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Good Counsel junior forward Jessica Daly plays nearly every minute of every girls soccer game. While she does not get the same attention as some of her flashier teammates, she is an integral part of the Falcons' attack.
Daly scored the biggest goal of her career in the 94th minute of Sunday's Washington Catholic Athletic Conference final. Against three-time defending champion St. John's (D.C.) at the Maryland SportsPlex in Boyds, the goal gave the Falcons a 1-0, double-overtime win.
Sunday was Good Counsel's first WCAC final appearance since 2004 and first title since 2001.
"[Daly] does all the dirty work," 22nd-year Good Counsel coach Jim Bruno said. "She patrols the sidelines and wins the balls. I give her a lot of credit. ... We haven't been here in forever. It is a great feeling for these kids."
Good Counsel (17-2-5) won both teams' regular season duels by a combined score of 11-2. But the Cadets (6-11-3) were riddled with injuries early and were a much different team by Sunday, which was evident in their postseason run, including a win over top-seeded Bishop O'Connell.
A perfect blend of experience, raw talent and versatility up top propelled Good Counsel this year.
Senior Crystal Koczot (13 goals, 11 assists) anchored the middle and sparked most of the Falcons' pushes forward while dropping back when necessary to stifle opponents' runs.
When not setting herself up to score, Koczot had three great targets to choose from: Daly (6, 5), junior Kerry Mueller (16, 7) and freshman Midge Purce (19, 8).
The Falcons pressured St. John's for much of Sunday's contest; they got off seven good shots on goal and had a plethora of additional chances in the attacking third. But Cadets goalie Kirsten Gladd put on a great show with 15 saves.
"She came out for the ball really well," Daly said. "We knew we were going to have to try from the sides. I think [Sunday's] game came down to who had more heart. We wanted it more than anything. We have been preparing for it the whole season. Winning the WCAC was our biggest goal."
St. John's had its chances too. But the Falcons' backline, helmed by Katelyn Engen, Jordyn Brock and Bridget Maloy, has been rock solid, and sophomore goalie Lexi Rudolph made some crucial saves.
Good Counsel seemed to finally wear St. John's down in the second overtime. Daly's goal, a short-range kick off the inside of her right foot right through Gladd's hands, came off Alexis Prada's corner kick.
Good Counsel had ended Montgomery County rival Holy Cross' best campaign in at least four years with a 4-1 semifinal win over the Tartans (13-6-2).
Holy Cross' 13 wins this fall were more than the previous two seasons combined. A 1-1 tie against Good Counsel in September was its first non-loss to the Falcons since 2002.
Four-year starting midfielder Colleen Din, bound for the University of Georgetown next fall, led Holy Cross' resurgence. But unlike the past couple years, she had good support around her.
"I definitely did not think we would be this good," Tartans coach Nelson Abreu said. "My expectations were to go about .500. We graduated nine players from last year and had eight new players; I did not know what our identity was going to be. But it only took a week or so into practicing and I realized we were so much better technically and tactically."
