By Jeff Nelson
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

After nearly 97 minutes of intense, dramatic, nerve-fraying field hockey, Bethesda-Chevy Chase's season came to a sudden and painful end last night.

Only a few minutes more and the Barons would have been 3A state co-champions. Instead, Fallston took sole possession of that designation with a 1-0 double-overtime win at Broadneck.

Cougars sophomore Caitlin Dempsey scored the game-winner. Moments later, she became the bottom of a giant orange pile. As the Cougars celebrated their 10th state title, 25 Barons transformed into one support group.

A few players in tears hugged on the field. Some whispered consoling words to one another as they gathered for the postgame handshake. All of them remained clustered together during the trophy presentation, even though teams usually stand in a single-file line.

Most players made an effort to console junior goalie Claire Vieth, who blamed herself for allowing the goal after a penalty corner. By any reasonable rationale, Barons players and coaches said, Vieth's guilt was preposterous.

She had never played goal before in her life until six weeks ago, when she stepped in after an injury. Then she helped keep a potent Fallston team scoreless for nearly 97 minutes. Senior midfielder April Cahill told a teary-eyed Vieth, just moments after the goal, "We couldn't have done this without you."

"It definitely helped," Vieth said, "because I knew I had messed up and they all came over and it made me feel so much better."

Barons Coach Amy Wood called Vieth the story of the team's season. She also went on to praise nearly everyone else who produced one of the best-played games of the postseason.

Had they played the full 100 minutes without a goal, there would not have been penalty strokes. In the state final, both teams are declared state champions.

Asked how she would have felt about that result, Cahill said: "It wouldn't have been a loss. Some people say they'd rather lose than tie, but. . . ."

Quite obviously, the Barons would have preferred the bigger trophy. In the end, they'll settle for each other.

"We are the closest team around and I'm really proud for all of us," said senior defender Sophie Mondale. "We've always been good at making each other feel better and we always will be because that's the kind of team we have."

Fallston 1, Bethesda-CC 0 Fogged Up: A steady fog lingered over the field for almost the entire game, making it hard to see from one goal to the other. It finally lifted during the second overtime. Close Again: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, which has won 13 state titles, is a runner-up for the second straight year. They lost to Severna Park in the 3A final last season. Fallston 1, Bethesda-CC 0 Fogged Up: A steady fog lingered over the field for almost the entire game, making it hard to see from one goal to the other. It finally lifted during the second overtime. Close Again: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, which has won 13 state titles, is a runner-up for the second straight year. They lost to Severna Park in the 3A final last season.