It was ugly and nasty, but most of all it was petty.

That's the way the region quarterfinal boys' soccer game between North Broward Prep and American Heritage ended Thursday night.

North Broward Prep hung an ugly 3-0 loss on Heritage, and then the Heritage kids started cursing and shoving and pushing after the game.

No punches were landed and officials from both schools jumped in and stopped what could have escalated into something far worse, as members from both teams shouted and shoved each other during the traditional handshake period.

''It was ugly,'' said North Broward Prep coach Diego Cardona, who rounded up his players and took them to the far end of the field, well beyond the west goal.

''Stay here,'' he shouted. ``Nobody move until they have left the field.''

So they sat in the cold and waited for the Heritage kids to have their postgame meeting on the field.

That's the way the defending state 3A champs went out, with a sad and bitter end to an incredible run. Heritage had won the past two 3A state titles, and had won four of the past five, but the Patriots were knocked out of the opening round of the playoffs by a North Broward Prep team with plenty to prove.

''I've been dreaming of this day for a long time,'' said North Broward Prep's Bryan Lima, a junior who had seen his past two seasons end at the hands of American Heritage.

That's the way this story went: Heritage beats North Broward Prep and goes on to win the state title. Not this time. Lima scored off Nick Tingley's corner kick in the fifth minute of the game to shock Heritage, and then he scored again in the opening minute of the second half, breaking free down the left side and slamming a shot into the right corner for a 2-0 lead.

Lima, who led North Broward last year with 26 goals, injured his hamstring in the fourth game and sat out most of the season, before returning two weeks ago to play -- of all teams, Heritage. He drove home two goals in that game, as NBP beat Heritage to make a statement, and has scored nine goals in six games since returning, including four against Heritage. Lima's pair of goals were more than enough on a cold night that saw NBP goalkeeper Daniel Ball make six saves, including a couple of diving saves to shut out Heritage (18-6-2).

Xavier Silva punched in the final goal in the waning minutes to make it 3-0, and then he punctuated his shot by celebrating with a cartwheel across the field.

It was that kind of night for NBP, which now faces Pine Crest in the regional semifinal back at NBP at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

• Region 4-5A quarterfinal -- Northeast 2, Cape Coral Mariner 1: Northeast's Michael Castro came through with a goal off a rebound in the 70th minute. The Hurricanes (16-6-1) will host Cape Coral in the regional semifinals Tuesday.

-- RUDY RODRIGUEZ-CHOMAT

• Region 4-5A quarterfinal -- Cape Coral 3, Hollywood Hills 0: The Spartans (13-9-2) gave up all three goals in the first half.

• Region 4-4A quarterfinal -- Cardinal Gibbons 1, Reagan 0: Gibbons (17-5-4) will play Edison at Traz Powell Tuesday.