UW Huskies win OT thriller 3-2 for 1st men’s soccer national title

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Harrison Bertos scored 1:54 into overtime after the UW Huskies blew a two-goal lead in the second half, as Washington beat North Carolina State 3-2 to win the Men’s College Cup at First Horizon Stadium on Monday night.

UW Huskies 3, NC State Wolfpack 2 (OT): Box score

It was the first national championship for unseeded Washington (16-6-2), who became the first team to win six road matches in the tournament — beating six seeded teams along the way under the guidance of coach Jamie Clark. The Huskies won in their second trip to the final after losing 2-0 to Clemson in 2021.

HARRISON BERTOS. CLINICAL. HUSKIES TAKE IT IN OT 👏#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @UW_MSoccer pic.twitter.com/bkwurTJyux

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 16, 2025

No. 15 seed N.C. State (16-3-4) made the final for the first time behind coach Marc Hubbard. The Wolfpack were aiming for the school’s first national championship since Jim Valvano led the men’s basketball team to the title in 1983.

Zach Ramsey scored unassisted with 1:12 remaining in the first half and Washington took a 1-0 lead into the break. It was only the second time this season that N.C. State trailed at halftime.

The Dawgs strike first 🔥🔥 @UW_MSoccer

📺: ESPNU pic.twitter.com/GrEBRmQXDA

— Big Ten Soccer (@B1GSoccer) December 16, 2025

Ramsey scored into an empty net after Wolfpack goalkeeper Logan Erb couldn’t corral the ball at the top of the box. It was Ramsey’s second goal of the tournament.

Richie Aman sent a cross to the center of the goal and Joe Dale knocked it in for a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute.

JOE DALE CHECKING IN 😮‍💨 WASHINGTON ADDS THEIR SECOND!#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @UW_MSoccer pic.twitter.com/X2BQ77XNKX

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 16, 2025

Donavan Phillip answered in the 66th, scoring with an assist from Nikola Markovic to cut it to 2-1 with his fourth goal of the tournament. The Wolfpack entered 11-0-1 when Phillip scores.

WE HAVE OURSELVES A GAME 🫨 Donavan Phillip with quite the acrobatic finish to put one on the board for the Wolfpack!!#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/7ZAqL2Q0H2

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 16, 2025

Taig Healy scored the equalizer with 3:28 remaining with assists from Justin Mclean and Calem Tommy.

NEVER BACK DOWN, NEVER WHAT?!

TAIG HEALY EQUALIZES WITH UNDER 4 MINUTES ON THE BOARD 😱#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/zD7WF2bZRQ

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 16, 2025

Egor Akulov had an assist on Bertos’ winner.

Huskies keeper Jadon Bowton, the only remaining player from the 2021 squad, had five saves.

Erb saved six shots for N.C. State, which was the last school to concede a goal this season.

The temperature was 28 degrees when the match between two teams that had never faced each other began.