SERENA — As the sun set behind Serena High School and the long shadows loomed over the soccer pitch, the Coalers knew that it was getting late. Considering it was a regional match against Roanoke-Benson and the team was trailing by a goal inside the final 10 minutes, the season was also at hand.

Though Coal City would ultimately fall 2-0 to the Rockets, it's not unreasonable to think that the last 10 minutes of the season was amongst the best spans of the season for the Coalers.

Zack Pierard had three shots in the last 10 minutes — two on goal — as the Coalers pushed up in order to tie the game at 1-1. Fellow senior Tony Norris had a header that was saved in the same span.