ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School needed more than 80 minutes to decide its Class 3A State Tournament game Thursday at the Adams State University soccer/lacrosse field.

In fact, it went to 110 minutes and nothing was still settled. Therefore, the game went to penalty kicks.

It came down to the last kick as Leah Higareda put the ball into the net to give the Mean Moose the win.

“That was so exciting,” said Alamosa coach Kelly Wubben. “I am so proud of my girls. I don’t even know what to say. They played an amazing game, and they finished off after two overtimes and we finished in PKs. So we’re going to the second round which we have not done in eight years.”

“I would say it was the biggest goal of my career,” Higareda said. “I think was this game was the best one I ever had.”

There was no scoring in the first half. The Mean Moose had a chance on a Jayden Wubben breakaway, but it was broken up by a Vail Mountain defender.

The Rangers got on the scoreboard first as Solveig Moritz scored on a breakaway. Shay Armistead was credited with the assist.

After Higareda and Jayden Wubben had direct kicks that just missed the goal, the twosome teamed up with the equalizer. Higareda scored in the 74^th minute with Jayden Wubben getting the assist.

Vail Mountain had an open goal late in regulation, but it was kicked away by Higareda.

Both teams had chances to score in both of the overtime periods but came away empty.

Kiana Garcia scored the first goal of the shootout, but Jayden Wubben scored a goal of her own. Maya Maxson scored Vail Mountain’s second goal, but Araceli Molina answered with a goal.

Leija Bambur made the Rangers’ third attempt, but it went over the goal. Maran Formisano had the Mean Moose’s third attempt, but it was saved.

Armistead saw her shot stopped by Kylie Cantu, but Ginger Rockcastle’s shot went over.

Cantu stopped Kira Scheidegger’s shot setting up Higareda’s game-winning goal.

“It was very nerve-wracking,” Cantu said. “I had never done anything like that before. After that other save, I had full confidence in Leah. When it went in, I was so happy. It’s unexplainable how happy I was.”

That was an amazing game,” Jayden Wubben said. “We worked hard this whole season and our work showed. We played so well.”

Cantu had 16 assists during regular play, plus two in the shootout.

Kent Denver ends Alamosa’s season

The season came to an end for the Mean Moose as they lost to top-ranked Kent Denver, 10-0, Saturday in Englewood.

Cantu had 15 saves in goal.

Alamosa ends the season with eight wins, six losses and a tie.

Alamosa 1, Vail Mountain 1

Vail Mountain 0 1 0 0 – 1

Alamosa 0 1 0 0 – 1

Scoring

VM – Moritz (Armistead), 49:00

A – Higareda (Wubben), 74:00

PK shootout

VM – Garcia, goal

A – Wubben, goal

VM – Maxson, goal

A – Molina, goal

VM – Bambur, miss

A – Formisano, saved

VM – Armistead, miss

A – Rockcastle, miss

VM – Scheidegger, saved

A – Higareda, goal

Shots on goal – Vail Mountain: 5-6-5-1—17; Alamosa: 5-1-1-1—8.

Corner kicks – Vail Mountain 2-1-1-1—5; Alamosa: 0-1-0-0—1.

Goalkeepers – VM: Thompson (saves 5-0-1-1—7); A: Cantu (saves 5-5-5-1—16.