Tick, tick, boom: Second half explosion sends Lone Peak girls soccer past AF, 7-1
-
- American Fork’s Julie Huddleston (25) and teammate Stori Jones battle for the ball with Lone Peak’s Kate Fuller during a high school girls soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- Lone Peak’s Bella Devey (10) is welcomed by teammate Paige Headricks after scoring a goal against American Fork in a high school girls soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- Lone Peak’s Bella Devey (10) races ahead with an American Fork defender in pursuit during a girls high school soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- Lone Peak’s Samantha Sellers (11) wins a ball from American Fork’s Stori Jones during a high school girls soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- American Fork goalkeeper Sarah Mathis (in red) gathers in a ball as Lone Peak’s Ivy Harding approaches during a high school girls soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- Lone Peak goalkeeper Eliza Collings kicks the ball during a high school girls soccer match against American Fork on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- American Fork’s Chelsie Johnson looks for a teammate during a high school girls soccer match against Lone Peak on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- American Fork goalkeeper Sarah Mathis (in red) kicks the ball during a high school girls soccer match against Lone Peak on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- American Fork goalkeeper Sara Mathis (in red) punches away a Lone Peak shot during a high school girls soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- Lone Peak (in white) and American Fork players battle for position before a corner kick during a high school girls soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
-
- American Fork’s Farah Parsia (12) handles a throw-in during a high school girls soccer match against Lone Peak on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024.
With the Lone Peak girls soccer team, it’s not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when” the offensive fireworks will show up.
That moment came at the 55-minute mark of Thursday’s Region 3 matchup with American Fork with the Knights clinging to a 2-1 lead.
“I think our girls just found another gear,” Lone Peak coach Shantel Jolley said.
The top-ranked and undefeated Knights scored three goals in three minutes, then tacked on two more for a 7-1 victory against their rivals, a rematch of last year’s 6A championship game.
“I think the girls realized we were not playing our best,” Jolley said. “And I think after we gave up the goal, we kind of realized, all right, we’ve got to figure something out. And so I think they finally just kind of found that second gear and started to play a little bit more of our our game and style.”
That game and style is a relentless offense that has scored 54 goals in nine games (six goals a game) and a stingy defense that has surrendered just three goals all year.
“I’ve stressed with the girls to be unselfish and possession based,” Jolley said. “I think we were going long a little too much and we were tiring out our forwards. So we finally decided to move the ball in front and find those easier passes through. And I don’t think our defense gets the recognition they deserve. So this game, for them to recover after giving up that one, kudos to them.”
Lone Peak scored twice in the first half, with goals from Bella Devey and Kate Fuller. American Fork, though, dominated possession and had to feel good about trailing just 2-0 at halftime.
The Cavemen put together a great effort in the 44th minute when Lila Millward threaded a pass to Faith Nyedegger, who launched a shot over Lone Peak goalkeeper Eliza Collings to trim the Knights lead to 2-1 with plenty of game left to play.
About ten minutes later, the Knights took control. Fuller penetrated the scoring area and set up Samantha Sellers for a goal and a 3-1 lead. Just 45 seconds later, Devey dibbled all the way from midfield past two AF defenders a scored to make it 4-1.
In the 58th minute, Devey was fouled in front of the goal and Islay Smith took the penalty kick, finding the back of the net for a 5-1 Lone Peak advantage.
“Honestly, I felt like the first half was really frantic,” said Devey, who has committed to play at the University of North Carolina next season. “In the second half we talked about staying calm, playing our game and coming out fast. We just focused on that and just doing what we do.”
The Knights tacked on two more goals for the final margin.
“Everyone who comes into this program is so great,” Devey said. “And the coaches make it great, too. They hold us to a high standard and we hold ourselves to a high standard.”
It was Lone Peak’s ninth straight victory against American Fork, including last year’s title match.
“It’s just their work ethic,” Jolley said. “We’ve got talent, but they don’t settle. They’re not content with us being talented. They work hard for each other. They want to see their teammates score and they don’t care about their individual stats.”
Lone Peak (9-0-0 overall, 3-0-0 Region 3) will face Lehi next Tuesday. American Fork (6-3, 1-2) will travel to Skyridge.
