After a tie at the end of regulation, it was a shootout that shut down the Tigers.

The Mankato East boys’ soccer team defeated Albert Lea 1-0 after a 4-1 shootout in the Section 2A semifinals Wednesday at Jim Gustafson Field.

The Cougars (6-12-1, 2-8-1 Big Nine) will go on to face Faribault at 5 p.m. Friday in the Section 2A finals.

Although it was unable to put points on the board, Albert Lea outshot Mankato East 34-17 and had seven corner kicks to Mankato East’s three.

“The kids gave it everything they could,” said Albert Lea coach Bob Furland. “We just weren’t fortunate enough to put it in the net.”

Furland said he was proud of his team’s performance, and specifically thanked his seniors. Tigers seniors Foster Otten, Lukas Severson, Colton Mowers, Schafer Overgaard, Tyler Doran, Alejandro Garcia, Porfirio Garcia, Nate Nelson, Matt Tate, Cory Siefken, Chris Nelson and Ehrich Attig played their last varsity game.

“All of them played so hard,” Furland said. “Everyone walked away a winner from that.”

The loss ends the Tigers’ season, and brings their final record to 8-6-4 overall and 5-3-3 in the Big Nine Conference.

Furland said the Tigers’ record is their best in years, both in the section and in the conference.

“This season went way beyond my expectations,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to next year.”