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Orem junior forward Clete Bergeson celebrates after scoring a goal during the 5A first round game against Viewmont in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem junior forward Clate Bergeson (right) gets congratulated by a teammate after the 5A first round game against Viewmont in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem junior midfielder Jesse Ruiz (14) moves the ball during the 5A first round game against Viewmont in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem and Viewmont players battle for the ball during the 5A first round game in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem and Viewmont players battle for the ball during the 5A first round game in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem and Viewmont players battle for the ball during the 5A first round game in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem and Viewmont players battle for the ball during the 5A first round game in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Orem and Viewmont players battle for the ball during the 5A first round game in Orem on Saturday, May 15, 2022.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

One of the frustrations the Orem boys soccer team has dealt with during the up-and-down 2022 campaign has been having a tough time getting the ball in the net.

“We’ve kind of been struggling with our finishing,” Tiger head coach Joey Sandres said Saturday. “There hasn’t really been a boy that’s taken it by the reins and said, ‘I’m going to be the goal scorer.'”

He did, however, have someone come to him and say he wanted to be that guy: Junior forward Clate Bergeson.

“I said OK and we came out earlier than the normal training time,” Sandres said. “We worked specifically on finishing to the back post from the outside. I believe he is one of the top goal scorers on the team.”

Given that work, it wasn’t exactly a surprise that Bergeson spearheaded a Tiger scoring explosion in the 5A first round matchup against Viewmont in Orem on Saturday.

The junior notched a hat trick to propel the Tigers to the 4-2 win over the Vikings and keep their season alive.

“I think we played with a lot of heart,” Bergeson said. “Last year we struggled in the playoffs but this year we played as a team and kept going. We talked before the game about going hard for each other and we did.”

Sandres said he felt like the entire team played well to get the victory.

“I thought it was fantastic,” Sandres said. “Once we got settled and started moving the ball around, I think they performed very well and created chances. They applied everything that we did in practice, which was getting numbers forward and really testing the keeper. It’s an incredible feeling to see the boys apply exactly what we did during the week. You could see them having fun when they play their style. It was a good performance.”

Bergeson got things going for Orem in the 22nd minute when he got behind the Viewmont defense on the left side of the field and drilled a rocket past the diving keeper.

Just two minutes later, he would double the Tiger advantage from nearly the same spot.

“I don’t really have any words to describe what scoring those two goals was like,” Bergeson said. “I haven’t experienced it before but it feels really good. It was all about committing to the shot. I worked hard on it all week and it showed.”

He almost notched a hat trick in a five-minute span when he got the ball around the charging Viking keeper, but his shot bounced just wide.

Orem actually got the third goal of the half — except it came off a mishit that went into the Tiger net, putting Viewmont back to within one goal at the break.

While that could’ve been a huge momentum shift, Sandres felt like his team handled the unfortunate bounce on the own-goal well.

“I think they they knew that that was something that was out of their control,” Sandres said. “When they came back out, they resumed the exact same style that they were using to get the lead. I think that was wonderful just to see that response.”

Although the visitors had a couple of chances to equalize, it would be — who else — Bergeson who came through again for Orem.

He took a great pass from junior Drew Thomson in the middle of the field in the 66th minute and buried it to extend the Tiger lead.

“That was icing on the cake,” Bergeson said. “It was a hard fought game but after that one went in, I had no worries. It felt so good to see the hard work pay off.”

Orem would get a goal from junior Tyler Klein to go up 4-1 before Viewmont scored one final goal in the final five minutes.

Sandres said the focus is now on getting ready for the next game and enjoying the ride.

“We always tell them that nothing is guaranteed,” Sandres said. “This was the last guaranteed game and It’s up to them. One of our assistant coaches told them that to win in this tournament, it’s up to the boys. it’s their decision. It’s their ability. It’s their talent. It’s in their hands. I think that with this win now they are looking forward even more to training and getting ready for Tuesday.”

Bergeson said that he just wants to see this group get as many games as it can.

“I’ve played with these boys for a long time, especially the seniors,” Bergeson said. “I want to give them a chance to have fun in this tournament and end their high school careers on a good note.”

The Tigers (the No. 14 seed) will play at No. 3-seed Wasatch in the second round, which is scheduled to take place in Heber on Tuesday starting at 4 p.m.

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