Flagstaff Northland Prep was 1-3 by mid September and Nick Irvine was handed coaching duties only three practices before a home match against Chandler Arizona College Prep and the Spartans responded with a 4-0 win and a renewed purpose that led them to the Division IV state playoffs.

Northland Prep (6-7-1) earned the 12-seed and was sent all the way down to play No. 5 Willcox (9-2) in the first round on Thursday night. That's a 345-mile-six-hour trip with 17 teenage boys. Again, the Spartans responded with a 2-1 win in overtime.

It was redemption of sorts after the Spartans were banned from postseason play last year for leaving the pitch early against Willcox at the Old Pueblo Classic run by Desert Christian.

Their reward for upsetting Willcox? A trip to Tucson on Saturday night to play No. 4 Desert Christian (12-1).

Steve Lord has won over 100 matches at Desert Christian to go along with his two championship appearances (2010, 2012). He has the Eagles prepared for another run at state this fall with captains Tommy McGuire and Kit Thompson leading the team and keeper Nick Tucker anchoring his defense.

The problem was, the Spartans also had a reliable keeper in Morgan Barta. Irvine credits Barta for his success and with good reason.

After team captain Ryan Kelly crossed the ball on a corner kick to other captain John Taylor for a goal in the 39th minute, Barta settled in and withstood a barrage of 17 shots to keep the Eagles at bay.

A touch penalty in the box in the 58th minute gave Desert Christian the chance they were looking for and sophomore Ethan Malis responded with a goal to tie things up 1-1. That score stood through regulation and the two overtime periods, sending the squads to a PK shootout.

The season for both teams came down to a high-stakes rotation of kicks that had Northland Prep one touch away from an improbably trip to the semifinal round.

Barta blocked an attempt by Malis and then Taylor found the left-side to put the Spartans up 1-0.

Thompson shot too high and then Tucker blocked Chris Kelly's offering off of the top bar to keep Northland Prep up 1-0.

Mikey Lord calmly hit the left corner to tie it up at 1-1 and Ryan Kelly shot to too high to preserve the tie.

Neil Inman hit the right post and Gage Griffen put the Spartans up 2-1 on a shot to the left.

McGuire hit the right side to tie it back up at 2-2 and Daniel White had a chance to win it for Northland Prep but his shot glanced off the top bar to send the game to extra kicks.

Tate McGuire hit the right to put the Eagles up 3-2 and Devon Gussio shot too high to give Desert Christian the 2-1 (3-2) win in OT.

It took exactly three second for the Eagles to realize they had won and the team and fans stormed the pitch at Udall Park to celebrate with Tucker.

Success often comes with an even more difficult reward and Desert Christian will gladly accept that challenge when they travel to Gilbert Campo Verde on Friday to meet up with No. 1 Chino Valley (12-1) in a semifinal match at 7 pm.

Chino Valley defeated No. 8 Phoenix Country Day 5-0 at home earlier in the day to set up the match with Desert Christian.

Chino Valley has won three titles and are the defending champions.