Amanda Collins plays a lot bigger than she is.

Tuesday evening at Pirate Field, Collins took on epic proportions in delivering Grandview to the first state soccer championship in school history.

In front of a large and boisterous crowd, Collins scored a brilliant goal in the 77th minute to lift the Wolves to a 3-2 win against Heritage in the Class 5A title game.

Her goal capped a remarkable comeback by Grandview (16-0-1), which trailed 2-0 less than 15 minutes into the match.

"We were two goals down, but no one gave up," said Collins, the Rocky Mountain News game most valuable player. "We were in trouble, but we stayed composed and we knew we had over half a game to come back."

A senior midfielder headed to the University of New Mexico, Collins works a soccer field like a player twice her size. Talented and physical, she wreaks havoc on opposing teams for the entire 80 minutes.

She's also a pretty good finisher, and her winner ranks up there with some of the best goals scored this season.

With time winding down, Grandview's Alexsys Tamayo worked the ball deep to the left of the Heritage goal before sending a cross to Collins near the top right of the box. Collins dribbled past one defender, then used a great change-of-direction move to juke another before unleashing a left-footed rocket off the fingertips of the Eagles keeper and into the back of the net.

"I was looking for that the whole game," Collins said. "I could see if we played it back I'd be open. When Alexsys saw me, I could just feel it."

Heritage (16-1-3) had all the momentum early, putting Grandview on its heels from the opening kick. Katy Oehring scored in the 11th minute, outmuscling a Wolves defender before hitting a laser into the goal.

Then Taylor Nicholls gave the Eagles a two-goal lead three minutes later, heading in a perfect cross from Abby Loar.

Grandview quickly countered as speedy Regina Thomas made a great run up the middle of the field, splitting two defenders before notching a goal 13 seconds after Nicholls'.

That allowed the Wolves to regroup, and they got the equalizer in the 24th minute on a goal by Brittany Dunn off a pass from Lauren Cingoranelli.

"I think it looked better than it was," Heritage coach Tony Hurt said of the two-goal lead. "We scored goals quickly, converting on two chances out of two and we said 'Wow.' But then we let silly goals in, mistakes in the back, and it got them back in the game."

Heritage2 0 - 2

Grandview2 1 - 3

Goals - H, Katy Oehring, 11th minute; H, Taylor Nicholls (Abby Loar assist), 14th minute; G, Regina Thomas, 15th minute; G, Brittany Dunn (Lauren Cingoranelli assist), 24th minute; G, Amanda Collins, 77th minute.

Shots on goal - H, 3-5 8; G, 2-2 4. Saves - H (Kari Spicer) 0-1 1; G (Danica Hansen) 1-5 6. Corner kicks - H, 6-1 7; G, 3-0 3.