Andalusia’s All-Stars came back from a 2-0 deficit and beat Alex City 4-3 in penalty kicks to win the 2013 11U ARPA State Soccer Championship on Sunday at Dothan’s Westgate Soccer Complex.

West Parker scored early in the second half on a shot that went past the Alex City goalie, and Reese Burkhardt scored on a corner kick that curved like a banana into the goal to tie the game with only a couple minutes left in regular time.

When Parker scored in the second half, Andalusia 11U coach Allen Woodard said that’s when the boys realized that Alex City can be scored against.

“It was really remarkable to watch them come back,” Woodard said.

Andalusia’s Franklin Osario Lopez stood the test in goal, blocking two of Alex City’s five free kicks, while Dawson Kennedy, Logan Adams and Lopez scored on their shots.

At the end of the first round of penalty kicks, the game was still tied 3-3.

Franklin saved the Alex City shot on goal and that’s when West Parker came through for Andalusia, finding the goal on a threaded shot past the goalie for the win.

“Bedlam ensued,” Woodard said about the celebration.

Additionally, Andalusia’s strong defense led by Drexter Lee, Cameron Woodard, James Posey and Colin Ward, with Lopez, held their first three opponents scoreless, only giving up two goals to AC.

Burkhardt scored multiple goals; Adams and Mount Ellis Mount scored one goal each in Andalusia’s 5-0 victory over Sylacauga to get the tournament started.

In their second game, the Bulldogs beat a good Dothan team, 7-0. Burkhardt, Brady Sowards, Adams, Mount and Lopez scored in the win.

Burkhardt, Mount and Thomas Duffy’s two goals gave Andalusia a 4-0 victory over Athens on Sunday, right before the championship game.

The 11U girls lost to Dothan 4-0 in their first game on Saturday, but rebounded to win 7-1 over Prattville to win the state runner up trophy.

Ashlyn Nall scored four goals in the win over Prattville. Brenna Wells had two and Allie Ivey had one.

For the 13U co-ed soccer team, Andalusia wound up finishing 2-2 for the tournament.

Andalusia defeated Prattville 7-1; lost 3-2 to Sylacauga, and 3-1 to Dothan; and then beat Ozark 3-2 in the final game.

13U coach Tim Ramsden said the team played well, especially in the first game.

“We came out and played very well,” Ramsden said.

Against Sylacauga, Ramsden said Andalusia had the ball 80 percent of the time, but couldn’t convert on its chances.

“We let them into the game,” he said. “We had a penalty that they scored from on a free kick, and were down 2-0 at half.

“We came out in the second half and played flat,” he said. “We were down 3-0 and came back to score two goals.”

Andalusia was the better team in the first half, scoring in the first 20 minutes of play, but didn’t so as well in the second half against Dothan, Ramsden said.

“They were the better team,” the coach said.

In the final game, Andalusia got the chance to play a lot of its subs, the coach said.

“We made a couple silly mistakes on defense,” Ramsden said. “I was very encouraged by the level of talent from these kids. They played well as a team.”