For the second time in two games, the North Platte boys soccer team went into penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie in regulation.
The Bulldogs fell short in a shootout against Scotsbluff on Tuesday to close out the regular season. This time, goalie Brody Sheets and North Platte came out on top.
Sheets made a save in the final moments, Lincoln Northeast put the final shot high and the Bulldogs scored four times in penalty kicks to edge Lincoln Northeast 0-0 (4-3) in Region A-2 play-in play on Saturday in North Platte.
“It's exciting for a lot of reasons,” North Platte coach Danny Whitney said. “I'm moving on. Get another win for the season. A chance to go to Omaha on Monday and play a historic schedule at Creighton Prep. Our boys are excited for this challenge.”
Eli Broman, Alonzo Torrez, Samuel Uehling and Levi Luenenborg scored in the shootout. The Leafs earned a save in the first round.
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“A goalkeeper has all the odds against him in a penalty shootout,” Whitney said. “If you can put yourself in a position to earn a save, you're setting it up pretty well.”
The rest of the game didn't go North Platte's way. Lincoln Northeast controlled possession for most of the first half and kept the game around midfield or on North Platte's side of the field.
North Platte struggled at times to find the open player or get a solid ball for a scoring chance.
Sheets also had to make a couple of saves, and Lincoln Northeast lost the lead when a header bounced off the crossbar midway through the first half.
“Brody will always make the saves,” Whitney said. “It will be in the right spot. Will contact. It will be difficult to score when our back line and our goalkeeper play like this.”
The intensity also increased throughout the game. Yellow cards were issued several times throughout the match and two players (one from each team) were sent off in extra time with red cards after a challenge in midfield.
North Platte advances to face Creighton Prep at 4:30 p.m. on Monday in Omaha.
