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There was something odd about Bethesda-Chevy Chase girls soccer coach Rob Kurtz's outfit as he paced the chilled and soggy sidelines at Richard Montgomery High Friday.

For the Class 4A state semifinal against Bowie, Kurtz was bundled up in a hefty coat, winter hat and gloves —and blue gym shorts.

"I hate when the girls wear spandex under their shorts, though more and more people are doing it these days, so I always say I'll tough it out," Kurtz said. "I'll fight through it."

The Barons toughed out a less-than-stellar performance, as well. Junior midfielder Vic Gersh scored the only goal in a 1-0 win Friday that marks their third state final appearance in four years; they face Urbana this weekend at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Frederick County's Hawks defeated B-CC in the 2007 Class 3A West Region final en route to their only state title.

A wet and extremely slick artificial field, coupled with big-game nerves, made for an error-prone performance. But as the Barons (17-1-0) have done countless times over the past decade, they found a way to barrel through.

"We just didn't have it," Kurtz said "I think we passed worse than in our first scrimmage. But we played 16 good games leading up to this one, so I can't be too upset. It takes a certain team to win these types of games. I'm just glad we got the win, fought through and have a chance to win another state title."

Friday might not have been B-CC's greatest performance, but to keep things in perspective, Bowie scored 133 goals this fall.

Despite some uncharacteristic mistakes in the back, B-CC's typically strong defense, led by Mallory MacRostie, Hannah Levin and Kara Klontz, kept Bulldogs' leading scorers Madeline Simms (31 goals, 14 assists) and Mary Randolph (21, 15) quiet. Bowie (14-2-0) managed only three shots on goal.

Meanwhile the Barons, led by skilled junior midfielders Alex Doll (10, 13) and Gersh (20, three), and senior Owyn Manson (13, five) up top, put a lot of pressure on Bowie's back line.

The Barons spent a good amount of time in the attacking third and had seven shots on goal to show for it, but could not convert.

Gersh scored on a corner kick in the 21st minute. She bent a ball from the left corner to the goal line, and Bowie goalie Nikki Jenkins couldn't get a solid grip on it. It was just the seventh goal Jenkins gave up in 16 games.

"In the first half I think we were all just crazy," Gersh said. "In the second half we calmed down and started working the ball and keeping the pressure up. It's so exciting to get back to the state final. I think we did a great job of keeping together in a close game and really pulling through, connecting with each other and fighting through."