Orem wins 22nd in row, grabs region crown

PROVO — The Orem girls soccer team clinched the Region 4 championship and won its 22nd straight regular-season game with a 1-0 result over Provo on Thursday.

With one game left to go in the regular season, the Tigers clinched home field advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs and kept their season undefeated with a close but comfortable win over the Bulldogs.

Jaimie Lyons scored her scored her team-leading 15th goal of the season just moments into the second half, and the Orem defense notched its eighth shutout of the season.

As in most of their games this season, the Tigers effectively controlled the pace of play, and the actual game wasn't as close as the one-goal difference on the scoreboard.

"We're excited to be region champions," said Orem coach Ed Louder. "Provo's an intense team. Now we come out tomorrow and we focus on Lehi."

After a scoreless first half, Orem took control of the game in the 41st minute when Lyons slipped through a gap in the defense and had an open shot from just inside the box. The junior forward knocked the shot across the face of the goal and into the upper far corner of the net for the game's only score.

It was the third time this season Lyons had scored a game-winning goal for the Tigers.

"She finds a way," said Louder. "She always is just one that finds the net. She just finds the right spot and is able to get it. The other girls are being so unselfish they're finding her with the ball."

Orem's controlled possession game didn't yield anymore goals in the final 39 minutes, but gradually wore out the Bulldogs and took away their normally potent attacking speed.

Provo's high-scoring front line managed few shots on goal and got its only real scoring chances on set pieces.

In the 55th minute, Provo forward Chandra Salmon was fouled just outside the box and lined up an 18-yard free kick from the center of the field. Her low kick rolled wide of the goal and didn't test Orem goalkeeper Aly Tucker.

In the 79th and 80th minutes, Sheri Eyre lined up close-range free kicks and tried to find an equalizer, but both of her balls sailed high of the goal.

Tucker made her biggest save just before the whistle, coming well off her line to make a sliding tackle when Amber Bosco had a one-on-one breakaway.

Orem will wrap up its regular season against Lehi next Tuesday while Provo will try to clinch second place in the region at Timpview.