The U11 Banat boys’ team proved to be too much for Gilbert Arsenal on Saturday at Westside Sports Complex, turning a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 win and putting Banat into the quarterfinals of the 2010 State Cup tournament.

Stellar play by Banat forward Alex Keaveny and forward Dante Reyes, whose combined efforts produced two goals and two assists for Banat, as well as solid goalkeeping by Matthew Ortiz were the keys to the team’s victory.

After great saves by Ortiz and Gilbert Arsenal’s Reese Corwin, the speedy Keaveny leapt over a downed opponent and booted a Reyes pass into the goal for an easy put-in, giving Banat a 1-0 lead 12 minutes into the first half.

Gilbert Arsenal responded, though, when midfielder Kyle Knoll, with under a minute left in the half, shot a laser into the left side of the net from 20 feet outside the penalty box, tying the game at 1-1.

But at the start of the second half, Banat brought the pressure early and often. Less than five minutes in, Banat midfielder Edwin Michel scored with a hard dribbler from the left side of the box, putting his team up 2-1.

Just five minutes later, Keaveny and Reyes hooked up again, except this time Keaveny earned the assist and Reyes the goal on a cross by Keaveny from the right side.

Banat coach Jesus Ruiz said he told his team to “try to get possession and score the goals. Next thing you know, we do that and we win the game.”