At some point in a soccer season the goalkeeper will inevitably become the focal point of a game. The moment came Thursday for Albert Lea keeper Steph Ferguson in 2-1 shootout win over Willmar in the section 2A championship game.

Ferguson had a lot running through her mind as the shootout wore on and she said her thoughts turned to her family and her team.

“My dad is overseas right now and my mom left for Oklahoma this morning to go see her family,” Ferguson said. “They were pretty much everything going through my head and I knew I had to do it for them and for my team because they mean the world to me.”

After Ferguson made the game-ending save the first person that she celebrated with was head coach Rick Barnhill.

“I told her on a couple of occasions, ‘This would be a nice bit of news for your father to hear — us coming out on top with you being the new hero to take the stage,’” Barnhill said.

It was fitting that he was the first person she embraced after clinching the victory. The two have spent countless hours working together as Barnhill has sought to improve her skills and prepare her for such a situation like Thursday’s shootout.

“He was pretty much the only person I wanted to see after (the shootout),” Ferguson said. “This just meant so much for me and him that I could do this a second time.”

The win marked the second time Ferguson has come out the victor in a shootout situation this season. Early in the season against John Marshall in the Byron Invitational, Ferguson was the hero. The shootout lasted nine rounds and Ferguson converted a penalty kick to keep the Tigers alive. Officially the game went down as a tie, but it was an experience that undoubtedly prepared her for Thursday night’s big moment.

“I knew that it might come down to her being the difference at some point in time this season so I just wanted her habits to be the best,” Barnhill said.

Ferguson displayed grittiness symbolic of the team this season and rose to the occasion to propel the team to the state tournament.

Late in the second half Ferguson came out to make a save, but collided with a Cardinal player. Ferguson injured her shin and remained on the ground, motionless for several minutes. It looked as though the team would have to insert a cold keeper for overtime, but Ferguson was helped to the sideline and told Barnhill that there was no way she was coming out of the game. She trotted out to goal with a limp, but it seemed to disappear as the game grew tighter.

Following the conclusion of the second overtime, Ferguson again displayed her resolve. As the team was deciding who would take penalty kicks, Ferguson told Barnhill she wanted to take the fifth and potentially the final penalty kick. She was adamant and unequivocal in her decision, further setting the tone of the shootout.

It never came to the fifth penalty kick for the Tigers because Ferguson made a critical save against Jasper Sweazey that ended the game.

“We have had ups and downs, but Barnhill and I have gotten so close over the years and he’s just an amazing coach,” Ferguson said. “We just have such a great bond together.”

Barnhill showed a lot of faith in Ferguson, allowing her to stay in the game despite a noticeable limp, then allowing her to take the potential final penalty kick, but she had been assertive throughout the game.

Barnhill said Ferguson addressed the team at halftime when the game was scoreless — a rare move by the goalkeeper, but it was clear in the end that it was her night.

“She’s got a lot of belief,” Barnhill said. “She’s never willing to just give up.”