Oakville Defeats Mehlville in Overtime

junior Alex Dieckmann could sense something special happening as he received a pass from Mike Munsell early in the first 15-minute sudden death period Tuesday night.

And Dieckmann indeed made it special with a golden goal as the Tigers edged 2-1 in the Class 3 District 7 semifinals at Kirkwood High School. Oakville moves on to the district championship game Thursday at 6 p.m. against top-seeded Vianney. The Griffins defeated Lindbergh 3-0 in the other semifinal Tuesday.

"This is exhilerating," Dieckmann said. "I scored a goal in the district championship game last year but this is even better. Scoring against your rival in overtime to send us to the championship game. This is special."

It was the second time the district rivals played, and the result was the same, a 2-1 Oakville overtime victory.

"It's like the old days with the Mehlville/Oakville rivalry," Tigers coach Dave Robben said. "It took a total team effort. Jordan (Klipsch) did a great job on No. 9 (Aris Nukic) and Luke Miller did a super job on No. 10 (Emir Alihodzic). Our keeper, Alec McChesney, made some key stops, and what a finish by Alex to end the game.

"Munsell gave him a nice pass and he waited until the keeper made a move and took a good shot," Robben said.

Mehlville had taken a 1-0 lead with a goal by Armin Duderija 10 minutes into the game.

The Panthers led 1-0 at halftime as Oakville hit the goal post on a couple of occasions.

Oakville scored a goal early in the second half as Munsell scored on a scramble after a corner kick.

Both teams had chances to end it in regulation but the game went into overtime (two 15-minute sudden death periods followed by penalty kicks if neither team scored).

But Dieckmann extended the Tiger season and ended the 2011 campaign of the Panthers.

"This was very similar to the first time we played them," Mehlville coach Tom Harper said. "You know when you get to this point of the season that you are playing the best. We know each other so well. We just made one too many mistakes against a team which is good enough to capitalize. I can't complain though about the effort tonight or in any of the 24 games this season."

Oakville, which is seeded second, lost in September to Vianney 2-1.

"We had a crazy game with them," Robben said. "We had an ejection in the second half and had to play short-handed for the rest of the half and through 30 minutes of overtime and lost on PK's. They rely a lot on set pieces. We will need to play well to beat them."