'It's a heartbreaker.' Marian boys soccer falls to Brebeuf Jesuit in OT of 2A title game

INDIANAPOLIS — Those initial moments were the toughest to swallow.

After receiving red second place medals following a 2-1 overtime defeat in Saturday afternoon's Class 2A state title to No. 3 Brebeuf Jesuit, the Marian boys soccer team sat around its bench, many staring into the sky, wondering what went wrong.

In a span of 40 minutes at IUPUI's Carroll Stadium, the fourth-ranked Knights saw their 1-0 lead evaporate as the Braves' Ben Haneline tied the game with 20 minutes remaining and Andrew Raines' goal in the first overtime period secured the Braves' second consecutive 2A state title.

"We thought we had it going in, especially scoring first," senior captain Jaxson Hundt said. "Today wasn't our day."

More:Marian's Jaxson Hundt's high-scoring career will conclude at state soccer finals

Hundt was Marian's lone goal-scorer, giving Marian the lead with 31 minutes to go, at IUPUI's Carroll Stadium. He had scored in every postseason game during Marian's journey to its first title game since 2016.

When the Knights needed an answer, they found their goal-scoring machine. But as the minutes dwindled away Saturday afternoon, it became clear that they had no more answers left.

"It's a heartbreaker, " Marian head coach Ben Householter said. "We had a lot of chances to knock them out when we were up 1-0, had a couple point blank ones we couldn't put away. That's the way the game is. Hard to swallow."

Householter, Marian's long-time leader, has experienced both ends of a state championship game. His message to his players was about how proud he was of their accomplishments.

"They worked hard, achieved all of their goals and they should have their heads up," Householter said. "They worked so hard this year."

Before this season no player on Marian's roster had even experienced a sectional championship. The Knights accomplished that by downing rival South Bend Saint Joseph in extra time. They went on to beat NorthWood, West Lafayette and Fort Wayne Canterbury in to reach Indianapolis.

The dream, however, was to be driving home a trophy back to Mishawaka. Instead, the Knights had to settle for the journey of a lifetime that ended just a bit short.

"I love these boys," Hundt said. "This has been my family for four years. These seniors, we have worked so hard for this. Just to get here is an accomplishment in itself.

"It's been fun, a dream come true. We weren't able to capitalize on the dream, but it was fun to get here."

For team leaders like Hundt, Zach Fewell, Noah Balyeat and Marian's five other seniors that sting, sitting on the turf field in frustration will last for a while.

The same for their teammates who will be back for Marian next year. But Householter hopes they turn that feeling into fuel, getting back and ending the journey on their own terms.

"It is great motivation for people to come back and want it more next year," Householter said. "It's not going to be easy, and I told them that, but I hope it is motivation for them to get back here."

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Brebeuf Jesuit downs Marian in OT to win second straight 2A boys soccer title