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Timpanogos and Springville players battle for the ball during the non-region game in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos senior Summer Christensen (left) dribbles the ball past a Springville player during the non-region game in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos senior Sariah Brady heads the ball during the non-region game against Springville in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos and Springville players battle for the ball during the non-region game in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Springville senior Summer Broberg kicks the ball during the non-region game against Timpanogos in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos head coach Robyn Bretzing tosses the ball to her players during warmups before the non-region game against Springville in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos players prepare to take the field before the non-region game against Springville in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Timpanogos players take the field during the non-region game against Timpanogos in Orem on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Since it is just a week into the 2022 high school girls soccer season, one of the biggest goals for every team is to see improvement in each subsequent contest.

Both Springville and Timpanogos entered Tuesday’s non-region battle in Orem with identical 1-1 records, so getting that second win would be a nice indication for either side they had things going in the right direction.

Although their are still things the Red Devils and the Timberwolves certainly want to improve on, both teams showed plenty of heart and determination as they battled back and forth.

In the end, however, it would be Springville that would find a way to surge in front and then hold on for the thrilling 1-0 victory.

“I was super excited,” Red Devil head coach Jeff Jensen said. “We have a fairly young team and our freshmen really made a difference tonight. We had a game plan coming in. We had to make a few adjustments at halftime and they paid off just like we planned. That was a great opponent, a very even battle. It was great to get the win.”

The key moment in the contest came with just under 15 minutes left, when Springville got the ball deep in Timpanogos territory.

Red Devil junior forward Sophia Neves slipped the ball past the charging Timpanogos defender and carried it expertly to the end line.

When the moment was right, she deftly slotted it right into the middle where her younger sister, freshman Samantha “Mattie” Neves, was waiting. No one had a chance to stop her one-touch shot, which nestled into the back of the net to put Springville up for good.

“We talked to both of them at halftime and Sophia was going to pull out to get their centerback out of position,” Jensen said. “Mattie was going to slide in. She received the pass and put it in, just like we drew it up. It was amazing.”

It wasn’t going to be easy to stay in front, however, as the home team ramped up its pressure as it sought the equalizer.

The Red Devil defense proved up to every challenge, although the Timberwolves earned numerous corners and had multiple scoring opportunities as the seconds ticked off the clock.

With four minutes left, Timpanogos appeared to have gotten a long shot off that had a great chance to go in. But Springville freshman keeper Caroline Penrod extended her right arm as far as she could, tipped the ball off the post and kept it from going in.

“So we had our junior keeper get sick and could go, so we needed Caroline and she played an incredible game,” Jensen said. “I would say she was our Woman of the Match. She made so many great saves to keep us in front.”

Jensen said he was thrilled to see how his team maintained its composure, even though the Timberwolves put so much pressure on throughout the game.

“Defensively we were able to stay somewhat sound and limit the number of true shots on goal,” Jensen said. “There were a lot of shots, but they were a lot of errant shots. They were never balanced facing our goal, shooting on our goal, and so I’d give it credit to the defense for that.”

He hopes the win enables his players to be even more confident in their abilities, so they can be stronger building out of the back.

Springville (2-1) next plays at Park City on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., while Timpanogos (1-2) hosts Pleasant Grove the same day at 6 p.m.

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