CARY, N.C. — Harrison Bertos' golden goal 1:54 into overtime lifted Washington to a 3-2 victory over NC State on Monday night, delivering the Huskies their first men's soccer national championship before a crowd of 10,316 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
The overtime strike capped a dramatic comeback that saw Washington squander a two-goal lead before finding redemption in the extra session. Bertos, set up perfectly by Egor Akulov, rifled home the decisive finish to complete a journey that began with heartbreak four years ago when the Huskies fell short in the 2021 title match against Clemson.
Washington seized control late in the first half when Zach Ramsey broke through in the 44th minute, sending the visitors into halftime with a narrow advantage despite NC State's mounting pressure. The Wolfpack had controlled much of the opening 45 minutes, outshooting Washington and earning multiple corner kicks, but couldn't solve goalkeeper Jadon Bowton.
The Huskies appeared to have seized command when Joe Dale finished off Richie Aman's assist in the 62nd minute, doubling the lead to 2-0. For eight minutes, Washington's first championship seemed within reach.
But NC State refused to surrender. Donavan Phillip pulled one back in the 65th minute off Nikola Markovic's feed, instantly shifting momentum back toward the home side. The Wolfpack pressed forward desperately, throwing numbers into attack while Washington retreated deeper to protect their shrinking advantage.
The pressure finally told in the 87th minute. Taig Healy converted a flowing move involving both Justin Mclean and Calem Tommy, stunning the Washington bench and sending the match to overtime tied at 2-2. NC State had clawed back from the brink, and suddenly the Huskies faced the prospect of another championship slipping away.
Instead, Washington needed less than two minutes of the extra session to reclaim their destiny. Bertos finished clinically off Akulov's service, and this time the lead held. The final whistle confirmed what had seemed impossible just moments after Healy's equalizer—Washington had finally claimed the national title that had eluded them.
Statistically, NC State held advantages in several categories, outshooting Washington 17-13 overall and earning 10 corner kicks to the Huskies' five. The Wolfpack also forced Bowton into six saves, one more than his counterpart Logan Erb. But Washington's superior efficiency in the final third—converting three of nine shots on target—proved decisive.
The Huskies' clinical finishing under pressure, combined with Bowton's crucial saves when the score was tight, separated two evenly matched teams over 92 intense minutes. Alex Hall, Osato Enabulele, and Charlie Kosakoff collected yellow cards for Washington as the intensity escalated, while NC State's lone caution went to Isaac Heffess.
Key Performers:
Harrison Bertos (Washington) – Delivered the championship-winning goal in overtime with a composed finish when it mattered most.
Jadon Bowton (Washington) – Made six saves, including several crucial stops in the second half that kept Washington ahead when NC State mounted their comeback.
Taig Healy (NC State) – Scored the dramatic equalizer in the 87th minute that forced overtime, showcasing the Wolfpack's resilience.
Logan Erb (NC State) – Despite the loss, made five quality saves to keep his team competitive throughout the match.
For Washington, the championship represents the culmination of a program-building journey and validates years of near-misses. The Huskies can now celebrate what eluded them in 2021—the program's first national title, earned the hard way through overtime drama and the ability to respond when a two-goal lead evaporated.