Schuylkill Haven celebrates after defeating Tri-Valley on Wednesday in the District 11 Class A boys' soccer championship match. The Hurricanes won 3-2, prevailing 4-2 in penalty kicks. (Photo by Bob Lipsky)

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Carter Daniel, Grayson Fessler, Luke Smith, Gavin Wade and the rest of the Schuylkill Haven Hurricanes have been preparing for this moment.

For weeks, they’ve gotten themselves physically, mentally and emotionally ready for the two most dreaded words in soccer:

Penalty kicks.

Tied with Tri-Valley at halftime, tied after 80 minutes of regulation and tied after two 15-minute overtime periods, Wednesday’s District 11 Class A boys’ soccer championship match came down to PKs.

One on one. Striker at the penalty spot. Goalie on his line defending the net.

Daniel, Fessler, Smith and Wade all converted in penalty kicks — and Wade made one huge save — as Schuylkill Haven prevailed 3-2 (4-2 in penalty kicks) to capture the gold at North Schuylkill’s Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium.

“We’ve been working on them since before league championships,” Schuylkill Haven coach Gary Hess said of the PKs. “When we were in the playoffs, you know if it comes to it … you need to be prepared for that moment. We’ve done it every practice for three weeks now, and these kids just have skill. You’ve got to give it to them. They’re confident in their own shoes. They’ve got a little swagger. They’re old, they’re experienced.”

As the District 11 champion, Schuylkill Haven advances to PIAA Class A Championships, which will begin Tuesday, Nov. 5. The Hurricanes will take on the District 12 champion in a round-of-16 match at a District 11 site and time to be announced.

In regulation, Schuylkill Haven (15-6) struck first, as Daniel took a left-to-right cross from Smith and buried the ball in the back of the net just 11:39 into the match.

Tri-Valley (12-8-1) equalized at 25:16 when Nathan Hillard collected a pass from Lukas Ruch, made a few slick moves to create space and booted the ball home to make it 1-1.

The Hurricanes went back on top at 50:05, as Daniel made a long pass to Fessler, who won possession and converted for a 2-1 lead.

It didn’t last long. At 57:15, Hillard, assisted by Dalton Leitzel, got free and equalized again with his second goal of the night.

“They never gave up,” Tri-Valley coach Phillip Barry said. “Two times in this game we were down, two times in this game we could have folded. But that’s not us. We don’t fold. We keep battling, and unfortunately, the game got decided in PKs.”

In penalty kicks, Tri-Valley shot first, and in the first two rounds, Ruch and Dawson Neugard connected for the Bulldogs. Daniel and Fessler matched them for the Hurricanes.

The turning point came in Round 3. Taking a turn on the spot, Tri-Valley goalie Brayden Leese sent a blast toward the upper right 90 of the goal, but Wade made a diving stop, punching the ball away to keep it tied 2-2.

Then Smith calmly stepped to the line and booted the ball into the lower right corner of the goal to put the Hurricanes up 3-2.

Hillard missed wide for Tri-Valley in Round 4, leaving the clincher up to Wade, who came out of goal to take his PK. He made no mistake, hitting a hard, low shot into the net to set off a huge Schuylkill Haven celebration.

The District 11 championship is the fifth in Schuylkill Haven history, but the first since 2013. The others came in 2011, 2009 and 1998. Tri-Valley won its only District 11 crown in 2010.

“Today, I had this weird feeling,” Hess said. “I’m the first non-Georgevic to ever coach this team, and I am more than humbled and honored to be that person.

“I feel like Vanco was with us today. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get through this, but I just felt like he was here carrying us along the way. These kids are the last group to ever know him. He passed away the day before their first practice as freshmen, so they’ve been through a ton. … They’re a great group of seniors.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t honor Coach Barry,” Hess added. “He has his players ready. They came out for a good, old-fashioned Schuylkill County fistfight, and it was one heck of a game. Not so long ago, a little more than 10 years ago, we played Tri-Valley in the district championships, and they got us in penalty kicks. Tonight, it was our turn.”

District 11 Boys’ Soccer

Class A Championship

At North Schuylkill HS

Tri-Valley (12-8-1)                           1        1        0        0     —     2

Sch. Haven (15-6)                           1       1        0        0      —     3

(Schuylkill Haven wins 4-2 in penalty kicks)

SH — Daniel (Smith), 11:39

TV— N. Hillard (Ruch), 25:16

SH — Fessler (Daniel), 50:05

TV — N. Hillard (Leitzel), 57:15

Shots on goal: Tri-Valley 12, Schuylkill Haven 10. Corner kicks: Tri-Valley 8, Schuylkill Haven 4. Saves: Tri-Valley (Leese) 8, Schuylkill Haven (Wade) 10.