Viking toughness: Pleasant Grove boys soccer gets big win at Lone Peak
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- Pleasant Grove senior Cole Memmott (6) celebrates after scoring during the Region 4 game against Lone Peak in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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- Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove players battle for the ball during the Region 4 game in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Liam Oberhansly takes a shot during the Region 4 game against Lone Peak in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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- Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove players battle for the ball during the Region 4 game in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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- Pleasant Grove sophomore Jon Fritcher takes a penalty kick during the Region 4 game against Lone Peak in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Thom Cramer takes a penalty kick during the Region 4 game against Pleasant Grove in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
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- Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove players battle for the ball during the Region 4 game in Highland on Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
It can be tough for a high school boys soccer team to keep the momentum if it scores, only to have the opponent score almost immediately afterwards.
That was the situation Pleasant Grove found itself in during Wednesday’s Region 4 battle at Lone Peak.
The Vikings scored first when they got fouled in the box and sophomore John Fritcher slotted in the ensuing penalty kick in the 31st minute.
But basically the next attack by the Knights ended up with the exact same result. Lone Peak was fouled and sophomore Thom Cramer tallied the equalizer.
Would Pleasant Grove be able to recover from seeing the lead evaporate so quickly?
Thanks to Viking senior Cole Memmott, the answer was yes — and that propelled Pleasant Grove to the 3-1 win over the Knights.
“We played really well,” Viking head coach Chris Ecalono said. “Lone Peak keeps the ball well. Although we scored off a set piece at our place, I felt like they had the run of play. Tonight we created more chances, so I’m satisfied with how we did.”
Ecalono said he was proud of how his team responded to the adversity, something he said it didn’t do earlier in the year.
“The low point of the season was at Corner Canyon, because when they scored we kind of withered away,” Ecalono said. “In this game, we came back strong.”
The game-changing play came just four minutes after the Knight penalty kick.
The Vikings were moving the ball around the near side of the Lone Peak penalty box, probing for an opening. Fritcher cut toward the sideline, then dropped the ball back to Memmott.
He fired a perfectly-placed bullet to the top corner, just inside the far post, to give Pleasant Grove the lead for good.
“That was huge,” Ecalono said. “Cole is one of our captains. Since that Corner Canyon, he challenged himself and has been doing a lot for us. He has worked to be mentally stronger and tonight he was in the zone. He rarely shoots, so it was great to see him execute on offense.”
The brilliant strike turned out to be the game-winner, although Pleasant Grove added an insurance goal early in the second half which was also scored by Memmott.
Thanks to excellent effort by the Viking backline, Lone Peak never had a chance to rally.
“They attack down the middle of the field and try to find their wings coming in behind,” Ecalono said. “We were able to plug that up and when they went to the sideline, we tried to keep them there.”
Ecalono said his squad knew this was a key contest and played like it.
“One of our goals is to defend our region championship, which we have won three years in a row,” Ecalono said. “Corner Canyon is the team to beat but the winner of this game was the only one to have a chance to catch them. So we knew it was big and we needed it.”
He said that playing well in Region 4 is key to getting the best possible scenario heading into the upcoming 6A playoffs.
“We played Farmington and Bingham in the preseason but weren’t able to get either of them,” Ecalono said. “Region 1 is tough, so we need to perform well to get a good matchup. We want to compete and get a high seed, then go make a run.”
Pleasant Grove (9-4, 4-2) next hosts Skyridge on Friday while Lone Peak (7-6, 3-4) hosts Westlake the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
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