Soccer is a sport where you can run up and down the field for 120 minutes and be tied at 1-1 and then have the game be decided by a penalty kick shoot-out.

This is the exact scenario the Moorpark College Raiders found themselves in against the Los Angeles Pierce College Brahmas on the women’s soccer field Saturday afternoon.

“That is the Russian Roulette of soccer,” said Raiders assistant coach Mark Tietjen. “You play hard for two hours and then your season ends like this.”

This first round playoff game was a match off between the Raiders who ranked No. 8 and the Brahmas who were ranked No. 9. The two teams had met earlier in the regular season and the Raiders won 2-0.

The Raiders came out looking to maintain their dominance of the Brahmas when team goal leader Briana Miller connected on a rebound in the 23rd minute of play. That goal was the difference leading into half time 1-0.

However, in the second half the Brahmas came out with a much more aggressive look and eventually in the 85th minute of play, the Brahmas’ striker Stephanie Cubias connected on a shot from just inside the 18 yard box.

“We knew who their player was,” said Tietjen. “They’re all about one player, No. 10. In the end she got that tying goal and that made the difference for them.”

That goal went on to be the difference in the game as both teams played heavy defense and forced the game to penalty kicks.

The Raiders were beaten in penalty kicks as they failed to convert on 4 chances. The Brahmas on the other hand missed their first two attempts and then followed up with three goals ending the match.

The Raiders did, however, work on penalty kicks leading to the game according to Tietjen.

“We practiced all week for penalty kicks and we picked the five that we felt were our strongest,” he said. “It’s difficult to simulate that sort of pressure in practice, the moment with the fans and knowing the season is on the line, you just can’t simulate that sort of pressure.”

The Raiders season ends on a winning note of 12-5-4.