The Panthers and the Grinnell Pioneers met on May 27 in a clash that would stretch to a rare 100‑minute deadlock before a penalty shootout decided the outcome. The match remained locked at 0‑0 through regulation and overtime, forcing the teams into a sudden‑death penalty round that ended with Grinnell edging ahead 4‑2.
Grinnell’s net‑minders shone, with Dominic Peart making 11 saves, but the Panthers could only convert two of their four attempts, both by Dominic Witt and Jax Strait. Senior midfielder Isaac Miller, who had anchored the midfield all season, watched from the bench as the final whistle confirmed the shootout result.
A Season to Remember
The 2023 campaign also marked the first time in fifteen years that PCM’s winning percentage ranked among the best in program history, surpassed only by the 2018 squad’s record.
The victory sent Grinnell to the substate championship game, where they faced Des Moines Christian on May 29. The Pioneers fell 3‑1, ending their own title hopes, while PCM’s remarkable run — highlighted by an 8‑5‑3 record and the most wins since the 2018 team posted a 7‑4‑1 season — concluded in disappointment.