Senior forward Jaylen Anderson was poised to go out as a hero in his final game at Mount Carmel, scoring to put the Caravan on top of Saturday's Class 2A state championship game against Latin.

It was a lead the Caravan held until 7:06 remained in regulation, but Latin rallied for a 3-1 overtime win at Hoffman Estates, winning its first state title and denying Mount Carmel its first.

“It's tough because the state championship was really close for us,” Anderson said. “It slipped away. It hurts.”

Mount Carmel (19-4-1), which had never won a sectional, nonetheless took home the first state trophy in program history.

“The guys worked hard all season,” Caravan coach Antonio Godinez said. “We didn't get the objective, but we had the best season we've ever had. You can't always come in first, but these guys wanted to put Mount Carmel soccer on the map.”

Latin (24-3) struggled with the Caravan's speed and ability to possess in the first half, and Mount Carmel broke through with 3:54 left in the half.

Josiah Ash got the ball along the right sideline and played a perfect diagonal cross into the box. Anderson ran to the far post and buried the shot.

“It was a great hit by Josiah,” Anderson said. “I got there, and it landed right on my foot. I finished.”

For the second straight day, though, Mount Carmel couldn't hold on late. In Friday's semifinal, Jacksonville tied the game with 12:02 to go before the Caravan won in penalty kicks.

This time, Latin's John Schuler got the ball off a Mount Carmel turnover and found Ike Baldwin wide open in the box, where he sent a high shot past goalkeeper Sergio Valencia (4 saves).

“It was a great play and a great ball from (Schuler),” Anderson said. “He's a great player for them.”

Both teams were assessed a red card late in regulation. First, Latin's Kieran Bondy was given one for taunting the Mount Carmel crowd after Latin tied the game.

Then, in the closing seconds, Ash went hard toward the net looking for the game-winner but collided with goalkeeper Michael Davis and was also given a red card.

“I was running for the ball, and my momentum carried me into the goalie,” Ash said. “I thought it was harsh to give me a red card there.”

Losing Ash, who had a team-leading 39 goals and 20 assists, was a devastating blow for Mount Carmel.

Latin took momentum into OT, and nine minutes in, Jonah Schenk drew a penalty in the box. Schuler converted the penalty kick.

With Mount Carmel down to nine players after Giovanni Vargas got his second yellow card, Schenk added an insurance goal with 7:06 left, completing Latin's historic run.

“We worked really hard, and people notice now that we've made it really far in the playoffs,” Ash said. “But it goes back to all the work we put in during the summer when no one else was watching.

“That's what makes it hurt to come up short, but I'm proud of the guys.”

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.