WESTFIELD - The Smith Academy and Gateway Regional boys soccer teams were playing so well in Thursday's Western Massachusetts Division 3 semifinal, it was clear that either a fluke play or penalty kicks would have to decide the game.

The former happened just before the latter came into play and the Gators earned a 1-0 victory on an own goal with 1 minute, 47 seconds left in the second overtime at Westfield State College.

With penalty kicks emerging as a real possibility, Sam Cummings of Gateway took control on the right side of the Falcons' goal and blasted a shot toward the far post.

But a Smith Academy defender got his foot on it, deflecting it toward the near side of his own goal. The ball trickled into the net before Falcons' goalie Chris LaRose, who had been moving to his right to block the shot attempt, could change directions and stop it.

"The clock was ticking down and everyone was tired, so I figured I'd just go for it," Cummings said. "I kind of duffed the shot, but the deflection worked out for me."

No. 1 Smith Academy (14-3-3) had ridden its defense to both a share of the McGrath South title and a trip to the semifinals after missing the tournament for the past four years.

It was "a ricochet that our goalie (usually) sucks up," Falcons third-year coach Jason Duncan said.

"The only reason he doesn't get it is because he's moving to where the ball is supposed to be. (The game has) to end somehow."

Smith's defensive players "have got nothing to beat themselves up about," Duncan added. "Our defense put us here. Our defense kept us here. They got a ricochet because our defense is defending. It's tough. Somebody's got to lose."

The win marked the first time Gateway, which finished third in the McGrath, beat Smith this year after going 0-1-1 against them during the regular season.

"They've got big, strong defenders that play the ball well. They've got some long-ball threats," said Gators 11th-year coach Tim Gamble. "We didn't get a lot going, but we had better chances (than in the previous two matchups) and they hit the post. It was even-Steven the whole game."

No. 4 Gateway (12-2-4) advanced to the championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday at Westfield State.

The will play the winner of the other semifinal between No. 10 Lenox (8-8-4) and No. 11 Pioneer Regional (9-6-5) at Westfield State at 7 tonight.

The loss marked the final game for Falcons seniors Aris Touloumtzis, Graydon Rickert, Chris Sulda, Nick Andrus, Stephen Laizer and Luke Longstreeth, the team's regular goalie who missed the postseason because of mononucleosis.

Thursday's match was so even that goalies LaRose and Gabe Craig of Gateway combined for only seven saves as neither defense allowed many good scoring chances.

"Defense is what wins games," said Cummings, whose team has posted 12 shutouts on the year and six a row heading into Sunday's championship match. "We have Josiah (Cooke) hold down (Smith's Matt LaRose) on the other team. (LaRose) is the real threat. (Cooke) did a great job and was the key for us."

After playing 80 scoreless minutes in regulation and 10 more through the first overtime period, both teams had penalty kicks in the back of their minds during the second extra frame.

"It looked like it was coming down to PKs," Duncan said. "It was a very good game. It was exciting soccer. That's what western Mass. soccer should be all about."

Gamble said he thought about packing his defense in and hoping to get to kicks.

"I considered going for PKs and going with a double stopper, but I didn't want to jinx the kids," he said. "I didn't want (Smith) to lock it in on us and have a mistake goal. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen."

The consideration was understandable, however, with the way Craig (four saves) has been playing, especially during the six-game shutout streak.

"I felt pretty good going into PKs with Gabe Craig as our goalie," Gamble said. "He stood on his head (in a 2-0 win over Hopkins Academy in the quarterfinals Tuesday). It's pretty amazing that we didn't get to that."

For Smith Academy, the game ended in shock and disappointment, but Duncan was already excited about the future.

"In the overtime, I had two seniors on the field, Graydon (Rickert) and Chris (Sulda)," he said.

"The front six were freshmen and sophomores. They got us here. We'll be back. It's headed in the right direction for sure. We'll be back."

Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com. Get high school updates delivered directly to your Facebook newsfeed at www.facebook.com/gazette.hs.