HENRY SENIOR RETURNS WITH DRAMATIC RESULT

After a year away, senior Julian Garcia returned to the Patrick Henry boys soccer team this season for a moment like he experienced in overtime of the San Diego Section Division III final.

Just shy of 10 minutes into the extra session, Garcia tapped in a close-range shot following a throwin to lift the second-seeded Patriots past Escondido 2-1 for their first title since 1998 at Mission Bay High on Saturday.

“It felt amazing,” said Garcia, who devoted his junior year to club soccer. “I took my time to finish it, and it was the best moment of my high school career.”

Patrick Henry (17-3-5) prevailed in its first final since 2016 after a scoreless second half to add this trophy to those won for two tourney titles and the City League championship.

“You see all this energy,” said Garcia, whose first playoff goal gave him five on the season. “There was no stopping us. We wanted this for so long.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Aaron Jimenez made five saves and otherwise deterred No. 1 Escondido (18-4-5) by venturing out of the goal area.

“I take risks, but they are calculated,” said Jimenez, a first-year starter. “I knew we were going to win it all. I looked at the talent, and I knew my boys could do it.”

Henry’s Jonathan Moreno opened the scoring in the 13th minute, but the Cougars pulled even four minutes later on a goal by Cesar Bahena.

Juan Martinez had seven saves for Escondido, which came off an overtime semifinal win.

DENIS POROY PHOTOS Patrick Henry’s Julian Garcia (right) celebrates his game-winning overtime goal with teammates.

Escondido players react after Patrick Henry wins in overtime.