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Timpanogos senior defender Tobin Hutchings (left) celebrates with midfielder Sierra Pennock after Hutchings scored a goal during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos senior midfielder Sierra Pennock (second from right) celebrates with her teammates after scoring on a penalty kick during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos junior forward Summer Christensen (right) battles for the ball during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos senior midfielder Sierra Pennock stretches to stop a ball from going out of bounds during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos junior midfielder Sariah Brady (5) battles for the ball during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos senior defender Tobin Hutchings heads the ball into the goal during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos junior forward Summer Christensen (1) can't get to a bouncing ball during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos senior Taya Brost heads the ball during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos senior midfielder Sierra Pennock takes a shot during the 5A semifinal game against Skyline at Juan Diego in Draper on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

❮ ❯

Goal … answer … goal … answer.

That was how things went in the clash of heavyweights between undefeated Skyline and the Region 8 champs from Timpanogos in the 5A semifinals at Juan Diego High School on Tuesday with each side throwing some big-time haymakers.

In the end, it was the Eagles who landed the last punch and the Timberwolves ran out of time to find one more answer, losing 3-2 to Skyline.

“It was a great game,” Timpanogos head coach Robyn Bretzing said. “I was really proud and I thought we possessed the ball well today. I thought we actually played a good game. That’s a tough team to beat. You can’t make a lot of mistakes against a team. But I’m proud of our season.”

The Timberwolves struck first, keeping the pressure on when the ball went into the box off a corner kick in the 22nd minute. It eventually hit the hand of an Eagle defender, giving Timpanogos a penalty kick.

T’Wolf senior midfielder Sierra Pennock calmly slid the ball in from the spot to put Timpanogos up, 1-0.

But Skyline answered just two minutes later when star forward Lily Boyden drove to the end line on the right side and crossed the ball back into the middle.

Timberwolf sophomore keeper Emma McIff made a brilliant save on the first shot but the rebound went back to Eagle senior Roza Gomez, who was able to knock it in.

Skyline seized the initiative in the 33rd minute on a similar play as Boyden crossed the ball to sophomore Lily Hall, who put the Eagles in front.

But Timpanogos came back strong and answered two minutes later.

The Timberwolves earned a corner kick and Pennock lofted it perfectly to where senior defender Tobin Hutchings came flying in to head it on frame and notch the equalizer.

“She’s a great defender and so good in the air,” Bretzing said. “She’s so dangerous on corner kicks and that’s our target. Sierra Pennock put the ball right in the spot where she can get to it and Tobin got to it. That was a great goal.”

After the scoring showcase of the first half, the defenses stepped up after the break and limited the opportunities.

It wasn’t until the 58th minute when the Eagles were able to break through.

Boyden got a break off an unlucky bounce for the Timpanogos, which dropped right at her feet and she fired it into the net for the final goal of the game.

The Timberwolves fought for the rest of the game to find one more answer but they couldn’t get any shots to go in and saw their season come to a close.

“We had some great looks,” Bretzing said. “I felt like we had four or five where we cut in and had open looks at the goal. We just didn’t get the power we needed to get it to go in. But we created the opportunities.”

Bretzing said it’s going to be tough to say farewell to the seven Timpanogos seniors but she was glad they played well in their final game.

“I’m going to remember the friendships that these girls have created on and off the field,” Bretzing said. “They were willing to fight for each other. Even if someone missed a mark, they would pick them up. They never complained or fought or argued. It’s fun to have watched the team chemistry this year. That’s a tribute to my seniors. I’m really proud of how the team has come together, played in a tough region and came out on top.”

Skyline moved on to play in the 5A championship game, which is scheduled to take place at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy Friday at 2 p.m.

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