Gray Collegiate’s quest for the program’s first boys soccer title will continue next season.

The War Eagles had a chance to snap their three-game championship losing streak, but failed to respond to a pair of Southside goals before losing the 4A title match 3-0.

It was the seventh championship appearance for head coach Kevin Heise, who is also still searching for his first title win. The highly-decorated coach has over 600 wins during his time with Brookland-Cayce and Gray.

“Going into the year, if somebody would have said this team would have been in the championship game, we’d all have signed up for it,” Heise said after the loss.

The War Eagles made the title game after (18-7-1) in the regular season, including a (13-1) record in region. Their progress throughout the year was the highlight of the season for Heise.

“This group came a long way,” Heise said. “We were a fun team to watch the last six weeks of the season. Tonight, you know, credit Southside for that. That’s why they’re (18-1).”

Gray had its chances to take control early in the game.

The War Eagles possessed the ball for the majority of the first half and had a few attacks that threatened to end in a goal. Only one run ended in a shot on net, however, and that was saved by the Southside goalie.

Coming out of the second half, with both teams tied at zero, Heise told his team the first few minutes would be crucial. Unfortunately for the team he was correct.

Erik Martinez scored the game’s first goal six minutes into the second half to put Southside up. He sprinted past Gray’s defense to end up with a shot right in front of the net. Gray’s goalie had no chance to save the shot as it hit the back of the net sending the Southside supporters into a frenzy.

The damage was not done though. Less than a minute later a ball sailed into Gray’s defensive zone, and Martinez again ran past the entire Gray defense to get the ball with a clean shot on net.

Martinez lined up his shot and fired the ball into the net to put his team up 2-0 and deflate the entire War Eagle sideline.

“All of a sudden, we’re down 2-0, and we’re chasing the game,” Heise said.

Gray never recovered from the Southside strikes and played on the defensive for most of the second half.

Adriel Rodriguez scored one more to sweeten the deal for Southside in the game’s 59th minute.

“I think the most disappointing thing is that we couldn’t find a way to make a goal and make a game a little more,” Heise said.

Gray will now head into the offseason with focus on getting another shot at a state title next year. The War Eagles are set to lose nine seniors but can return the rest of this core.

The team will be moving up to the 5A classification next season, putting the War Eagles in a whole new field.