Pleasant Grove boys soccer gets early taste of rivalry drama in PK win at Lone Peak
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- Pleasant Grove junior keeper Cameron Davis kicks the ball during the Region 3 game against Lone Peak in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove players celebrate with senior Jared Ruvalcaba (11) after he scored a goal during the Region 3 game against Lone Peak in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove defenders try to block a shot by Lone Peak sophomore Kien Cid during the Region 3 game in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove senior Jared Ruvalcaba (right) battles Lone Peak senior Zachary Campbell for the ball during the Region 3 game in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove and Lone Peak players battle for the ball during the Region 3 game in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove junior Angel Perez passes the ball during the Region 3 game against Lone Peak in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Pleasant Grove and Lone Peak players battle for the ball during the Region 3 game in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Lone Peak players celebrate with senior Simon Irwin (center) after he scored a goal during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
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- Lone Peak players celebrate with senior Simon Irwin (center) after he scored a goal during the Region 3 game against Pleasant Grove in Highland on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
In a game in which the Pleasant Grove soccer team never trailed, there were still plenty of agonizing moments for the Vikings during Wednesday night’s Region 3 thriller at Lone Peak.
It was that type of game.
“There’s nothing else like that,” Pleasant Grove junior keeper Cameron Davis said. “It was a super-fun experience. There were some moments where it was a little scary but we came through in the end. I’m so proud of everyone.”
The Vikings led in the first half … then led in the second half … then led throughout the penalty kick shootout.
But it wasn’t until Davis came up with one final diving save on the sixth PK shot that Pleasant Grove could finally celebrate knocking off the previously-unbeaten Knights, 2-2 (5-4 in penalty kicks).
“Penalty kicks were scary because I didn’t know where they went or how they worked,” Davis said. “I just relied on my instincts and it worked in the end.”
Davis had guessed correctly on the first Lone Peak penalty kick and knocked it away, then thought he had saved the third one as well. On that one, however, the officials said Davis left his line early and the Knights finished off their second chance.
Since Lone Peak senior keeper Maxwell Kandell had stopped the second Viking shot, the score in the shootout was tied at 4-4 after the first five attempts, meaning it went to sudden death.
When Pleasant Grove senior Craig Stock buried the sixth shot in the netting, Davis knew he had a chance.
“I just knew that if I saved it, that was the game right there,” Davis said. “I read what I could from his body positioning and just went with my gut.”
Davis lunged to his left and parried the Knight shot away, sparking a huge celebration from the Vikings.
“That was a very gritty win,” Pleasant Grove head coach Chris Ecalono said. “We were missing some guys with injuries and we knew Lone Peak has all the talent in the world. We knew we had to find ways to win, ways to manufacture some chances. It was a great team win.”
He talked about how the Vikings practice penalty kicks regularly in practice and it paid off when the pressure was on.
“Cameron Davis was super-clutch,” Ecalono said. “He has great reaction time. We didn’t think he came off the line on the third one, but it was great to see him overcome that and go make that clutch save.”
Pleasant Grove started the scoring in the fourth minute when senior Golden McMurtrey hit a hard shot that Kandell had to dive to knock down. The ball went back to Viking senior Jared Ruvalcaba, who slotted it in.
It took more than 30 minutes for Lone Peak to equalize, but the home team got a great cross from senior Taylor Hurley and senior Simon Irwin slipped it in at the back post.
It was Pleasant Grove’s turn early in the second half when sophomore Trey Okey took advantage of a nice combination to get some space in the attacking third and finish the second Viking goal of the game, but that lead didn’t last long.
Lone Peak scored five minutes later when a ball slipped just past a Pleasant Grove defender and right to Knight sophomore Kien Cid in the middle of the box, and Cid made the most of the opportunity.
Both team had chances to move in front but the defenses and keepers always found a way to prevent the ball from going in the net, forcing the drama of the shootout.
Ecalono and Davis agreed that being part of a game where two talented teams played at a high-level at this point in the year will be extremely valuable moving forward.
“I think it’s awesome for just for us, for the program, to go into spring break with a win, especially a win like this,” Davis said.
Ecalono said he wanted to see his team face that adversity and learn they can handle it.
“I told them before the game that I wanted them to have pressure,” Ecalono said. “They were nervous for the game and I thought Lone Peak had the run up play in the first little bit. But then I thought we went toe to toe with them. We just had to find a way.”
He said that after two straight years of losing in the 6A semifinals in penalty kicks, he wants this year’s squad to be fully prepared if that’s how things play out.
“We’ve alreayd had two PK shootouts this year, so we have that experience,” Ecalono said. “We didn’t have any before the playoffs last year. This is great experience for us.”
Pleasant Grove (8-1) and Lone Peak (8-1) now have the week of spring break off before getting back to action on April 9.
The Vikings will host Skyridge that evening, while Lone Peak will welcome Westlake to town. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
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