PELLA — What started in frustration ended in joy for the Perry boys soccer team after a 2-1 win over host Pella on penalty kicks Thursday.
Ranked seventh in Class 2A, the Little Dutch (13-5) scored in the first minute when the Perry defense were guilty of a miscommunication.
It appeared as if the lucky break would be the only goal of the game, but Jesus Rodriguez tied the score for fifth-rated Perry (13-3) with just three minutes left in regulation to force overtime.
Neither team scored in the first 10-minute extra period, with a second 10-minute span also finishing without a score, setting up penalty kicks.
Perry shot first, with David Cardenas denied by Pella goalie Chase Petty, who made an outstanding save according to the Perry coaches.
Pella scored for a 1-0 edge, and the teams traded back-and-forth goals as Oscar Chavez, German Alvarenga, Rodriguez and Cameron Martinez scored for Perry as the guests tied the PKs at 4-all, with the Little Dutch having their final shooter still to go.
At that point Perry goalie Jorge Soto matched Petty with a brilliant save of his own, literally saving the game by forcing PKs to continue.
Javier Miranda scored for Perry in the next round, forcing Pella to match, but Soto came up huge again, with a diving save to his right saving the game and keeping the Bluejays undefeated against other 2A opponents.
Perry visits Indianola tonight in their regular season finale.
