With less than a minute to play it seemed as if overtime was inevitable Tuesday night at Perry High. The defending state champion Pumas and Mesa were deadlocked at 1 for most of the game's final 30 minutes. Then, with the clock rolling just under the one minute mark, Perry came up with its biggest goal of the season.

Forward Tyler Haren went up for a perfect throw-in from Aiden Yen, and knocked the ball in the net with a headshot, ultimately giving the Pumas a 2-1 semifinal victory over the Jackrabbits. The win sends Perry to the 6A state title match Saturday night, which will be played at Mesa High. Perry will face San Luis, who beat Mountain View 2-0 in the other semifinal.

"I'll tell you what, there's no one I'd rather have throwing the ball in like that than Aidan (Yen)," Haren said afterward, describing the game winning goal.

"I've scored 11 goals this year mostly because of (Yen). He always puts it in the perfect spot. There's always a chance when Aidan puts it up there."

Four minutes prior to Haren's game winner, he and Yen exectued a near identical goal, only to have it nullified by an offensive pushing penalty. When they got their second chance, it looked like a replay, but there were no fouls; only :58 seconds left in Mesa's season, another successful campaign under longtime coach T.J. Hagan, but a heartbreaking finale for the Jackrabbits (16-3-1).

"I think most people assumed overtime after that earlier goal was called off," Haren admitted afterward. "But both teams kept fighting and we got another great look."

Both goal keepers played brillant. Perry's Carson Pridie saved eight shots on goal, and Mesa's Kevin Arajuo had 10, including three in the game's final 10 minutes, as Perry was able to apply more offensive pressure towards the end by using its size advantage on Mesa.

The Pumas took a 1-0 lead into halftime by way of an unconventional goal. It was a throw-in from Yen, which had perfect placement in front of the goal, but when Mesa's Leobardo Vega went up to knock the ball away with a head shot, the ball floated towards the inside of the goal. Eddy Mbugua tried to kick the ball out, but it was too late as the ball went into the net and gave Perry the score.

The Jackrabbits tied the game 10 minutes into the second half on a brilliant free kick by Evan Romero, who found the far right side of the net from about 25 yards straitaway.

"This is a tough one but I'm really proud of how our kids battled," Mesa coach T.J. Hagan said of his club. "We knew we could beat and play with anyone, and we shoed it again tonight. (Perry) is tough and they have great size, but we were right there."

Mesa is the only blemish on San Luis' 14-0-1 record this season, as the teams played to a scoreless tie back in week one. The Jackrabbits also knocked out top seed Sunnyside last Saturday in Tucson. But Perry's late-game dramatics mean a shot at consecutive championships.

After losing much of their firepower from last year's championship team, a repeat title run seemed unlikely for the Pumas (17-4-1). But that changed over the course of the season according to Haren. "I think after our last game when we tied with Chandler is when it really set in," Haren said. "I think that really motivated us because we we were angry and we had proven over the course of the season that we could compete again, so that tie heading into the playoffs really helped us dig deep."