Third time the charm for Point Pleasant in state championship game

Alex Shrader started the rally with a make in the bottom of the third round, then goalkeeper Breckin Loudin came up huge with a save on Arden Curry’s attempt.

“That was massive, just to make sure we got back into it,” Wood said.

Leonard Bernsteiner’s make tied things at 4 heading to the last round and, after Aidan Anton missed the target for the Irish, Joey Pinkerton slotted in the game-winner, finally getting the Black Knights over the top in their third straight attempt to win the final, 4-3 on kicks.

“Joey’s not our top penalty kick taker,” Wood said. “Alex Shrader and Jaren Reed have been our takers all year. I put Joey there because he’s good under pressure.”

But: “I was so nervous,” Pinkerton said. “I knew I had all of the people from the past that came through our school on my shoulders. I just slotted it.”

The match ended 1-1 after regulation.

Charleston Catholic grabbed the lead early as Angelo Cinco headed home a throw-in the third minute.

The Irish nearly added a second in the seventh minute as Jayallen Turner broke through but Blake Dauch got in a slide tackle to deny the opportunity.

The other way, a through ball from Cooper Tatterson was smothered by Irish goalkeeper Patrick Kirby.

Pinkerton then latched onto a through ball from Shrader in the 15th minute in a dangerous spot but was prevented from turning by the Irish defense.

Charleston Catholic had the next chance, a long-distance Anton shot that was caught by Loudin in the 25th minute.

Tatterson then forced an excellent save out of Kirby three minutes later.

In the 33rd minute, the Black Knights got even on a great individual effort and 20-yard finish from Pinkerton.

“I received the ball, I dribbled and my coach told me to dribble and shoot right before that, so that was running through my head,” Pinkerton said. “As soon as I get my head up, I pull it. It felt like it took 10 minutes for that ball to go in. That was a dream.”

“We dominated the first half,” Wood said. “We kind of took their width away a little bit in the first half and we kept the ball down here. They nicked the one early, but we just played soccer. The second half was a little more even, maybe leaning toward Catholic a little bit.”

The best chance of the second half went the Irish’s way as Turner broke through in the 44th minute, circled Loudin and tried to place the ball in the corner.

But Anthony Bertagnoli came flying in for the goal-line clearance, preserving the 1-1 scoreline.

“It was bang-bang-bang…luckily, my eyes were on Anthony getting back, so I wasn’t as excited as my guys over there, but it was definitely a heart-stop moment,” Wood said.

In the 51st minute, center back Cinco made a great surging run forward and fired a shot that Loudin blocked.

Anton was on the spot to put in the rebound, but was ruled offside.

The rest of regulation passed without a major chance.

Point Pleasant had two looks in OT to win it by golden goal: Colten Angus’ shot off a feed from Bernsteiner was saved in the 86th minute, then Pinkerton was denied with five minutes to go in the second overtime.

So it went to kicks: Owen Snyder gave the Irish the lead, then Jaren Reed matched his make.

Samuel Delgra went low to restore Charleston Catholic’s edge, then Bertagnoli hit the post for the Black Knights.

“We did a good job of staying focused,” Wood said.

Cinco then converted for the Irish, but that was the last time they’d hit the net in the shootout.

Point Pleasant ends the year with a 16-3-6 mark since the game is recorded as a tie, while Charleston Catholic bows at 16-5-3.

“This is our 37th season and I’ve seen involved for other 25 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach. I’ve put a lot of time into this team,” Wood said. “It’s just a culmination of things.”

“It feels amazing. It’s the best thing in the world,” Pinkerton said.