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After a week of scrimmages, competitions, and tournament play, not even a single goal could separate Kirby Cup finalists Ireland and Bolivia.

The teams went back and forth, goal for goal, vying for the honor of being named Kirby Cup champions, the latest in a long line of winners. With both junior and senior teams tied, the table was set for a historic “sudden victory” playoff, in which a goal on either field would be enough to claim the prize.

The Kirby Cup is the brainchild of George Alley, head coach of the Polk County boys’ soccer team. It is a camp geared towards 8 through 13-year-olds, with a mission to teach fundamental soccer skills and create global awareness by learning about other countries’ cultures.

Thanks to the Harmon Field Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation, the camp is free to the 72 participants, and every player receives a T-shirt and soccer ball. Players are divided into four teams representing four countries, one each at the junior (ages 8-10) and senior (ages 11-13) levels. This year, the countries chosen were Bolivia, Thailand, Senegal, and Ireland.

The weeklong camp features skills challenges, individual and team competitions, a picnic featuring dishes from the countries represented, culminating in a round robin tournament on Saturday.

In the 1v1 challenges, Bret Burgin got the best of Eli Searcy in a showdown of two of the quickest and most skillful campers, while fan favorite Caroline Taylor was narrowly pipped by Charlie Smith in the junior finale. Cal Cameron and Noah Gutierez had too much size and power for the competition in 2v2 heading, one of the camp’s best-loved events. Charlie Smith teamed up with Burkett Meyer to score a dramatic comeback win in the junior finals.

Friday’s picnic offered a cultural extravaganza that featured Irish Stew, Pad Thai, Couscous Senegalais, and Bolivian Saltenas (Alley expressed massive thanks to Brittany Klimstra, Pilar Pace, Candice Behan, Kate Meyer, and Tammy Grize for volunteering their time).

And so the stage was set for Saturday’s tournament. And what a tournament it was. Because each country was represented by both a junior and senior team,the  winners of the games would be decided by the best combined score.

In the openers, Ireland had too much firepower for Senegal and opened its tournament with a win. Thailand, resurgent after some mid-week struggles, rode a strong goalkeeping performance from KJ Duncan and goalscoring from talisman Cal Cameron to an upset victory over Bolivia.

In the second round, Senegal showed tremendous resolve, bouncing back to topple Thailand behind the goals of Eli Searcy and the dogged determination of JJ Klimstra. Bolivia was denied a win with a dramatic late equalizer as Charlie Smith fired home as time expired, meaning Ireland would have to settle for a share of the spoils.

Bolivia, on the brink of elimination, knew only a win would be enough to keep its hopes of a finals appearance alive. Not to be denied, Senegal’s seniors put in one of the performances of the week, notching four goals without reply on the way to a resounding victory. On the other field, Bjorn Johnson put the entire Bolivia team on his shoulders – he scored a blistering four goals en route to a 6-1 victory, giving Bolivia just enough to notch the overall win and keep its Kirby dreams alive.

Thailand had its fate in its own hands, but needed a win against Ireland to book a place in the final. It was all going according to plan until late goals from Smith and Addison Dedmon flipped the script and ensured Ireland would face Bolivia for a chance at glory.

The final, like many of the games during the week, was a back and forth affair. Foster Meyer, wonderful throughout the camp, opened the scoring for Bolivia, before Bret Burgin brought Ireland level. When the final whistle sounded, nothing separated the sides, with juniors and seniors both tied.

In the “sudden victory” playoff, Smith escaped the clutches of one defender, left another two in his wake, and dispatched a winner low and hard beyond the despairing dive of goalkeeper Kilton Hillabush.