FRUITPORT – In some ways it was a pretty rough night for the Fruitport girls soccer team.

The Trojans battled hard for 40 minutes in absolutely miserable conditions, with a cold rain pounding the turf at Fruitport’s Doc Pierce Field from start to finish in Tuesday’s O-K Silver conference tournament championship game.

Fruitport had a few good chances to score, but nothing went in the net, and the Trojans and NorthPointe Christian were tied 0-0 at the end of regulation.

That led to a pretty amazing overtime shootout that actually went to overtime itself, when the original five shooters from each team failed to settle the issue.

That brought out another five shooters from each team, in a round-by-round sudden death format. The Trojans had two great chances to win after NorthPointe Christian missed shots, but Fruitport missed each time, as well.

Finally, in the 11th round, NorthPointe’s Stella Oviatt made her shot and Fruitport missed on its next try. That gave the Mustangs an 8-7 edge in the shootout, a 1-0 win on the scoreboard, and the conference tournament championship.

The sadness on the Fruitport bench didn’t last for long, however. While the NorthPointe players celebrated their victory, the Trojans were awarded the trophy for the overall O-K Silver championship, which they clinched on Friday night, even though they didn’t play, due to the complicated conference system.

It happened because NorthPointe Christian upset second-place Hopkins in a conference tournament semifinal game. Since Fruitport finished first in the regular season, and could finish no lower than second in the tournament, it automatically won the overall title.

Not bad for a team with six freshmen and three sophomores that started the season with a 1-3 record before finding its stride. Fruitport is now 12-6 overall.

“It’s been about 14 years or so, as best as we can figure,” said Fruitport Coach Kyle Hall about the number of years it’s been since the girls team won a conference crown. “Credit to the girls, they show up each and every day, every game and every practice. There is always something to improve on and that’s what they’ve been doing.”

Fruitport finished the conference season with a 9-1 record. The Trojans would have liked a clean sweep in the O-K Silver, but that hope was dashed in Tuesday’s rain.

“That was the goal going into tonight – keep the perfect record – but credit to NorthPointe, they played a great game and came away with it,” Hall said. “We will take the loss in stride and move on.”

Neither team was able to mount much offense during regulation, in the pouring rain and slippery conditions.

Fruitport had a 3-0 edge in shots on goal in the first half. One shot hit the post and bounded away, and a header shot from close range failed to find the mark.

Each team had two shots on goal in the second half. The Trojans nearly scored with a high shot from close range with 25 seconds left in regulation, but the NorthPointe goalie was able to snare it.

That led to the OT shootout, which each team sending out five players to take turns shooting from penalty kick range, 12 yards from the goal.

NorthPointe scored the first two goals, and the Trojans missed their first shot, but each team had four goals when the first five rounds were over. Fruitport goalie Ava Powell made a huge diving stop of a Mustang shot that preserved the tie at that point.

That brought out another five players from each team to carry on the drama. The second five had a sudden-death format. If either team scored in any round and the other team failed, the game was over.

The first two shooters from each team scored, then NorthPointe’s second shooter hit the crossbar, leaving the Trojans a chance for a walk-off win. But Fruitport’s Ava VanVeelen shot wide, keeping the game alive.

Each team scored on its next two tries, then a NorthPointe shot was blocked by Powell, giving Fruitport another chance to end it. But Izzy Hanson-Wilbur’s shot sailed over the goal, and the Mustangs dodged another bullet.

The end came in the 11th round, when NorthPointe’s Oviatt scored, Fruitport’s Kendal Kolberg had her shot blocked, and the Mustangs got the win.

“I’ve been in some shootouts that went seven or eight rounds, but never 11 before, that’s for sure,” Hall said. “We had our chances, but it just didn’t go our way.”

The Trojans now move on to the state tournament, starting with Division 2 districts. They will open with a home game against Muskegon on Thursday.

“It’s been a while since the girls team has won a district championship, as well,” Hall said. “That’s our second goal for the season, and we’re looking to capitalize on it.”