MANKATO &045; It took a thrilling penalty kick shootout last Friday night for the U-12 boys soccer team to take districts and advance to the state tournament.

The U-12 boys and New Ulm battled to an exciting 1-1 stalemate after regulation and two overtime periods, and the locals out-scored New Ulm, 3-2 in the shootout to advance to the state tournament.

Steven Kreun, Anthony Tate, Jonathan Koenigs, Spencer Overgaard and Logan Tufte played outstanding defense allowing New Ulm few shots on goal. Callen Pirsig, Carlton Stripe, Cody Wichmann produced some scoring opportunities for Albert Lea in the first half but were unable to capitalize ending the first half in a 0-0 deadlock.

Just seconds into the second half, New Ulm knocked in the first goal of the game to take a 1-0 lead. Albert Lea midfielders Luke Cheever, Thomas Furland, Darian Weigel, Davis Thompson and Ryan Broitzman turned it up a notch and began to create some chances against a tiring New Ulm team.

Midway through the second stanza, Albert Lea answered when Pirsig took Tate’s free kick, turned and fired to knot the score at 1-1.

Locked in at 1-1 after regulation play and two overtime periods, the game was forced into a shootout. Albert Lea’s keeper Cameron Hove came up big recording three saves to cement the win.

Hove, Pirsig and Tate scored the three goals in the shootout for Albert Lea.

Because they were one player over the roster limit, the team was without their top goal scorer and playmaker Julio Ambriz who was randomly picked to sit out the district and state tournament.

The U-12 boys first game in the state tournament is Friday July 29th in Blaine.