DAPHNE, Ala.— Eastern Shore Blast U16 Boys rounded off the season by reaching the Division II AYSA State Cup Final in Decatur Nov. 15 and 16 after winning a ‘battle in the mud’ in their semi-final game against Coosa “Storm,” who were 10-0 for the season.

Blast took the game to Coosa from the start and were worthy 2-0 leaders at half time with goals from Austin Fiddler on a penalty kick and Jacob Ard on a straight on goal.

Second half saw Coosa hit back and reduce the score to 2-1 after being awarded a penalty kick. Then with 10 minutes to go the league champions equalized 2-2 when the Blast defense failed to clear the ball. However, the game turned again and Blast were awarded another penalty kick when Ard was upended in the box. With 20 goals to his credit this season it was Ard himself who took the kick but a fine save from the Coosa goalie kept the game tied at full time 2-2.

With the rain lashing down and the wind blowing across the field in freezing temperatures, the game went into extra time, two 10-minute halves. Blast took the lead again through Ard at close range to make up for his penalty kick miss, then Hails Seawell rifled a 20-yard shot into the net to make it 4-2 at the break.

Just 10 minutes from a final place all Blast had to do was defend their lead—which they did; however a dubious penalty kick awarded to Coosa, which they converted, with four minutes remaining gave the Coosa outfit a new belief. Then in the last seconds of the game Coosa equalized following a fine cross and header. The referee blew his whistle for the end of the match with a final score 4-4.

The tie was decided on a penalty kick shoot-out; five for each team to be taken alternatively. Blast went first and scored from their first four kicks through Josh Hester, Jacob Ard, Conor Weiman and Dalton Pierce.

Coosa, having missed one of their first three, had to score from their fourth to stay in the tie. A well struck kick was saved by Blast goalie Hunter Wilson, wide to his right. Blast was through to the final and Coosa was defeated for the first time this season.

Blast Coach Dave Maidstone said, “On the level of play we deserved to win the game in normal time and again in extra time, P.K. shoot-outs are a lottery but you have to keep your nerve. The boys came of age today.”

In the other semi final Enterprise Wings had a relatively easy game and cruised to a 7-1 win over Gardendale United. Blast lost three major players due to injury during their semi-final game and they were unable to repeat their heroic performance in the final the next day, going down 5-0 to Enterprise Wings team. Blast ends the season 5-3 along with a finalist place in the 17th Annual Destin Soccer Rodeo in addition to the finalist in the State Cup.