COEUR d’ALENE — They certainly did not win their first state 5A girls soccer championship since 2012 the easy way. The Lake City Timberwolves wouldn’t have had it happen any other way.

Chloe Teets scored the winning goal in penalty kicks, as the sophomore midfielder completed a mammoth effort as Lake City beat Rocky Mountain of Meridian 2-1 on Saturday at Coeur d’Alene High, by winning 5-4 in the climactic shootout.

It was a repeat performance of sorts, since last season the Timberwolves (14-3-2) lost to Centennial in PKs in the state title game.

As for this season — not so much. Same penalty kick scenario, different result.

This season, Lake City won on Friday in the state semifinals in the first overtime on a golden goal, 3-2, over Centennial.

“It was just amazing to get redemption after what happened last year,” Teets said. “Just to come out and win as a team. From the (goal)keeper up top, from the bench, everyone, we got redemption.”

Timberwolves coach Matt Ruchti has led the team since 2003. Lake City lost in 2000 in its only other appearance in the title game. Saturday’s game was pretty physical and it led to five yellow cards, all on the Timberwolves, including one against their bench. There was also a red card against sophomore midfielder Hannah Clarke in the 96th minute in the second OT, on a hard foul while going the ball, which resulted in Lake City playing a player short for the final four minutes, though there were no threats or shots on goal by the Grizzlies.

Lily Scott and Havana Johnson also received yellow cards, Johnson for a shove in the back and Scott for arguing a foul call against her.

“It’s a testament to these kids,” Ruchti said. “They grinded it out the whole way and we talked about it and told them, get ready for any moment and those moments could be PKs or whatever.”

Two weeks ago, Lake City held a meeting three days before the regional tournament began.

“It’s very satisfying and we had a meeting a couple weeks ago and we just had to get back on track and they just dug in and they’ve paid attention and worked really hard,” Ruchti said. “Those are just parts of the season and we just pride ourselves on always trying to be ready at the very end and to be ready for big moments. We just said be ready to perform when we need to and so they stepped up, not a doubt in my mind what they were going to be able to do.”

As for Teets and the ones who also scored in PKs — Bridget Rieken, Johnson, Scott, in order — Ruchti was absolutely pleased.

“We had to make a couple hard decisions in a couple of spots,” Ruchti said. “We definitely knew a couple decisions and Havana missed one last year and she was the first kid on my list, because I knew that if it was going to come down to it again, that kid’s not going to miss a second time because she’s that type of player. Chloe Teets, can’t say enough about that player. I think she’s one of the most solid players in the area, doing her job and what she does is just, in front of the net in PKs, that’s her spot.”

“It was super good, because last year I missed mine in the state championship,” said Johnson, the McNeese State verbal commit. “So it was kind of redemption. I’ve been practicing them and I just hit it in the right corner and it worked out. We were confident we’d make them. We knew if it got to PKs, we could win it.”

The entire penalty kick round was in part set up to a tough break by the Grizzlies (16-3-3). AJ Reed hit a ball that was directly off the crossbar and back out. She had the right idea of trying to drill the ball high over T-Wolves goalkeeper Emily Parson, who made 12 saves in the game, including an amazing diving stop in the 84th minute in the first overtime on a breakaway attempt by sophomore striker Jordyn Dalling.

Lake City’s Annica Wilson scored the team’s first goal in the penalty kick round, up high and in the center of the net, beating goalkeeper Annika Rademacher. Brianna Burup equalized it at 1 with a goal to her left, then LC defender Brandi Rieken scored to her left to make it 2-1. Grace Wilson tied it at 2 past a diving Parson.

That set up Johnson’s PK goal, whose right-footed boot found net for a 3-2 lead, as Rademacher moved to her right. Bryanna Herridge scored for a 3-all tie, before Scott hit one top shelf to make it 4-3. Madie Faler hit a goal to the lower right-hand side, then Teets hit her huge game finisher.

“It was a really good game,” said Rocky Mountain coach Donal Kaehler, who has been the Grizzlies’ leader since the school opened in 2008. “I’m proud of my girls, they played hard. I thought we did a good job of possessing the ball. We had a few chances we couldn’t put away. Other than that, we were fine. Our keeper’s been awesome the whole year. We only allowed eight goals in 22 games so obviously our defense did something right. There’s no coach in soccer that’s going to say PKs is a great way to finish a game. Especially when two teams worked as hard as they did.”

A foul on Dalling in the 49th minute, the fifth PK Dalling drew this season, led to a penalty kick goal by Reed past a diving Parson.

In the 87th minute in the second OT, Johnson’s left-footed kick was stopped by an amazing save by Rademacher, who cut down the angle and hit it out of bounds behind her.

“I was thinking for sure it was going in,” Johnson said. “She made a great save and it was kind of hard on us with all the yellow cards and the red card hurting us. But it worked out in the end.”

Scott scored the game’s first goal in the 19th minute. The junior midfielder drilled a shot from 25 yards away from the center of the field. Scott also hit an even longer shot from 35 yards out to score against Centetnnial.

“It’s the best feeling,” Scott said. “Last year was really tough, it was PKs. This year, we came back, we fought against their team. The coaches told us to play our game, not let anything (rattle) us.”

After the epic game, Lake City’s boys soccer team, which tried to rattle Rocky Mountain’s penalty kick shooters at the end, and a ton of classmates jumped up and down in celebration roughly 18 yards away from the net.

“We have a great school and we really always come out to every event,” Scott said. “It’s awesome to have everyone out there.”

A school assembly is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday in the Lake City gym to honor the state champions.

First half — 1, Lily Scott (unassisted), 19:00. Second half — 2, AJ Reed (penalty kick), 49:00. First overtime — none. Second overtime — none. Shootout goals — Cen, Briana Burup, Gracie Wilson, Bryanna Herridge, Madie Faler. LC, Annica Wilson, Bridget Rieken, Havana Johnson, Scott, Chloe Teets.

Shots on goal — Cen 13, LC 11.

Saves — Cen, Annika Rademacher 9, LC, Emily Parson 12.