WATERLOO — It took nine rounds of penalty kicks to break a scoreless tie, but that’s how the Bobcats’ season ended.

The Marshalltown girls’ soccer squad fell 1-0 to Waterloo United on the strength of a 6-5 advantage for the home team after nine rounds of penalty kicks in Friday’s Class 3A Region 4 first-round pairing.

“We had our opportunities in regulation, including a few free kicks around the box,” said MHS head coach Stacy Galema. “They had theirs as well, including one off the post. I felt like we really started to gain momentum with 15-20 minutes left in regulation and carried it into overtime. We just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

Waterloo United goalkeeper Makenna Chidester came up with back-to-back saves in rounds 8 and 9 to lift the Trojans (4-10) to victory, stopping shots by Marshalltown’s Stefani Gutierrez and Aubrie Tejada.

Neither team could muster a goal during regulation or overtime, leading to the shootout. Marshalltown (1-16) got good PKs from Claire Close, Kenya Gomez Reyes and McKenna Coleman to forge a 3-all tie with Waterloo after five rounds.

In sudden death, Tarryn Bell and Deanna Hernandez scored in rounds 6 and 7 to make it 5-all, but the Bobcats were unable to register the winning tally before Waterloo could capitalize.

“It was a great game all-around,” Galema said. “It’s awesome to see these girls out there competing and playing our best soccer and that is exactly how you want it to be. We were there and in it and put up an extraordinary fight. I am so proud of our energy as well as our play as a team.”

Waterloo advances to face third-ranked Ankeny (15-1) on Tuesday in the regional semifinals in Ankeny.