Believe It: Jefferson's 13th Straight Earns a Title

Ari Brown was part of Jefferson's stout defensive effort against Osbourn Park. "We bunkered in and kept them out," defender Will Beckman said. (By John Mcdonnell -- The Washington Post)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 9-- There was plenty of time for reality to set in, but still no one on the Jefferson boys' soccer team could believe it.

The 10th-ranked Colonials had been awarded the AAA state championship trophy. Hundreds of their red-clad fans had rushed the field to celebrate the victory. They posed for pictures, hugged and high-fived. And still, they could hardly comprehend that their magical late-season run culminated Saturday with a 1-0 victory over No. 1 Osbourn Park in the state championship at Christopher Newport University.

"It's unbelievable," Jefferson senior Justin Johnson said. "I expected a good season, but I think this reached beyond expectations. It's insane."

Harry Beddo's goal in the 51st minute lifted Jefferson (17-1-5) to a championship that few thought was possible early this season. The Colonials finished below .500 and missed the Northern Region tournament last season, and they started this year 4-1-5 before winning 13 straight to claim the Liberty District, region and state titles.

"It's like we just robbed a bank and no one knows where the money went," Coach Sean Burke joked. "We're rich!"

The victory capped one of Jefferson's finest athletic seasons since it became a magnet school for science and technology 22 years ago. The Colonials have won state team titles in boys' and girls' swimming and diving, boys' cross-country and girls' indoor track, but this was their first title in a sport with no individual competition.

Jefferson's defense clogged Osbourn Park's passing lanes in the midfield and prevented the silky combinations that helped Osbourn Park reach the title game with an undefeated record.

"It was a test of our defense as a team because everyone had to defend, from the forwards to [goalkeeper] Ari [Brown]," central defender Will Beckman said. "We bunkered in and kept them out."

With the game scoreless at halftime, the Colonials' confidence grew. In the 51st minute, Beddo took possession of loose ball near the right sideline and took two touches toward the middle of the field. From 18 yards, he placed a shot just beyond the outstretched reach of Osbourn Park goalkeeper Joe Dennis.

"We've been the underdog the past 10 games," Beddo said. "I guess we've come out with nothing to lose."

The Yellow Jackets (21-1-2) outshot Jefferson 13-7 but struggled to generate any quality chances. It was a heartbreaking loss for a team that started seven seniors and expected to contend for the title since the first day of practice.

"They pressured us, but the pressure wasn't a factor, really," Osbourn Park senior midfielder Alex Foskett said. "It was that last pass that we just couldn't get right. It was almost there. Almost."

No. 10 Jefferson 1, No. 1 Osbourn Park 0 Been There: Jefferson Coach Sean Burke led the W.T. Woodson girls to the AAA state and Northern Region titles in 2005. Done That: Osbourn Park lost in the state final for the second time in six seasons. The Yellow Jackets fell to West Springfield in the 2002. "The first time was okay," Coach Larry Nemerow said. "The second time is a bigger disappointment."