Make it happen: Lone Peak girls soccer continues repeat quest by overcoming a determined Lehi effort
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- Lone Peak players celebrate with senior Islay Smith (center) after she scored a goal during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lehi senior Kanani Haunga heads the ball away from Lone Peak senior Samantha Sellers during the 6A quarterfinal game in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak players celebrate with senior Samantha Sellers (right) after she scored a goal during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lehi senior Kate Denney traps the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak junior keeper Eliza Collings (99) goes up for a cross during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Brooke Hendricks brings the ball down during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak junior Bailee Zentner (left) battles Lehi junior Amarie Simmons for the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Ruby Lee kicks the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak junior keeper Eliza Collings throws the ball out during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Ruby Lee kicks the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lehi junior Amarie Simmons brings the ball down during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lone Peak in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak and Lehi players battle for the ball during the 6A quarterfinal game in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lehi senior Adelle Grimley tries to flick the ball on during the 6A quarterfinal game against Lone Peak in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lone Peak players prepare to take the field before the 6A quarterfinal game against Lehi in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
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- Lehi players prepare to take the field before the 6A quarterfinal game against Lone Peak in Highland on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.
When the Lehi girls soccer team played at Lone Peak on Sept. 26, the Knights pretty much did whatever they wanted in an 8-0 win.
When the two squads met again in Highland on Thursday in the 6A quarterfinals, the Pioneers were determined that wasn’t going to happen again.
Lehi chose instead to focus on compact defense, frustrating the stellar Lone Peak attack over and over throughout the contest.
“We kind of were expecting them to change up things because with the score of last game, we knew they had to change something,” Knight defender Islay Smith said. “I don’t think I was expecting that extreme of just packing the box and hoping that they could get the tie and stop us from scoring.”
Lone Peak needed someone to find a way to break through the Pioneer shield and finally the Knights did — although it was one of the most unlikely candidates that got the job done.
With Lehi putting 10 and sometimes all 11 players deep in its own end to defend, Smith and other Knight back-line players found openings to roam forward to join the attack.
When the ball came out to Smith about 25 yards out on the left side of the field and she had some space, she decided to go for it.
Her shot sailed high but glanced off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal to put Lone Peak on top.
“I honestly thought it hit crossbar and it wasn’t going to go in,” Smith said. “Then I looked at my teammates, and they’re all running toward me. I’m like, what are you doing?”
But when she found out she had scored her first run-of-play goal of the season when her team needed it most, it was time to celebrate.
“It was amazing,” Smith said. “I’ve been waiting for that opportunity to take a shot, but it was really fun to be able to get up in the attack more often than I usually do. I honestly enjoyed it, but it was harder as a team to score.”
Lone Peak was able to add a second goal just after halftime when senior Samantha Sellers created a gap with a quick turn and ripped a gorgeous shot just inside the far post.
Thanks to the excellent effort by the Knights defense, Lehi was unable to find any scoring on counterattacks and Lone Peak secured the 2-0 win to keep the Knight repeat hopes alive.
But it wasn’t easy.
“We’ve challenged these girls all year,” Lone Peak head coach Shantel Jolley said. “We try to plan our practices to find things that force the girls to problem solve. We can’t be the ones always trying to figure everything out as coaches. It comes down to them figuring it out on the field. And they did a great job just figuring out and solving the problem of what Lehi threw at us. I’m definitely proud of them today.”
Jolley said Smith’s shot (and later Seller’s goal as well) demonstrated again what her team is capable of doing.
“Obviously when a team’s packing it back, it’s going to be a low-scoring game because we’re not going to find those chances in behind,” Jolley said. “For us to get one, or for any team, it just kind of gives you a breath. You’re like, OK, we can figure this out. It took two rockets, two impressive shots to win, but that’s what we’ve got this year. We’ve got really talented girls.”
Lehi head coach Jonas Hartmann credited his Pioneers for going all in on the game plan.
“The main thing for us today was to just work super hard, be compact, be disciplined in how we play, and make sure that when we leave the field today we could be proud of what we did,” Hartmann said. “You could really tell they were a team today. They worked hard for each other. I honestly could not be more proud of them than I am right now.”
One of the stars for Lehi was senior keeper Kelsey Badger, who gobbled up crosses and knocked down shots, including being forced to make a couple of impressive diving stops.
“She had an amazing game and an amazing season,” Hartmann said. “We are going to miss her but she did so well. She had many fantastic saves and she’s been a rock all season long.”
Although the loss meant the Pioneers had their season come to an end, Hartmann was proud of how they did (14-6 overall) and looks forward to seeing the underclassmen build on this year’s success.
“I’m very psyched about the future with these guys,” Hartmann said. “There’s some good talent here.”
Top-seeded Lone Peak now prepares to face No. 4-seed Syracuse in the 6A semifinals, which will take place at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Oct. 22 at 3 p.m.
