The Jefferson City Jays dug deep into the memory bank.
Back in 2019, the Jays defeated the Rock Bridge Bruins in penalty kicks to decide the title at the Helias JV Tournament.
So when Saturday's season-opener against the Camdenton Lakers came down to PKs after 100 scoreless minutes, four of the five 2019 JV Jays were picked to go on the varsity level.
"We were using what we had done in the past to help us move forward," Jays coach Scott Blake said after all five players converted to give Jefferson City a 1-0 victory against Camdenton at the 179 Soccer Park.
Camdenton went first in PKs and shot it wide. Aarush Deshpande then gave the Jays the lead with a score on the team's first attempt.
Camdenton then connected on its next four attempts, but Jefferson City was able to answer each time.
Ryan Spraggs hit the second one for the Jays, followed by Owen Ramelb and Deandreis White. The Lakers' fifth player tied it at 4, which left James Zablon of Jefferson City the opportunity to win it.
"He was cool and calm for a sophomore," Blake said.
Zablon went low right past the Laker keeper to set off a celebration on the field on the hot early afternoon.
"We didn't overstrike them in PKs, we kept it simple," Blake said.
The win was a great ending to an up-and-down day for the Jays, who just couldn't find the back of the net in the 80 minutes of regulation and the two 10-minute overtimes.
"I think we had the better of the play in regulation, the better chances to score, we did a good job in transition," Blake said. "We have to bang in opportunities, we had enough to win it in the match."
The overtimes were just a matter of survival, where neither team wanted to make a mistake.
"I think both teams were dead," Blake said. "We were both just trying to keep our shapes, preserve the shutout."
Blake believes the game was good because it showed where Jefferson City needs to improve.
"Our list of things we need to work on is fairly lengthy," he said. "But we're a young squad, we're an inexperienced squad, there's a lot for us to learn and to figure out.
"In the grind is when you get better. Having a team that's chipping away and trying to make a name for itself is a dangerous team. And that's us."
Parker Gourley got the shutout in goal for Jefferson City.
"Parker is in a good position to make saves," Blake said. "He's not a guy who will just stand there and let balls get into the corner of the net, he will go after them."
"We have to bang in opportunities, we had enough to win it in the match," Blake said.
Jefferson City (1-0) will open Central Missouri Activities Conference play Tuesday night at home against Capital City (1-0). The JV game will start at 5 p.m., with the varsity contest to begin around 6:45 p.m.