Sam Peacock kicks the winning goal in the last round of a spot-kick shootout, giving Gardendale a 3-2 win after extra time (5-4 in the shootout) over Pinson Valley in the first round of the Class 6A boys playoffs. Peacock's brother Stephen made a crucial save moments beforehand, on Hector Lucatero's kick in the last shootout round — then had to do it again when the goalkeeper was ruled to have left his line too early, allowing Lucatero another chance.

By ROBERT CARTER

The North Jefferson News

Gardendale goalkeeper Stephen Peacock stopped a key Pinson Valley kick in a spot-kick shootout — and then did it all over again just to make sure.

Both saves came in the last round of the shootout, after the teams had gone through regulation and extra time by playing to a 2-2 tie in Saturday’s Class 6A boys first-round playoff at the Gardendale Soccer Complex. Both teams made their shots in the first four shootout rounds, so when Hector Lucatero came up to the 12-yard spor in the last round, the match was on the line.

Peacock stopped the first by diving to his right, but the referee ruled that he had left his line too early, and Lucatero had another chance.

The Indians shooter kicked to the same place —and so did Peacock, and this time the save counted.

Peacock’s brother Sam then stepped up to take the winning shot, which gave them the 5-4 shootout advantage and a 3-2 victory.

Jordan Walton sent the game into extra time when he scored in the 75th minute, curling a corner kick over Stephen Peacock’s outstretched fingers.

Nick Bagwell and Roman Hyke scored on first-half goals for Gardendale, while Brian Quiñonez scored a goal for the Tribe, also in the first half.

Girls—Gardendale 8, Pinson Valley 1: The Rockets won the first playoff match in the girls’ program’s history, easily handling the Indians in a match the saw a tussle that resulted in a red card and a spectator ejection.

Brittany Adair scored four goals, including the last three of the match. Morgan Goolsby scored twice, and Alexa Kauffman got the first goal for Gardendale.

Tori Gann scored in the waning moments for Pinson, in her last match before she graduates and goes on to play at Alabama.

Both the Gardendale boys and girls teams faced Southside-Gadsden in the second round on Tuesday