CARY, N.C. — Harrison Bertos scored just 1:54 into overtime after Washington relinquished a two-goal lead in the second half, leading the Huskies to a thrilling 3-2 victory over North Carolina State in the Men’s College Cup at First Horizon Stadium on Monday night.
This marked Washington’s (16-6-2) inaugural national championship, achieved as an unseeded team. They became the first squad to triumph in six away matches during the tournament, defeating six seeded opponents under the leadership of coach Jamie Clark. This victory came in their second appearance in the final, having previously lost 2-0 to Clemson in 2021.
No. 15 seed N.C. State (16-3-4) reached the final for the first time under coach Marc Hubbard, hoping to secure the university’s first national title since Jim Valvano’s men’s basketball team won in 1983.
Zach Ramsey netted an unassisted goal with just 1:12 left in the first half, giving Washington a 1-0 lead at halftime—the second time this season that N.C. State found themselves trailing at the break.
Ramsey scored into an open net after the Wolfpack’s goalkeeper Logan Erb struggled to control the ball at the edge of the box, marking Ramsey’s second goal of the tournament.
In the 62nd minute, Richie Aman delivered a cross into the penalty area, where Joe Dale converted to extend Washington’s lead to 2-0.
Donavan Phillip responded for N.C. State in the 66th minute, finding the net with an assist from Nikola Markovic, narrowing the score to 2-1—his fourth goal of the tournament. Heading into the match, N.C. State had been 11-0-1 with Phillip scoring.
Taig Healy leveled the score at 2-2 with 3:28 remaining, assisted by Justin Mclean and Calem Tommy.
Egor Akulov assisted Bertos’ decisive goal in overtime.
Huskies goalkeeper Jadon Bowton, the sole remaining player from the 2021 squad, recorded five saves during the match.
Erb made six saves for N.C. State, who were the last team to allow a goal this season.
The match began in frigid temperatures of 28 degrees between two teams that had never previously met on the field.