Tigers eliminate Dons in shootout

OREM — Two halves and two overtimes weren't enough as Orem advanced to the first round of the state 4A playoffs after winning a 5-3 shootout over the Spanish Fork Dons in Monday's play-in game at Timpanogos High School.

Both teams connected on each of their two attempts of the shootout. However, Spanish Fork's third attempt ricocheted off the right upright, giving Orem the advantage. The Tigers, shooting first, made their final two, including Kai Kamoe's clincher to win the match.

"After they hit the post, we knew it was ours," Kamoe said. "We knew that we were dominating the whole game. I had no doubt we were going to win the shootout."

The game-clincher meant more for Kamoe as he missed a penalty kick in a game against Lone Peak earlier in the season.

"I had to make up for that game," he said.

Said Tiger head coach Reed Paulson: "We get a chance to go to state, which we haven't done for a long time. I wanted it all year for them, and now I get to see it.

"The last time (Kai) got one, he missed it. This was payback for him."

After winning four of its first six games, Orem failed to record a win in its final seven of the regular season, including two ties to finish the Region 6 schedule. Meanwhile, Spanish Fork dropped its final four games, including Monday's.

The game got off to a late start — delayed nearly 90 minutes — because officials weren't planned for the late-scheduled play-in. Players for both teams had been warming up for almost two hours when officials arrived.

"Both teams did a good job of keeping focus," Paulson said. "I told them to go out and play their flow like normal."

After a few minutes of nervous energy, both teams settled down to play their games.

Both teams alternated scoring opportunities in the first half, but neither team scored.

Orem scored first, in the 42nd minute, as Kamoe freed himself on the left side for a bender that sneaked into the left side of the net, his third goal of the season.

The lead wouldn't hold, however, as Spanish Fork scored just three minutes later. After the Don goalkeeper held the ball outside of the box, David Garcia scored on the ensuing free kick, tying the game. Garcia's goal was his fifth of the season.

"It can happen to anybody, even the good keepers," Paulson said.

Orem controlled the ball during the two overtimes but couldn't capitalize on several attempts to score. Spanish Fork recovered each time to either dive on the ball or clear it.

Paulson was confident in his team's chances in a shootout.

"I knew we had the talented keeper of the two," he said. "I told them to take the shots smoothly and calmly and they got them all."

Orem now plays either Bountiful or Olympus in the first round.