A penalty kick.

 That was enough to decide a matchup between the Hopkins Royals (8-4-2) and the Edina Hornets (4-4-6) on Sep. 30.

 The Royals came in with the injury bug on their back as starters Paul Klappa, senior (hamstring), Ben Parker, senior (calf), Andrew Shirley, junior (quad) and Andy Berris, sophomore (wrist/arm) were all inactive.

 From start to finish, the Hornets were in control of the game. Shots kept coming to Royals goalie Jacob Ungerman, senior, but for the most part Ungerman contained the flurry of shots.

 Midway through the first half, a goal off a penalty kick by Hornets midfielder Sam Dunn, senior proved too much for Ungerman, and the Hornets took a one goal lead that held for the final sixty minutes.

 The closest the Royals came to tying the game was a number of opportunities that were negated due to offsides penalties. Other than that, it was all green and yellow on the cold fall night.

 The loss moves the Royals farther back in the Lake Conference standings and sets up a regular season finale with the Eden Prairie Eagles (4-7-3) on Oct. 2.