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Sandy • Rowland Hall's Airam Perez was barely past midfield when she got the ball. The freshman was virtually alone in the middle of the field when she squared to the posts.

The Winged Lions were tied with Waterford in the Class 2A girls' soccer state championship game at Rio Tinto Stadium. Perez knew, at the 71st minute, there wasn't much time remaining in regulation. The Ravens had threatened early and often in the physical affair, and Perez didn't think she'd have another shot on goal.

Perez uncorked a cannonball, which flew in a tight parabolic curve to the Waterford goalkeeper. She thought at first she overshot the ball. Perez remained motionless as she watched the ball sail through the goalie's hands and in for what proved to be the game-winner.

Perez's teammates mauled her at center field.

"We never gave up on this game or each other," Perez said. "Our goal all year was to win state, and we never gave up. That's why we won."

With Perez's gutsy shot, Alyssa Cole's solid goalkeeping and Jess Sterrett's command, Rowland Hall won the 2A state title, 2-1, against a technical and well-coached Waterford squad.

The Ravens struck first in the 12th minute. From the corner, Jaqueline Pollard hooked the ball high towards the near post. Breaking through the crowd, Grace Sponaugle leapt and headed it in for the goal.

But Sterrett said Rowland Hall is a second-half team and knew that the players had the composure to fight their way back into it. Leading the charge in the 50th minute, Sterrett drove to the northeast corner of the field, and with a sliver of daylight between her and the keeper, found the back of the net.

"Jess likes to hold the ball and run at players," coach Bobby Kennedy said. "Such a good competitor and she gets those looks in a game."

That was Sterrett's 14th goal on the season.

Forward Grace Veghte was excellent at disrupting Waterford's attacks but the difference-maker for Rowland Hall was keeper Alyssa Cole. A converted midfielder from last year, Cole kept Waterford at bay — especially the last 10 minutes when the Ravens outshot the Winged Lions 6 to 1. Kennedy said Cole's commitment to the position was a key component through the championship run.

"She volunteered to play. She knew we needed somebody and she stepped up," Kennedy said.

Rapid substitutions for Rowland Hall kept fresh legs in the game. Sterrett said with a deep roster, they can afford to have the best players on the field.

"The nerves of playing for a title and being here [Rio Tinto] is intense," Sterrett said. "I'm so proud of everyone on my team for making this win happen." —

Rowland Hall 2, Waterford 1

O Rowland Hall wins the 2A state championship with goals from Jess Sterrett and Airam Perez.

• Perez scores the game-winner from nearly midfield on a hard-kicked ball in the 71st minute.

• Waterford's Jaqueline Pollard is a deep-ball threat for the Ravens on both corners and free kicks.