The U10 Club Division 1 title came down to a shoot-out Saturday afternoon at Youth Sports Inc. The undefeated Elite faced the Brazilian Strikers for the Classic Cup title and both teams lived up to expectations, demonstrating why they should be in the title game.

Both goalies defended their endzone well, but it was Elite who found the net three out of five times in the overtime shoot-out to win the contest.

“The Brazilian Strikers played strong,” Elite coach Robert Murray said. “They played strong last night when we faced them and we knew it wasn’t going to be any different today.”

Elite opened up the game driving down the field, but the Brazilian Strikers goalie Carl Hoppe held strong and his teammates showed up to back him up. Elite Russell Cloon got a good look at the goal off of a corner kick, but failed to convert.

On a ensuing drive Elite got called for an offsides penalty that killed their momentum and the half ended with neither team putting the ball in the net.

After halftime the Brazilian Strikers came out ready to pounce and soon after the kick-off sent a floater into the net that sailed over the head of Elite goalie TJ Everett.

Elite players celebrate their win and undefeated season after defeating the Brazilian Strikers three goals to on in the shoot-out after regulation ended in a one-all tie.

On the other end of the field, Hoppe made two good saves to keep the Brazilian Strikers’ lead intact.

Elite Jakob Burdett took the ball upfield and had his kick nearly miss going wide left of the goal. Moments later Burdett seized the penalty kick opportunity, placing the ball in the back of the net and tying the game at one a piece.

With a few minutes left Everett made a great save and the Brazilian Strikers failed to capitalize on a penatly kick that could have sealed the win for them.

At the end of regulation the scored was knotted at one and the winner would be decided by a shoot-out. Elite went first and made their shot. With the pressure on the Strikers, Nicholas Joslyn hit the post. Elite tallied their second goal of the shoot-out but Striker Austin Johanne answered with one of his own. With Elite having the 2-1 advantage both teams missed its next shot. Elite came back to land the next goal, going up 3-1 and with only five shots for each team made it impossible for the Strikers to win.

During the shoot-out winning goalie Everett said that he was nervous.

“I was thinking I hope he doesn’t nail me in the head and I miss blocking the shot,” he said. “I hope I don’t move before he shoots, cause even in no pressure situations I am nervous on my toes.”

Elite celebrated as they realized they just won the shoot-out and the Classic Cup title, keeping their undeafeted mark on the spring season.

“This was the lowest scoring game we’ve played all season and one of the hardest of any games,” Murray said. “It was hard for our forwards to overcome their defense and find the back of the goal. It feels good to get this win.”