Stephanie Roper (33) of the Lehi Pioneers shoots the ball whereas Autumn Mead (0) of the Murray Spartans blocks the shot within the first spherical in Lehi on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. Lehi gained 2-1. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
In spherical one of many 5A ladies’ soccer playoffs the 16th seed Lehi Pioneers stored their season alive by defending dwelling in opposition to the visiting 17th seed Murray Spartans, successful 2-1.
Lehi got here into right now’s recreation with some confidence after ending the common season second in Area 8 and contemporary off a 3 recreation win streak.
The Pioneer protection needed to work time beyond regulation for this win. The primary half was a defensive battle, neither Lehi nor Murray was in a position to actually get something going offensively.
Either side had some errors, however due to stable defensive recreation plans the 2 groups stayed neck and neck and ended the primary half tied 0-0.
The start of the second half gave the impression to be an identical story with every workforce struggling to seek out alternatives to attain. Lehi’s fixed stress finally proved to be fruitful when lastly, its offense managed to benefit from errors from the Murray protection.
Within the 54th minute, Lehi caught the Spartan protection grabbing jerseys which brought about Olivia Smith’s penalty kick to lastly break the stalemate between the 2 groups.
This aim was the turning level of the sport, the Pioneer’s discovered some momentum and performed extra loosely.
Quickly after, within the 60th minute, the Lehi offense struck once more, this time it was Raegan Jorgensen who discovered a possibility from a foul go from the Murray protection and made it rely, scoring and placing her workforce up 2-0.
“I couldn’t have completed it with out my workforce. We had been knocking on the door again and again. I wouldn’t have completed it with out my wings and forwards urgent. They set it up completely for me. I’m glad I used to be in a position to do it and get us forward,” mentioned Jorgensen.
Regardless of being down 2-0 with solely 20 minutes left to play, the Murray offense didn't surrender and actually placed on the stress.
Nonetheless, due to some nice workforce protection and saves from Lehi’s Haley Ogden, the Pioneers had been in a position to hold the Spartans out of this recreation.
Lastly, with about 10 minutes left, Murrays Ava Talaeai discovered the again of the online and made the rating 2-1.
Murray stored up the stress till the very finish and even had a couple of possibilities at night issues up. However as soon as once more a powerful defensive efficiency from the Pioneers stored a comeback from taking place and pushed them ahead into spherical two.
“We didn’t begin the sport effectively right now. However made some halftime changes they usually actually got here out a did precisely what we requested as a employees. Very joyful to be transferring on,” mentioned Lehi coach Tim Graham.
It was actually a pleasant win for Lehi as they now get to maneuver into spherical two. However they've their work lower out for them in spherical two as they tackle the undefeated first seed Bonneville Lakers on October 11.