Photo by Joe Imel/Daily News Greenwood players celebrate Thursday after the Gators defeated Bowling Green 1-0 in overtime in the championship game of the Boys’ Region 4 Soccer Tournament at the Bowling Green Soccer Complex.

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Greenwood had to wait more than 258 minutes to finally score a goal against Bowling Green this season.

The persistence paid off in the form of a Boys’ Region 4 Soccer Tournament championship.

After failing to score on the Purples in two previous meetings, Greenwood senior Josh Settle finally ended the drought Thursday with 2:42 left in the second overtime period to give the Gators a 1-0 victory over their chief rivals, three-time defending regional champion Bowling Green.

“We knew one was coming soon because we were due,” Settle said. “I don’t really know how to explain it. I was just so excited to get that in.”

Settle’s goal actually ended an even longer drought, which dates back to last season: Bowling Green also shut out the Gators in their last two meetings of 2007.

But Settle’s goal also ended a more important streak for the Gators.

Greenwood (11-6-3) ended Bowling Green’s run of three straight region championships and captured its first region title since 2004.

Greenwood will host Henderson County on Tuesday in the Sub-Section 1 game.

“I’m so excited - this is absolutely the biggest win in my coaching career,” Greenwood coach Scott Gural said. “I’m so pleased for the 13 seniors we have here - it was just a terrific game.”

Both teams had opportunities to score in regulation and in the first 10-minute overtime period. The game was less than three minutes from entering a pair of five-minute sudden death periods, then a possible shootout to decide the champion.

But Greg Foster’s long header from near midfield landed at Settle’s feet. With a defender on him, Settle dribbled downfield, got a shot off and sneaked it just inside the lower left post, sparking a chaotic Greenwood celebration.

“We had to overcome those mental hurdles,” Gural said. “We played them twice and yes, we got a (0-0) tie, but we hadn’t scored a goal against them this year and to be able to mentally weather that storm and be mentally tough was a big deal.”

The Purples (16-3-2), who outshot Greenwood 23-15, attempted a furious rally over the final two minutes of the overtime period before their run as region champions ended.

“It was an instant classic game, what can you say?” BGHS coach Craig Widener said.

“I take my hat off to Greenwood. They played an excellent game. We had our opportunities to tuck one away and they snuck one in during the second overtime and that’s the way it ends. It’s a funny game, but that can happen.”

Greenwood weathered early Bowling Green opportunities as the Purples outshot the Gators 12-3 in the first half. The Purples also got four quality opportunities to score early in the second half, including a point-blank shot on goal from Luis Stoner following a throw-in.

But the Gators gained momentum as the second half wore on, and Ninel Zukanovic had the best opportunity to prevent overtime.

While scrambling for possession inside the box, Zukanovic got off a kick that hit the crossbar in the 74th minute.

“Generally, that’s how it goes between us and them,” Gural said. “(Bowling Green is) generally a very fast-starting team and as long as we weather the storm, we can do some things after that.”

Before overtime actually started, both coaches figured the championship could ultimately be decided on penalty kicks.

“For the most part of the game I did, actually,” Gural said. “Even if somebody scored, I thought the other team would come and score right back. Both teams were that evenly matched all night.”

Widener added: “It seemed like (we’d go to penalty kicks) all night long. It’s just a funny game.”

All-Region 4 Tournament Team

Josh Settle, Greenwood (MVP)

Eric Bowers, Greewnood

Greg Foster, Greenwood

Riley Williams, Greenwood

Max Oldham, Bowling Green

Omar Anaya, Bowling Green

Scott Hiles, Bowling Green

Bracken Flynn, Franklin-Simpson

K.T. Kennedy, Franklin-Simpson

Miles Dozer, Muhlenberg North

Tanner Huddleston, Muhlenberg North