Peter McHugh delivered twice from the penalty area for Totino-Grace in a key conference boys' soccer showdown with Andover on Thursday night.

McHugh entered the game with one successful penalty kick this season, and the senior defender made it to two after converting another early in the second half.

Thanks to his quick feet and a beneficial bounce, McHugh made his second attempt of the night count as well. He was awarded another penalty kick with 2:48 remaining and his team team tied with the Huskies. His shot was deflected by Andover junior goalie James Sanders, but McHugh out ran everyone to the ball and sent the rebound to the back of the net, tallying the game-winner that secured the Eagles a 3-2 victory.

“Luckily, I got there on the second chance,” McHugh said.

McHugh normally focuses on defense and had only two goals for the season going into the game. His main responsibility Tuesday was to help Totino-Grace's back line zero in on Huskies potent goal-scorer Alex Gutenberg.

“(Gutenburg) covers a lot of ground,” Andover coach John Schlichtmann said. “He's the best shooter I've ever coached.”

A senior midfielder and fourth-year varsity player, Gutenberg put the Huskies in great position early in the second half with two goals in a five-minute span that gave Andover a 2-1 lead.

Gutenberg leads the team with 13 goals and two assists this season. He finished with 16 goals and 14 assists a year ago.

Schlichtmann couldn't officially confirm how close Gutenberg is to breaking school records for goals or points, but doesn't doubt the senior star's potential for that.

“He's got to be in the running for sure because he's had a lot of seasons with a lot of points,” Schlichtmann said. “He scored a number of goals, even as a freshman.”

Gutenberg's two goals swung the game from a goalkeepers' duel, one in which Sanders and Eagles senior goalie Daniel Forbord each had made several clutch saves.

“I've got to thank center backs and my outside backs for just helping me out, clearing every ball that came in,” Forbord said.

Junior midfielder John O'Dea, senior defender Ben Jaeger and McHugh in particular limited the Huskies' scoring opportunities. Despite crowding the net, the Eagles weren't able to fully contain Gutenberg.

“We have Max Nivala, who can throw the ball a mile on his throws, and it just managed to slip over the top of the defender's head,” Gutenberg said. “I just managed to get a toe on it, poke it in.”

Andover (7-2-1, 5-2-1), ranked No. 7 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, had a big start to the season, including a win over two-time defending Class 2A state champion Anoka and tie with No. 6-2A Park Center.

Totino-Grace (5-2, 5-2) solidified its chances in the Northwest Suburban Conference title race with the victory. Moreover, the No. 10-1A Eagles avenged a 5-0 loss to the Huskies from last year.

“We're in the title hunt, and we want to do our best to get there,” Totino-Grace coach Bill Vance said.

Peter McHugh delivered twice from the penalty area for Totino-Grace in a 3-2 home victory over Northwest Suburban Conference rival Andover on Thursday.

The senior defender tallied both goals in the final 26 minutes, including the game-winner of a rebound of deflected penalty kick with 2:48 to play, helping the Eagles rally after the Huskies grabbed the lead early in the second half. Senior midfielder Alex Gutenberg scored twice in an five-minute span to give Andover a 2-1 lead less than 10 minutes after halftime.

Totino-Grace, ranked No. 10 in the Class 1A coaches' poll, struck first with sophomore Herbert Endeley's goal in the opening half.

The Eagles (5-2, 5-2) handed the No. 7-2A Huskies (7-2-1, 5-2-1) their second defeat this season and avenged a 5-0 loss from last season.