Close but not crowns

As the sports cliche goes, there can be lots of good teams — even if there is only one actual champion.

Such is the solace of some of the Utah County girls soccer teams. Although a few of the schools put together squads more than capable of winning games and competing for championships, the best any of them managed in 2006 was a second-place trophy.

Lone Peak made it back to the 5A state championship game for the second year in a row but fell short to nationally ranked powerhouse Alta.

Orem spent the second half of the season as the top-ranked team in 4A but had its undefeated record spoiled with a quarterfinal upset.

Teams like Timpanogos and Springville made respectable showings in the playoffs before bowing out to other talented teams.

It was that kind of season for the local schools — lots of talent and quality play but not quite enough to make it all the way.

For Lone Peak, comfort will come in knowing it achieved its primary goal of returning to the semifinals at Juan Diego High School.

"The girls have a goal to get back to Juan Diego and play on the turf," said Knights coach Mike LaHargoue earlier in the playoffs.

As expected, the Knights' two forwards, Lauren Hair and Shantel Flanary, ended up being two of the state's most prolific goal-scorers. Goalkeeper Hailey Brown added more shutouts to her impressive career record, and the team even managed to give high-powered Alta a scare in the finals.

Orem, with a roster that was still relatively young, looked almost unbeatable at times and only lost on a last-minute double-overtime goal in the playoffs.

Tigers' goalkeeper Aly Tucker established herself among the best in the state, while forwards Jaimie Lyons and Anne Shallenberger were two names that will still be on the minds of coaches and defenders next year.

Timpanogos fell short of a region championship and lost to Alta in the playoffs but can hang its hat on sending its senior class out with an overall winning percentage that most teams can only hope for.

Springville never did seem to play its best soccer for more than brief stretches. That came back to haunt the Red Devils in their playoff loss. The same goes for Provo, which ended its season with a brutal nine-goal loss in the quarterfinals to Bountiful, the eventual 4A state champions.