DELAND, Fla. (WMBB) — The Arnold boys soccer team earned the program’s second state title over Jesuit in a penalty shootout 4-3.

For over half of the senior class, their story started three years ago when the Marlins won the program’s first state title. After two years and two heartbreaking losses in the playoffs, Arnold was back in the championship game.

After a loss in the state title game in 2022 and an early sweet sixteen exit in 2023, a new identity was born for this team.

“It was something that we had been talking about all year,” Arnold boys head soccer coach Jona Hammond said. “We want to go out and we want to get redemption for that state championship we lost last year. We had the team to win a state championship last year. We didn’t come together as a team. We’re going to make up for that.”

The Marlins secured their ticket to the state championship game after a penalty shootout victory in the Class 5A State Semi-Final 4-2 over Pembroke Pines. There was just one win standing between Arnold and another state title. How they would get that dub, was something no one could imagine.

“It was the craziest game I’ve ever played in my life,” Arnold senior Felix Riemer said.

The Marlins were tested in another defensive battle. It was a scoreless game after the 80 minutes of regulation. It all changed in the first period of overtime when Jesuit scored with one second remaining.

“When they scored, I was like, dang, I should have saved that,” Arnold senior goalkeeper Josh Chandler said. “I’m just thankful for my team. They put it in the other team’s net so we could go into PKs.”

If there is anything about this team, they aren’t one to back down from a challenge. Sophomore, Fernando Granillo scored in the 91st minute to put the Marlins back in the game to tie 1-1.

Jesuit would score another goal, but it would be called back for goalie interference to send the game into a penalty shootout.

Senior, Stone Hatton would score the first goal but the Tigers would respond to tie it at 1-1. After Arnold went down by two goals, it felt like it was over.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Hammond said. “Any time you miss two PKs it’s pretty much game over.”

Senior, Sander Richard and Granillo stepped up to even the count. With Senior goalkeeper Josh Chandler protecting the net a 3-3 tie would send the battle into sudden death.

“When you go down two PKs, that’s unheard of,” Hatton said. “If we don’t go through that, we don’t make it out of that.”

After not playing a single minute, senior, Josiah Dunlap stepped up and made his final mark to give his team the lead.

Then it was up to Chandler to pull off his final save of the season.

“I don’t even want to watch either, but I have a job,” Chandler said.

Chandler blocked it to seal the win for the storybook finish 4-3 in penalty kicks.

“It felt like a dream,” Riemer said. “We were thinking about it last night. We were talking about it. And the fact that it actually came through is still so surreal.”

There is still one more box this team wants to check even though the season has come to a close.

“I think we can get that number one spot so we can be, not just state champions, but national champions,” Hammond said.

Arnold finished the season with a record of 22-1-1. The Marlins never lost a game in regulation or overtime this season.