High school soccer extended its stay in the Metrodome as long as possible. North St. Paul edged Eastview 5-4 in a shootout for a 4-3 victory in the Class 2A boys’ soccer championship and final prep soccer game ever to be played under the inflated dome.

Adolfo Barrera-Gonzalez finished off the Polars’ perfect shootout to end the 100-minute-plus finale. Tyler Oliver, Justin Oliver, Adam Hildebrandt and Gino Fruci each converted on their shootout attempts for a 5-for-5 effort.

The Polars’ first boys’ soccer state championship dethroned the defending champion Lightning.

“This has been our dream for five years,” said Justin Oliver, who also scored two goals in regulation. “This was our goal. Anything else would have been disappointment.”

Eastview standout Pierce Erickson hit the post in the shootout — the Lightning’s only miss. Coach Scott Gustafson quickly pointed out that Eastview wouldn’t have been in the shootout if it wasn’t for Erickson, who had an assist and played a big role at forward throughout the night.

The sudden feeling of defeat was hard for the Lightning to embrace, Gustafson said, especially after advancing through the quarterfinals and semifinals with overtime and shootout victories. Gustafson thought surviving through the previous rounds would benefit his team in Thursday’s extra periods.

Tyler Oliver thought playing to a shootout would be a disadvantage for North St. Paul. During Wednesday’s practice, the Polars were 2-for-5 in a simulated shootout. The Oliver twins, however, set the tone by making the first two shots Thursday.

The special bond the brothers have on the field also helped set up North St. Paul’s go-ahead goal in the 67th minute of regulation. Tyler dished to Justin, who beat Eastview goalkeeper Kyle Lamott for the score. The Lightning’s Brett Ladoux spoiled the moment and tied the score 3-3 on a follow-up of Erickson’s shot with 3:15 left in regulation.

Sam Fluegge and Jack Teske also scored for Eastview in regulation. John Anderson scored North St. Paul’s second goal of the game.

Nothing disrupted the Oliver twins’ postgame connection and celebration, though no words were really shared.

“We just knew. We looked at each other instantly and knew [how one another felt],” Tyler Oliver said. “It’s surreal. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”