The Hopewell boys' soccer team took only two shots on goal the entire second half Tuesday. But senior Anthony Castoneda made the most of his only opportunity in the final 40 minutes, netting a penalty kick with just over five minutes remaining in the game to give Hopewell a 1-0 win against Providence.

Castoneda and the Titans were awarded the penalty kick on the ensuing play when Providence goalkeeper Stefen Knapp came out of the goal and was called for a push in the box.

After an extensive wait - which included an officials' discussion, Knapp being yellow-carded, an adjustment of the clock and one penalty kick attempt that went in but was called back - Castoneda finally broke the scoreless tie with a shot that went perfectly into the right corner of the net.

"I was just thinking positive the whole time," Castoneda said of his wait to attempt the shot. "I knew I had to make this (penalty kick) for my team.

"So I just kept my cool and made my shot."

The Titans goal capped a wild and physical game that featured three yellow cards, three penalty kicks, but just one goal.

Providence (3-4), which outshot Hopewell 25-6, couldn't put the ball in the net, missing two penalty kicks. The first came in the 50th minute when Panthers junior Ryan Beckner was taken down in the box.

On the ensuing penalty kick, Ben Burdon missed wide left.

Just six minutes later, the Panthers' Joseph Dayton got the same opportunity when Hopewell was called for a hand ball in the box. But like Burdon, Dayton missed, lobbing the ball in right corner, right to Titans goalkeeper Ryan Santee.

Santee, a junior, recorded his first shutout of the year, with 11 saves.

"Santee played a great game," Hopewell coach Robb Bolar said. "He made some spectacular saves in the first half, on the penalty kicks and in the final minutes.

"He really kept us in the game the whole time."

Hopewell not only showed resolve in beating the Panthers, but also in recovering from an 8-0 loss in its last game against Myers Park.

"Honestly, after our last game, I didn't know how this team would respond or if they would crumble," Bolar said. "But this team showed a lot tonight.

"We have a great senior class that wouldn't let our team quit."

Castoneda, who had hit the game-winner just minutes before, agreed with his coach.

"We learned a lot from that (Myers Park) game," Castoneda said. "We weren't going to make the same mistakes.

"Tonight, we came back (in the second half) and got a big win for this team."