HAMPDEN — When Mackenzie McHugh left the soccer field at the end of regulation Saturday, she was cupping her bloody nose, letting time run out and hoping the blow to her face wasn’t so bad.

“That one hurt,” said Central’s junior forward. “She cleared it right into my face. I knew there was eight seconds left. So I just let time run out.  I was hoping to keep it off my uniform because I wanted to wear this one when we won that state championship.”

When McHugh left the soccer field late in overtime, she had replaced that bloody face with a beaming smile — while still wearing her No. 8.

Her goal with 3:52 left in the second overtime lifted the Red Devils to a 2-1 win over St. Dom’s in the Class C state championship game at Hampden Academy.

“It’s the first time ever for any soccer team at Central,” said McHugh, who had a goal and an assist in the win. “It’s beyond words. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

The Saints (14-4) were hoping to make similar history with their first state title. St. Dom’s got an early goal from Courtney Costello and produced a superb effort, only to fall short.

“They played their hearts out,” said St. Dom’s coach Kathy Little, whose team had won 12 of its last 13 games entering Saturday’s state final. “They truly did. They left it on the field, and that’s what they wanted to do.”

With the second overtime winding down and penalty kicks drawing closer, it was a sudden development that led to the game winner.  Brianna Speed found some space down the middle and moved in. She dished to her right to a charging McHugh.

The Saints defense had been stellar against a formidable offensive team, but this sudden burst provided Central the chance it needed.

“It was a give and go with Brianna,” said McHugh, who has 39 goals this season. “We’ve done that all season. We have give and go’s through the middle. I had no thought running through my mind. I did not expect that at all. I just saw the goalie, and I aimed away from her. It was in a blink of an eye, and we won the state championship.”

The Saints outshot Central 19-9, but Red Devil senior goalie Samantha Brownell was superb, making 15 saves. There were numerous times Kayla McLellan got behind the defense, but Brownell charged out to break up the opportunity or make the save. She also extended for a great save on Kelley McLellan to preserve the tie in overtime.

“This was the game of her life,” said McHugh. “She has improved so much as  a keeper. She the most dependable keeper in Class C by far. She’s amazing.”

Saints keeper Mary Caron did an outstanding job as well, against a team that has scored 99 goals this season.

“It was a well-played game by both sides,” said Little. “Everybody who played on the field gave 110 percent when they were out there. It’s unfortunate we didn’t win, but we had a hell of a season.”

The Saints outshot Central 6-1 in the opening half. The Red Devils (17-0-1) didn’t get their first shot until 11:02 remained.  St. Dom’s had an early chance when Kelley McLellan set up her sister for a near breakaway, but Brownell came out to make the stop.

Then, with 15:04 left in the half, Kayla McLellan put the ball ahead. Costello got a foot on it. It didn’t get to the net but her second effort tipped it by Brownell for the 1-0 lead.

Kayla McLellan had another break late in the half only to have Brownell charge out to make the save.

“Their keeper did a great job, but my keeper made four grade-A saves,” said Central coach Mike McHugh, whose team has allowed just 14 goals this season.

Central tried to get the offense going in the second half. McHugh was moved up front while the Red Devils were encouraged to up their level of play.

“The girls came out with a lot more energy in the second half,” said Mike McHugh.

Early in the second half, Brownell made another stop on Kayla McLellan. Caron had a tough save of her own when McHugh put a high direct kick toward the left post. Caron reached up with the one-handed stop.

At 10:22 of the second half, Central tied it. McHugh put a corner in front. Speed was there to put it home.

“That cross and Brianna put that right in,” said Mackenzie McHugh. “She’s been doing that the last two playoff games.”

Both teams had chances down the stretch. Sigilia Pinkham put a shot over the net for Central. Kelley and Kayla McLellan had shots saved by Brownell, and Marley Byrne also put one on net.

Shots were limited in the first overtime, but Kelley McLellan had an excellent bid with 13 minutes left in the second. Brownell leaped up to save it.

In the final minutes, McHugh and Speed teamed up the way they have so many times all season. In what was a physical game for both teams, McHugh and Speed had rare burst of quickness that gave the room to move.

“It’s been a good year,”said Mike McHugh. “They’re resilient. They were dead tired. That team’s a good team. They’re a lot more physical than most teams we’ve seen. I told our kids in the second half to go out and play more physical.”

After starting the year 2-2 and suffering through some injuries and graduation losses, winning a first regional title and getting to the states was still quite an accomplishment for the Saints.

“To overcome everything we did to get here, I don’t think many people would have put us playing in this game,” said Little.

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