by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor
A penalty shootout is one of the most exciting things in sports. Regular season soccer games end in a tie, but when a winner is needed, like a state tournament, games are extended. If the score is tied after regular time, there are two 10-minute overtime periods. If it’s still tied after overtime, then there’s a penalty shootout.
In the shootout a minimum of five players from each team alternate shots from the penalty spot until there is a winner. A lone shooter against a lone goalie.
This is what happened in the first round of the boys Class A state soccer match between Stevensville and Billings Central in Billings on Saturday, October 18. Stevensville was the #3 seed from the South, while Billings was the #1 seed from the East, and the defending state champion.
The game was tied 0-0 at the end of regular time, then the score was tied 0-0 after both overtime periods, so the game went to a penalty shootout.
Stevensville’s boys soccer team defeated Billings Central, the defending state champion, on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Billings 0-0 (4-3). In the shootout, Stevensville’s Christian Yaskus scored the final PK to seal the victory. Photo by Scott Sacry.
In the shootout, Billings went first and scored on their first penalty kick, then Jakob Wenck took Stevensville’s first attempt and scored, and the shootout was tied 1-1.
Billings’s second attempt went wide right, and Stevensville’s attempt from Konsti Parshin was blocked, so it was still tied 1-1.
Billings’s third attempt also went wide right, and on Stevensville’s third attempt, Francesco “Poncho” Zamboni scored and Stevensville led 2-1.
Billings’s fourth attempt was good, and Jacob Shobe made Stevensville’s fourth attempt, and Stevensville still led 3-2.
Billings’s fifth attempt was good, which tied the score 3-3. A Stevensville goal would end the game, but Bryce Morrell’s shot was blocked, so the score was still tied at 3-3.
Billings’s sixth shot doinked off the left post. Once again, if Stevensville scored they would win. Stevensville’s Christian Yaskus took the attempt and his shot slid under the goalie’s glove on the left side, hitting the back of the net and punching the ‘Jackets ticket into the semifinals with a 0-0 (4-3) win.
With the win, the Stevensville boys advance to the state semifinal game for the second year in a row. Stevensville plays perennial power Whitefish, the #2 seed from the North, on Saturday, Oct. 25 in Whitefish. Stevi also faced Whitefish in the semifinal game last year and lost 3-4.
Soccer playoffs roundup
The Hamilton girls soccer team was the #1 seed from the South and hosted Lone Peak, the #3 team from the East, in the first round of the Class A state soccer tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Hamilton.
It was a tough, back and forth match, but Lone Peak scored late in the second half and Hamilton wasn’t able to get the equalizer and lost 0-1.
The Hamilton boys soccer team was the #2 seed from the South and played Whitefish, the #2 team from the North, in the first round of the Class A state soccer tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Whitefish. The young Hamilton boys teams played solidly, but ultimately lost 0-3 to a
tough Bulldog squad.
The Stevensville girls soccer team was the #2 seed from the South and played Bigfork, the #2 team from the North, in the first round of the Class A state soccer tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Bigfork. The Stevi girls played valiantly but ultimately fell to the Valkyries 0-3.