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Lehi junior Stephanie Roper and Timpanogos senior Milli Yarro battle for the ball during the Region 8 game in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lehi junior Stephanie Roper (second from left) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos freshman Haley Hutchins (second from left) celebrates after she scored a goal during the Region 8 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos senior Lataya Brost kicks the ball during the Region 8 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lehi junior Stephanie Roper and Timpanogos senior Adysen Miller heads the ball during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lehi junior Sarah Ballard (right) and Timpanogos senior Amanda McDonald battle for the ball during the Region 8 game in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lehi junior keeper Hailey Ogden punches the ball away during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lehi and Timpanogos players prepare to take the field before the Region 8 game in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Lehi senior Ally Dahl celebrates after scoring a goal during the Region 8 game against Timpanogos in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Timpanogos sophomore keeper Emma McIff kicks the ball during the Region 8 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

❮ ❯

When a pair of high school girls soccer teams with tremendous speed, impressive skill and veteran leadership compete with a share of a region title on the line, both sides hope to play at a high level.

Sometimes games like that don’t live up to the billing — but Thursday’s Region 8 battle at Lehi between the Pioneers and Timpanogos was every bit as good as expected.

It turned out that 80 minutes weren’t nearly enough to decide a victor as the game was tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation.

After 95 minutes of exciting action, the ending turned out to be golden for senior forward Calista Wren and Lehi.

A long throw-in put the ball into the Timberwolf penalty box. Players from each team converged but it was Wren who got just enough of her foot on it to pop it up and over the leaping Timpanogos keeper, giving the Pioneers the dramatic 3-2 overtime win.

“That was literally the funnest game I’ve played in my life,” Wren said. “We said before the game that we we wanted to go out and have fun because that’s when we play our best. With how we were able to come out with a win, it was so fun.”

She said that final throw-in from senior Reagan Adair was something that has worked before.

“We’ve scored two goals that way this year,” Wren said. “Reagan, who is my best friend, played it to me and I just tried to get it in.”

She said that the looping shot seemed to take forever in the air before it finally nestled in the goal for the game-winner.

“Everything felt like it was in slow motion,” Wren said. “When it hit the net, my heart went crazy. I was on Cloud Nine and I still am. When I saw it drop, I couldn’t control myself. This was the best night of my life.”

Lehi head coach Tim Graham was thrilled that two of his five seniors combined to finish things off on Pioneer Senior Night, particularly with what Wren has gone through this season.

“She had to sit for 10 days because of concussion protocol and that’s hard,” Graham said. “She just barely came back. That was such a good one for her to be able to get that to go in. It was senior leaders leading on Senior Night.”

In a back-and-forth contest, both teams felt like they had their chances.

“That was two great teams,” Graham said. “Timpanogos is so well-coached and they are a class act. It was such a fun game to be a part of, although more so when you are on the winning side. That was state-championship-level intensity tonight.”

All four of the goals were scored in the first half with both teams creating some excellent opportunities.

The home team would get on the board first in the 10th minutes when Lehi junior forward Stephanie Roper made a beautiful turn and fired an touchable shot to give the Pioneers the 1-0 lead.

That advantage wouldn’t last long, however, as the Timberwolves roared right back.

Timpanogos junior Summer Christensen made a great pass to freshman Haley Hutchins, who was in a great position to get the equalizer.

Then it was the Timberwolves who got a turn to go in front.

Christensen put some intense pressure on the Lehi backline, resulting in the ball skittering right to Hutchins with the keeper off the line. Hutchins smartly didn’t hesitate but hit the ball right in to give Timpanogos its second goal.

Lehi had to dig deep to get an answer but the Pioneers also got a fortunate bounce.

A Timberwolf pass was intercepted by Lehi senior forward Ally Dahl and she blasted the ball from the edge of the penalty box to tie the score once again.

The second half belonged to the defenses as both sides stiffened and refused to let anything in after the break.

Timpanogos had a chance when the ball got dropped into the mixer late in the second half but Pioneer keeper Hailey Ogden was able to weave through the clogged penalty box and get to the ball.

Lehi’s best chance came off a free kick in the 71st minute as the shot from junior Olivia Smith slammed off the crossbar and went out.

The pressure and intensity ramped up as the game went to the extra period.

Timpanogos thought it had a golden opportunity early in the first overtime when it appeared to have been awarded a penalty kick but the call was reversed after the officials conferred.

Lehi had a great cross from junior Sarah Ballard in the second overtime that hit a Timberwolf defender and ricocheted off the post, but didn’t make it on frame.

That set up the excitement of the final goal as the Pioneers ended up getting their biggest win of the year.

“It was great to get revenge after they beat us earlier,” Wren said. “It feels so good. We knew we really wanted to come out with the win.”

Graham said he hopes this victory propels his team to even greater heights.

“I hope this builds us up and keeps up our confidence,” Graham said. “This group has amazing mental toughness. They keep fighting.”

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