

Much has been made of the senior class, and for good reason. Over three years, they went 52-1, scored 191 goals and conceded just 16. But in the title game, younger players rose to the occasion and let the seniors know that the dynasty need not end just because they’re gone.

Wallace and Burleson each had a goal and an assist, and there was tenacious defending from Taylor Edwards to help keep Oakdale at bay long enough for the offense to take hold of the game. Ella McLaughlin helped Burleson anchor the midfield.

They made it to the final courtesy of a 1-0 win over Towson in the semis, a rematch of the 2024 final. Ava Scott got the game’s only goal, and Megan Young made four key early saves to keep the game goalless while staring into a tough sun.

There were standout moments, but it really took all hands on deck to make it happen, which is how the team prefers it.

“The whole year we’ve stressed focusing on ourselves and only how we play, because we know that if we play to the best of our ability, we can do great things,” Bragg said. “It’s not even a team, it’s a second family for all of us, and for a lot of the seniors it’s our last time playing soccer ever. This team means so much to us.”

Joining Murphy, Bragg, and the Scott sisters in departing are fellow seniors Ella Baxter, Emma Lawrence, Bella Mazzola, and Mackenzy Luoto. Many of them have been with the team for all three of the team’s state championships, while the Scotts were four-year varsity players.

“It’s no surprise that the success we’ve had has corresponded to the time they’ve been in the program. They’ve been great leaders and great teammates and helped to establish the culture even as freshmen,” said Severna Park coach Rick Stimpson. “I think looking back at the whole season, the way they performed week in and week out was tremendous. The final will stick in the mind for a long time, very dramatic and one we had to work really hard for. The things that we’re going to remember are the performances, but it’s the friendships and relationships that are built at the team events over the year that we will remember the most.”