Pinnacle High School girls soccer hosting Mountain View on Saturday afternoon in a game that seemed to go on forever. Over 100 minutes of game that finally came down to a tense penalty kick shootout, the Pioneers hold on to advance to the 6A state semifinals.
This quarterfinal matchup, a rematch of the teams January 2nd meeting at Arizona Grounds, was more of a marathon than a sprint as teams remained deadlocked through regulation and two OT periods leaving them in a 1-1 tie before heading to penalty kicks. Even the shootout was a nail-biter with Pinnacle narrowly edging the Toros by 1 kick.
Head Coach Jen White praised her team’s determination and composure in the extended brawl for a trip to the semis.
“Saturday’s quarterfinal win vs Mountain View was a battle in the sun, but our girls battled until the very end, including finishing their penalty kicks to secure the win and head to the semifinals!” White said. “I am so proud of our girls for battling for 100 minutes and keeping our momentum going as we head into the next round!”
Notably, three of the five Pinnacle penalty kicks were taken by seniors whose leadership and talent will be noticeably absent next season. Among them was senior keeper Ivy Nystrom who in story book fashion drilled the decisive fifth kick to seal the win and send the Pioneers to the semifinals.
“Ivy’s poise under pressure was incredible,” said White. “She’s been a leader for us all season, and to see her finish it off like that—it was perfect.”
The match showcased standout performances across the board, with Pinnacle maintaining composure against a relentless Mountain View side. The teams traded goals during regulation, but defense and stamina defined the extra time periods.
With the victory, Pinnacle advances to the 6A semifinals and faces the Aztecs of Corona Del Sol.
“I’m excited to get the chance to coach them again in the next round and see what we can do,” White added.
Copyright © 2026 ChapterNEXT Photography
