San Diego Section Soccer : Southwest Wins After 4 OTs

It’s not uncommon for a goalkeeper’s performance to determine the outcome of a soccer game. But it is unusual for a keeper’s shooting to be the pivotal factor.

Yet after 60 minutes of regulation play, two 10-minute over-times, and two more five-minute sudden death periods and seven penalty kicks, Saturday’s San Diego Section 2-A boys’ soccer quarterfinal at Southwest High remained a 1-1 tie. The outcome depended on La Jolla goalie Roberto Perez’ penalty shot.

Perez was La Jolla’s No. 8 kicker. Southwest’s No. 8 player, midfielder Mike Hughes, had just put one past Perez. Now the La Jolla goalkeeper had to score to keep the Vikings in the playoffs. But his shot was wide and No. 4-seeded Southwest beat the No. 5-seeded Vikings, 2-1.

The Raiders will advance to the semifinals against University City, the section’s top-ranked 2-A team.

The bizarre ending fit the match. After being outshot, 6-2, in the scoreless first half, La Jolla went ahead on a goal by Gilbert Castro. The lead held up until the match’s final minute.

After being called offsides by a linesman, La Jolla right wing Eric Ople put a shot into the net. However, the referee overruled the call and the goal counted, tying the match.

During the match, Southwest players received six yellow cards and one red card for unnecessary roughness, while one Raider player was hospitalized after a collision with an opponent.

Ramona 1, Clairemont 0--Goalkeepers and penalty kicks were also decisive in the other 2-A boys’ playoff game, as Ramona sweeper Nick Dillon made a penalty kick to give the Bulldogs the win after 120 minutes of scoreless play.

Despite Ramona goalkeeper Oscar Bravo’s shutout performance, defenseman Kevin Barber--who did not play in goal the entire season--was brought in to defend against the penalty kicks. The strategy worked, as Barber, an all-state goalkeeper in his native Vermont before transferring to Ramona, blocked all six shots attempted by Clairemont.