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Holly Kipe's moment in the spotlight came on a damp and dreary evening at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

The Tuscarora High freshman midfielder scored two goals to lead the Titans over Howard County's Reservoir, 3-2, in the Class 3A state championship game on Thursday evening for the program's third state title.

"I was kind of shocked I even got to play," said Kipe, who scored one goal during the regular season. "I knew it was going to be a good game and the starters are really good players."

After falling behind 1-0 on a Payton Bouie direct kick less than three minutes in, the Titans (15-3-1) pulled even when Michelle Rock punched home a rebound off Aaran Parry's shot at 10:17. Tuscarora forced the issue for the remainder of the half, but settled for a 1-1 draw at intermission as the rain continued to fall.

Two game-changing plays on opposite ends of the field were pivotal in helping Tuscarora bring home the crown.

Approximately 10 minutes into the second half, the Gators began to push forward. Gators' forward Kelsey Reiff unleashed a low blast, which Tuscarora senior goalie Sarah Jo Hayden blocked with a diving save.

The deflection rolled right onto the foot of Reservoir forward Stephanie Zaycer. Tuscarora fullback Brittany Chatfield streaked in and stepped in front of Zaycer's shot to prevent a goal at the 30 minute mark.

"[I was just thinking] kick the ball out," Chatfield, a senior said. "Don't let that go in."

Having avoided disaster, Tuscarora began to attack. Rock was hauled down just outside the left flank of the penalty box, earning her team a free kick. Parry lofted the offering into the heart of a crowd directly in front of the Gator net where Kipe poked home a deflected ball for a 2-1 lead at 28:12.

Riding a wave of momentum, Kipe padded the Titans' advantage and drove home a helper from fellow freshman Emily Marshall at 22:27.

Tuscarora's forwards forced Reservoir (14-4-1) back onto their heels for most of the match. Aside from Bouie's tally and their early second half push, Reservoir could not muster any semblance of an attack for most of the evening. The Titans out shot Reservoir, 7-5, and attempted seven corner kicks compared to the Gators' three.

Still the Gators made Tuscarora earn its title. Offensively-challenged for most of the night, Reservoir pulled within a goal with eight minutes left in the match on a Reiff score following a Bouie direct kick. Tuscarora then ran out the clock, fittingly within Gator territory.

"I think this game defines the season," said Tuscarora head coach Mark Walcott.