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Springville girls soccer survives another tough rivalry game vs. Spanish Fork

By Jared Lloyd - | Sep 15, 2022
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Springville players celebrate after getting the winning goal in the Region 9 game against Spanish Fork in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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A Springville player takes a shot during the Region 9 game against Spanish Fork in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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Springville and Spanish Fork players battle for the ball during the Region 9 game in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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Springville junior Sophia Neves (30) battles a Spanish Fork defender for the ball during the Region 9 game in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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Springville and Spanish Fork players battle for the ball during the Region 9 game against Spanish Fork in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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Spanish Fork junior Emma Turner has a shot blocked during the Region 9 game at Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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Springville freshman Halle Hall (20) passes the ball during the Region 9 game against Spanish Fork in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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A Spanish Fork player heads the ball during the Region 9 game at Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.
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Spanish Fork players try to block a free kick by Springville junior Ali Johnson during the Region 9 game against Spanish Fork in Springville on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.

When the Springville and Spanish Fork girls soccer teams get together, both sides better be ready for a tough, physical game with plenty of drama.

When the two met at Spanish Fork earlier in the year, it took a final-minute rally for the Red Devils to escape with the 4-3 win.

How would Thursday’s Region 9 encore in Springville stack up?

This time 80 minutes of soccer would not be enough.

The two rivals had to go to double overtime to decide which would emerge victorious. Although both sides had some chances, once against it was the Red Devils that came through when the game was on the line.

Springville freshman forward Mattie Neves fought her way to a bouncing ball in the box after a free kick from junior midfielder Tallulah Jensen, hammering it home through traffic to give her team the exciting 2-1 2OT golden-goal victory.

“I saw Tallulah Jensen play it in and to be honest, I don’t think our team knew exactly what was going on,” Neves said. “It came in and deflected off a Spanish Fork girl. Then my teammate, Aly Johnson touched it out and I just decided to take the shot from her touch.”

She said seeing the ball hit the net for the game-winner was a great moment, although it took a moment to realize what it meant.

“It was pretty awesome,” Neves said. “I was a little shocked that it went in. When I score, I’m just like, ‘oh, it’s a goal.’ But all of a sudden the game is just over and everybody’s so happy.”

Red Devil head coach Jeff Jensen said Neves just has a knack for making those types of plays.

“She’s very technical, very attack minded,” Jensen said. “I love her ability to combine and see her teammates in the box. But when it’s time to go, she’s razor sharp and goes hard. She is a very, very gifted player and we’re grateful to have her.”

Springville didn’t need long to get on the board as Tallulah Jensen put the ball in the net in the first few minutes.

“We came out strong in the first half and I felt we were in control,” Jeff Jensen said. “But then we gassed out a little bit.”

Spanish Fork, however, came out strong in the second half.

After seeing one shot ricochet off the post and out, the Dons put together a great attack sequence as junior Brooklyn Smith slotted the ball to sophomore Audrey Woolsten, who was charging in. She got enough of it to slip it past the defense and into the net for the equalizer.

“Spanish Fork is a super-big rival and it’s always fun to play against them,” Neves said. “I have a number of club teammates and friends on that team, so it is always a great game. It’s going to be a battle.”

Both teams had chances in the overtime period but Springville had the edge.

The Red Devils thought they had it won but a goal was waved off because the ball went out of bounds before being put in front of the net for the goal.

Neves also had a great shot go off the post, but Jeff Jensen said he felt those moments showed how well his girls were playing.

“It’s almost like an omen that we’re going to get another one,” the Springville head coach said. “I kind of had a positive feeling even with the one that was called back. I told them, ‘hey, it’s coming. It’s our goal is coming.’ So the girls stayed positive, worked hard and got the goal.”

Neves said she felt like the Red Devils never lost confidence that they would get the victory.

“We knew that we could score,” Neves said. “We just kept on pushing in. We got that free kick and I had a feeling that it was going to be good.”

Springville (8-4, 4-2) picked up another nice win but both Neves and Jeff Jensen feel like the team has to shore up the defense.

“I think defense is how you win championships,” Jeff Jensen said. “We can win a game with a solid attack but we really are looking to solidify the defensive line. We’ve had to make some changes and change up the backline a little bit. It’s been a learning process but we’re getting sharper. We’re getting better. We’re allowing less shots on goal. I think we’re really excited.”

The Red Devils next plays at Provo on Sept. 20 while Spanish Fork (4-8, 1-5) hosts Salem Hills the same evening.

Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

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