High school soccer: Lots of teams will be in mix for state titles

All the pieces are in place for Bonneville High to make another serious run at claiming a state championship in girls soccer this season.

The Lakers boast loads of talent and experience in their midfield and forward positions. More importantly, they are filled with a desire to prove themselves anew after an 80th-minute goal by Timpanogos midfielder MacKenzie Adams kept them from repeating as 4A champs last fall.

Bonneville senior Jaiden Thornock, a past Deseret News 4A MVP. hopes to finish her high school career as a winner.

"It would be great to go out with a bang," she said. "Get one more state championship for the school. So that's what we're working for."

Winning a state title again, like they did two years ago, won't be a simple task for the Lakers or any other 4A team. The classification is loaded with several powerful teams that could easily win it all.

Springville looks even more explosive on offense than it did a year ago. The Red Devils return their top two scorers in Lexi Eaton and Jen Mason. And the Devils' defense — anchored by Brooke Larsen and keeper Megan Garn — is as tough as ever.

Region 7 powers Timpanogos and Lehi will be in the mix of favorites as well. The Pioneers are stout defensively once again, with Ali Houghton one of the co-leaders in the state in shutouts. The T-Wolves will be tough, with standouts Adams and Marissa Nimmer back to lead the offense.

East cannot be counted out as a state title contender, either. The Leopards have won 30 consecutive regular-season games dating back to 2008 and possess a potent midfield led by seniors Kendra Nelson and Madeline Gochnour.

Bonneville even faces stiff opposition in its own region, most notably from Sky View and its dynamic scoring duo of Stacy Bair and Jessica Brooksby.

The Lakers know their work is cut out for them with a heavy field of potential title-winning teams. Still, a dangerous offense led by Thornock, 4A's leading scorer last season, is nothing to take lightly.

Bonneville feels confident that not hogging the spotlight could work to its advantage.

"When we won state, we were the underdog," senior defender Allie Shaw said. "It makes us stronger and we're not as cocky. We know we're going to have hard teams that we play and we're going to have to come out hard against them."