Lehi girls soccer shows improvement with win over PG
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- Lehi players celebrate with sophomore Isabelle Dahl (25) after she scored a goal during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Lehi head coach Jonas Hartmann talks to senior Erin Dahl during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Lehi and Pleasant Grove players battle for the ball during the Region 3 game in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Elle Shirley pokes the ball away during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Lehi players celebrate with sophomore Isabelle Dahl (left) encourages junior Adelle Grimley after her shot went high during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Lehi senior Erin Dahl battles for the ball during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Jordyn Farrer heads the ball during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Lehi and Pleasant Grove players battle for the ball during the Region 3 game in Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Pleasant Grove senior keeper Sarah Newman kicks the ball during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Anna McGrath (7) looks to make a pass during the Region 3 game at Lehi on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.
It’s been a tumultuous year for the Lehi girls soccer team, which was bringing a young team into the very difficult 6A Region 3 and has already gone through two coaching changes.
But credit these Pioneer athletes for not letting the challenges sap their spirit.
“The first few games were really rough, especially with the double coaching change,” Lehi senior midfielder Erin Dahl said. “But I think everyone stuck it out. We knew this season would be hard going to 6A but I think everyone is getting the chemistry back again.”
The Pioneers showed that growth in Thursday night’s home game against Pleasant Grove, taking a lead in the first half and holding on for the 1-0 win, their third win this season.
“I feel like the girls are adapting well to what we are doing,” Lehi head coach Jonas Hartmann said. “We’ve been working on our pressure and getting more numbers up, as well as getting more shots. I loved seeing them turn today and take a shot instead of just looking to go backwards.”
This is just his third game since taking over the Pioneer program, but he said he has seen moments that highlight what the Pioneers can become.
“For me this is a super-fun challenge because I think the talent is here,” Hartmann said. “It’s just getting the right talent and the right stuff out of the right players at the right time. Today we saw glimpses of that.”
Against the Vikings, Lehi was able to come out on top thanks to great defense and a gorgeous strike that went off the post and in by sophomore forward Isabelle Dahl (no direct relation to Erin Dahl).
The senior said she was proud of the way the Pioneer backline limited Pleasant Grove’s scoring opportunities.
“The defense has struggled a little bit at the beginning but today everyone was solid,” Erin Dahl said. “Everyone was just working hard.”
Hartmann said that key to that defensive success was the effort put in by the defenders.
“I felt like in the first couple of games we were a little disjointed and weren’t really staying together,” Hartmann said. “We did much better at pressuring and covering. I feel like they are getting it and improving.”
Although the Pioneers know there aren’t going to be many easy games on the upcoming slate, Erin Dahl said she looks forward to seeing her squad continue to overcome challenges.
“It’s been fun to see everyone work to get the chemistry again and be happier,” Erin Dahl said. “It’s been fun. We need to keep working hard and make sure it not about individuals but about the team.”
Hartmann said his team needs to put in the work to build toward the postseason.
“We needed a little conditioning, so we’ve been working on that,” Hartmann said. “We were able to play 80 minutes today for the first time. I felt like we’ve had a good maybe 60 minutes in us the other couple of games, but the last 20 has kind of cost us. I think we’ve got to continue to work on our conditioning for the rest of the season.
“The girls are adapting to a new style of play and a new way of doing things, but I think they will continue to get better as we move forward.”
Lehi (3-8) next hosts Westlake on Sept. 12 while the Vikings (3-8) welcomes Skyridge to Pleasant Grove on the same evening.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
