PULLMAN - At this point, it would only be strange if a Pullman High soccer game actually did end in regulation, seeing as more than half of the team's matches have taken longer than 80 minutes to decide a victor.
"I'd like to get one in regulation, that'd be fun," junior defender Jared Holstad said. "But I think at this point if we get to PKs we're pretty confident we can hold our own."
Tuesday they did exactly that.
Following a scoreless regulation, and two more scoreless overtime periods, the Pullman boys defeated East Valley on penalty kicks, 4-3, in a matchup against the Great Northern League's top team.
It was the sixth extra-period game for the Hounds (6-4, 4-2), who are now 3-3 in such contests (five shootouts, one overtime game).
"We're definitely used to it," Pullman goalkeeper Graham Laird said. "I wish we weren't, but I don't think the nerves are there as much."
The victory also avenged a 5-2 loss on March 21 to the Knights (6-2, 4-1), who had won their previous five games. After that defeat, Holstad said, the Hounds held a team meeting among the players to address their disappointing performance.
"We talked about our effort," Holstad said. "I feel like we kind of rolled over in that game. In this one, we made sure to keep our energy up the whole time and win the 50-50 (plays). That helped us keep them from scoring."
Neither team had many quality scoring opportunities Tuesday, a credit to Laird and East Valley goalkeeper Kohl Tomcho, who posted a shutout for the fourth consecutive game. Holstad - along with fellow defender Tyler Chapman - also deserves a bulk of the credit, both for his work against East Valley's Devonte Gorman and for delivering the play of the game.
"Jared is the best defender in the league. There's no doubt," Pullman coach Doug Winchell said. "I've watched every team. That kid is composed, he's smart, he's got speed, he can head the ball and he's savvy."
In the final minute of the second OT, Laird was in position to corral an East Valley cross inside the box, then mishandled the ball and found himself out of position while the Knights had an easy shot at the net. That's when Holstad swooped in and kicked the shot out of bounds just before it sailed into the goal.
"That was big," Laird said. "I got the ball, but it deflected off his face, then my face, then (Holstad) was in the right place. I owe him something, that's for sure."
Tomcho nearly surrendered a game-winning goal, too. In the first extra period, Pullman's Jed Byers had an open look on the right side of the net, but put a tad too much leg into it and booted the ball wide right.
"I thought Jed was going to score," Holstad said. "I think he got a little excited that he was going to get a game-winner. He kind of hit it too hard. It was a good play for him to get in that position, at least."
In the shootout, four of Pullman's five shooters scored against Tomcho, and Laird managed to stop one of the Knights' first four attempts to give his team the advantage. Kyle Richardson's fifth attempt for East Valley flew well over the crossbar and Pullman used Laird as the foundation for its muddy, celebratory dogpile after handing the Knights their first league loss.
"I think we're right up there with them," Laird said. "If it's not us and them in the district championship, then something is wrong."
East Valley 0 0-0
Pullman 0 0-0
Shots - East Valley 9, Pullman 5
Saves - Pullman: Laird 4, East Valley: Kohl Tomcho 3
Michael-Shawn Dugar can be reached at (208) 883-4627, by email to mdugar@dnews.com or on Twitter to @MikeDugar.
