The Pinecrest boys defeated upset-minded West Johnston 3-1 in two overtimes in a first-round state 4-A soccer playoff match at home Wednesday evening.

The Patriots advance to meet Pine Forest, a 1-0 victor over New Bern, in a second-round contest at home on Saturday.

West Johnston got the jump on the Patriots with a goal by Tyler Hill in the fifth minute off a cross from Felipe Cuevas. The Patriots trailed until the 61st minute when a deflected cross off the foot of Thomas Goulden dropped into the path of teammate Tyler Herbst near the top of the penalty box. Herbst powered the ball into the net with his first touch, tying the match at 1-1.

The Wildcat goal was under almost constant pressure throughout the remainder of regulation and into the second overtime. Only nine minutes away from the match being decided by penalty kicks, the Patriots found the net twice.

Max Brenner put away a loose ball in the penalty box for the go-ahead goal. Then, with just over a minute left, Ryan Osterman connected off a rebound from another shot by Brenner.

Pinecrest improved to 18-2-3 while West Johnston, the fifth seed from the Greater Neuse River Conference, completed its season at 6-13-2. Pine Forest, 15-6, is the third seed from the Two Rivers Conference.