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EXETER — Penalty kicks can be nerve-wracking for both the penalty taker and goalie, but everything came up roses Wednesday for Pinkerton Academy of Derry.

Kyle Hicks, Chris Ronan, Alex Ebner and Colin Coutts each contributed to a 4-for-4 performance in the shootout to lead the seventh-ranked Astros to a 2-1 decision over third-ranked and defending state champion Hanover in the semifinals of the NHIAA Division I boys’ soccer tournament at Bill Ball Stadium.

“All I told my players before the penalty kicks was to make sure they don’t change their mind at the last second,” said Pinkerton coach Kerry Boles. “Just make up your mind and shoot the ball with authority.”

Pinkerton (13-5-1) won the coin toss and elected to shoot second in the penalty kick session.

Hanover (13-5-1) scored on its first penalty kick attempt by Asa Berolzheimer, but diminutive Pinkerton goalie Hayden Pavao stood tall after he stopped Hanover’s second attempt from Luke Strohbehn.

Hanover scored on its third try from Ian Caldwell, but after Ebner provided Pinkerton with a 3-2 edge, the match turned when Hanover coach Rob Grabill turned his goalie, Konrad Mitchell, into his fourth penalty kick shooter. Mitchell missed the net wide left, leaving the Hanover goalie flustered as he quickly made the transition back to his goalie position.

Seconds later, Coutts beat Mitchell to end the affair (4-2 in penalty kicks), sending Pinkerton to Saturday’s 6:15 p.m title game at Southern New Hampshire University for the first time since 2010.

Hicks scored Pinkerton’s regulation goal in the first half, beating Mitchell on a 40-yard high rising kick that Grabill said his keeper mis-played. “In baseball terms, it was a ‘can of corn’ and it was not a calculated kick by Hicks,” said Grabill.

Berolzheimer got the equalizer with 18:49 left when a loose bouncing ball eluded a Pinkerton defender. Caught in-between retreating back to his net or snatching the ball, Pavao was trapped when Berolzheimer beat him to the ball and lofted a shot over him into the empty net.

In overtime, Hicks had two opportunities to score on corner tries ,and Hanover’s Caldwell was stopped from 10 yards out by Pavao.

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