The Gibraltar-Sevastopol United soccer team showed up on the road and defeated the third-ranked Amherst Falcons in penalties. The game was tied until 20 minutes when Amherst Sophomore Antek Zoromski-Linde scored off a header, and United headed into the half down 1-0. However, Sevastopol Junior Damien Lardinois scored off a deflected shot attempt less than a minute into the second half.

 The game remained tied 1-1 throughout the rest of the second half and after two ten-minute overtimes, the game had to be decided by penalties. Through the first four sets of penalties, both teams were tied with three goals heading into the final set. After a wayward shot attempt from Amherst, it came down to an effort from Gibraltar Junior Mauricio Fernandez who buried it securing the regional title.

“With my last soccer season being determined by a penalty kick, the amount of anxiety that I had leading up to the shot was indescribable,” Senior Tyler Grooters said. “When I saw the shot go in, relief and excitement overtook me. Receiving the championship-winning plaque made me realize just how proud I was of the team, as we haven’t won a regional championship in 14 years.”

The team moves on to the sectional semifinals tonight, where they will play conference rival #2 Sturgeon Bay. In the previous two match-ups, the Clippers have outscored United 9-4