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Salem Hills' Kylie Mead works to control the ball during her team's double overtime win over Spanish Fork. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills' Elisabeth Ringger takes on a defender during her team's win over Spanish Fork on Tuesday. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills' Hazel Marks works to control the ball near the sideline during her team's win over Spanish Fork. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills' Ruby Lindstrom dribbles the ball past Spanish Fork during her team's 1-0 double overtime win on Tuesday. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills' Ruby Lindstrom looks to work the ball downfield after a defensive stop. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills senior Kylie Mead passes the ball downfield during her team's win over Spanish Fork. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills' Emily Ochoa kicks the ball upfield during her team's 1-0 overtime win over Spanish Fork. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

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Salem Hills celebrates its overtime win over Spanish Fork with attending students. September 15, 2026

Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

For Salem Hills, Iris Larsen booting through a dramatic golden goal in her team’s 1-0 double overtime win over rival Spanish Fork was just another day at the office.

But that’s not to say Larsen, her teammate’s and classmates weren’t thrilled with the outcome.

Larsen performed an impromptu front flip after her shot hit the back of the net early during the game’s second overtime period and was soon mobbed by her entire team with students in attendance joining the mosh pit created on the field soon thereafter.

“We all have a love-hate relationship with soccer because of golden goal situations, but when you come out on top of those situations … that’s the beauty of the sport,” said Salem Hills coach Kyra Peery. “It doesn’t have to be pretty. We just have to make sure to get it done, and that’s what we did tonight.”

As mentioned, last night’s type of result has become somewhat commonplace for the Skyhawks, who have played into overtime periods now in four of their last five games and have managed to come out on top of all but one of them. Peery’s team also haven’t had a game decided by more than one goal since a taking a 4-2 win over American Heritage back on August 18.

Through it all it has revealed a strength within Salem Hills’ senior-laden team, which in no doubt aided it again in Tuesday’s outcome.

“The strength of this team is definitely our resilience,” Peery said. “We’ve been in so many overtime games this year, but that’s the way it is in this region. Every team in this region has had to play a lot of overtime games. So, it just comes down to being fit, mentally tough, and hoping your skill skill can win out in every position.”

Salem Hills’ superior mindset has been aided considerably by the makeup of its roster, which includes a lot of seniors, most of whom take starting slots during most games played.

“I have 10 seniors that regularly start, and so I can’t pick a single leader, and that’s been a strength of us,” Peery said. “They’re all leaders. The amazing thing about them is it doesn’t matter if they’re a captain or not, they lead just like they are, and every single girl that’s below them, our underclassmen, they all answer to that. They’re learning how to be a team of leaders.”

Peery is now in her fifth season as the Skyhawk’s head coach, so she’s been a part of the of the development of her stellar group of seniors, which has benefitted the program considerably.

“It’s been awesome being a part of their improvements and yeah, it’s come together nicely up to this year,” Peery said. “They’ve all become such great leaders for us and have set such a great example of our younger players.”

During Tuesday’s game, those same seniors battled throughout to close very strong during a game in which the Dons controlled most of the possession through the game’s first 60 minutes. That all changed during the latter stages of regulation and into the overtime period as Salem Hills’ overall attack ramped up considerably, ultimately leading to Larsen’s game-winning goal, which was assisted by fellow senior Megan Lyman.

“Credit to Spanish Fork. They made adjustments the entire game from the very start, all the way through, and our girls continued to adjust on the fly,” Peery said. “The girls have been putting a lot of work into being mentally tough, and I think it’s paying off. The work on and off the field is certainly paying off.”

With the win Salem Hills improves to 9-4 overall and 3-4 in Region 7 play. Spanish Fork falls to 6-6 overall and 4-3 in Region 7 play with the loss.