Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

DOVER - Not much separated Western Boone and Southmont on Thursday evening in their boys soccer match-up. In the Star' regular-season finale, both teams found the back of the net six times, but it was the Mountie who came out on top, winning the shootout 3-2. "I'm proud of our guys, and we have played some of our best games in the last couple of matches," Western Boone head coach Shane Conner said. "I'm excited for the sectional, because each game we are getting better and that's all I can ask for." The six goals matched their best performance of the year and ended a five-match scoreless streak. Conner said the team has been working hard to improve their finishing and that paid off on Thursday. "Hard work equals success always," Conner said. "That's what I have been telling these kids and they are practicing hard. Naturally we are just going to get better with the hard work we put in." After a goal-scoring frenzy in regulation, the two teams got more defensive in the two seven-minute overtime periods. The Stars best chance came with 90-seconds left when Johnathan Imbus got free in the box, but Southmont's keeper made a nice save and sent the game to a shootout. WeBo shot first in the shootout and missed their first shot, but the Mounties also missed. WeBo's Luke Rose scored to start the second frame, but the Mounties also scored. After another WeBo miss in the third round, Southmont grabbed control to go up 2-1 after three kicks. Linville scored in the fourth round, and WeBo goalie Kameron Mikesell made a save to keep it tied after four rounds. But the Stars missed their fifth kick high and the Mounties converted theirs to win. "I wish we would have won it in regulation, so my gut is telling me no," Conner said when asked if it was good to have a shootout so close to the postseason. "But it did give us some good practice that we can learn from our mistakes and move forward going into next week." It was the final home game for WeBo seniors Isaiah Grady, Johnathan Linville, Luke Rose, Thomas Harem and Luke Whiteley. Conner said they are a special group. "Every person on this team has a significant role, but this was a special group," Conner said. "My first year coaching here they were in eighth grade, so they are the first class I coached in junior high and saw them come through. They are a great group of players." Western Boone drew a bye in the sectional, and will face the winner of Monrovia and Cascade in the semifinal on Wednesday. Conner said there are a few things the Stars want to clean up heading into the post-season. "We play well, first it was 20 minutes, then 40 minutes and continues to build," Conner said. "We are starting to play well longer. We are going to continue to work on ball control and making sure we are getting to the ball first."