A week after earning a share of the SWC title the Platteville/Lancaster boys’ soccer season came to an abrupt end with a shootout loss to fellow co-SWC champion Dodgeville/Mineral Point in the first round of the WIAA Division 3 playoffs last Tuesday night.
     The Dodgers made four straight penalty shots to win the shootout 4–2, after the two teams played to a 2–2 draw.
Dodge/Point was eliminated by top-seeded Mount Horeb two nights later in the regional final round by the final of 7–0.
     Last Tuesday’s match began at 7 p.m. and was played on a windy night.
     The wind made it difficult to advance the ball against the wind and goalie kicks were strong in one direction and weak the other.
     Dodgeville/Mineral Point (11–5–1) was more prepared for the inclement weather and jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first nine minutes of play.
     The first goal was a dribbler that just got by Platteville/Lancaster keeper Devon Briggs.
     The second goal came on a penalty kick after senior defender Nate Holzinger inadvertently hit the ball with his hand in the penalty box.
     Holzinger made amends late in the first half and pulled the Hillmen within a goal when he headed home a corner kick in the 30th minute to make it 2–1.
     Platteville/Lancaster coach Brandon Pink made an aggressive move to bring Holzinger all the way from his position in the defensive backfield to join the scrum in front of the goal.
     Holzinger knifed between a couple Dodger defenders and headed a well-placed corner into the net.
     The teams played to a stalemate over the next 40 minutes before Platteville junior Ryan Pink knocked into another corner to tie the match in the 70th minute.
     Platteville/Lancaster dominated possession in the final 60 minutes of regulation, playing most of that time in the Dodgeville defense half, outshooting the Dodgers 10–1 during that time, but the Hillmen couldn’t capitalize.
     One shot by Spanish exchange student Aurillio Fernandez went off the goal post. A  couple others were just wide or just high. Time and again Platteville/Lancaster carried the play to Dodgeville, but couldn’t finish with a goal.
     The teams then played two 10 minute sudden death overtimes, again with Platteville-Lancaster on the attack. Neither team could manage to score the game winner.
     Platteville was up first in the shootout and senior Peshua Xiong’s penalty kick sailed past the goal. Dodgeville converted its first try.
     Freshman Ying Xiong’s attempt was blocker by Dodger keeper Steven Stadler. The Dodgers again converted and led 2–0.
     Pink converted his try to keep Platteville/Lancaster in contention, and after another Dodge/Point make Fernandez connected to make it 3–2.
     But Dodgeville/Mineral Point’s fourth shooter ended the match when a clean shot past Briggs.
Platteville exchange student Jesus Fotan never attempted Platteville/Lancaster’s fifth try.
     The Hillmen finished the year 10–10–2 overall.

WIAA Division 3 Regional Semifinals
Dodgeville/Mineral Point 2, Platteville/Lancaster 2
Dodgeville won in a shootout, 4–2
(from Tuesday, Oct. 15 @ Dodgeville)
Platteville/Lancaster            1    1        —    2
Dodgeville/Mineral Point    2    0        —    2
First half
D/MP: unavailable 4:00; unavailable (PK) 9:00.
P/L: Nate Holzinger, 30:00.
Second half
P/L: Ryan Pink, 70:00.
Shootout
P/L: 1.Peshoua Xiong (Miss), 2.Ying Xiong (Saved), 3.Ryan Pink (Make), 4.Aurelio Fernandez (Make), 5.Jesus Fontan (No attempt)
D/MP: 1.Make, 2.Make, 3.Make, 4.Make, 5.No attempt/
Saves: P/L: Devon Briggs n/a; D/MP: Steven Stadler. Shots: P/L n/w, D/MP n/a.