Anoka junior Michael Talbot readied for the biggest shot of his soccer career, knowing a goal would bring a state championship while a miss would prolong the overtime shootout with Wayzata.

No pressure, Tornadoes coach Pete Hayes tried telling Talbot, but the youngster put high expectations on himself.

"He said, ‘I’m going to be the hero,’ ” Hayes said. “He likes the big situations.”

Talbot delivered. His goal capped a 5-4 shootout victory and Anoka’s second Class 2A state title since defeating Wayzata in 2007. The teams were tied 1-1 through 100 minutes of soccer Thursday at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud.

The victory capped an improbable tournament run for unseeded Anoka (15-6-1). The Tornadoes dispatched two previously undefeated teams, defeating Minnetonka at the buzzer and Maple Grove in double overtime.

“I’ve coached 27 years and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Hayes said. “We were sixth in the Northwest Suburban Conference and we won a state championship.”

No. 4 seed Wayzata (15-4-3) went ahead on an Arthur Parens goal in the 28th minute. The Trojans played with a considerable wind at their back in the first half and “hoped to get a couple early but it didn’t work out,” coach Dominic Duenas said.

Anoka returned to its aggressive ways in the second half. The reward came as Joshua Dobler, an exchange student from Germany, leveled the game 1-1 in the 44th minute. No additional goals through two overtimes meant penalty kicks would decide the outcome.

Each team’s first three shooters found the back of the net. The best-of-five got interesting when Wayzata’s Jared Stout sent the Trojans’ fourth attempt off the crossbar, missing a goal by inches.

“It’s unfortunate,” Duenas said. “He’s been money in training. Just one of those things.”

Players on both teams made their next attempts, meaning Talbot would have the first chance to secure a championship. He walked to the ball positioned 10 yards from the goal praying for true aim.

Firing hard toward the left corner, Talbot watched the ball brush off goalkeeper Troy Louwagie’s fingers and into the net.

In the celebratory post-game locker room, Talbot received an ice pack for his sore hip — a fitting ending for the hero of a gritty, grinding team.

“It was an unbelievable team effort,” Talbot said. “We didn’t have anyone that really stood out. All 11 guys on the field worked hard and that’s what led us here.”

Anoka's Michael Talbot scored the fifth and final penalty kick in overtime as the Tornadoes edged Wayzata on Thursday for the Class 2A boys' soccer championship in St. Cloud.

Wayzata led 1-0 in the 28th minute but Anoka tied the game in the 44th minute.

The teams could not score in overtime and the game was decided by penalty kicks. Anoka converted all five of its chances, while Wayzata missed one of its five tries off the crossbar.

Check back later for more on the game.