4A girls soccer playoffs: Lakers slap Pine View to keep their eyes on the 4A prize

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WASHINGTON TERRACE — The Bonneville High girls soccer squad has had one goal on its mind from the second the 2009-10 offseason began almost a year ago — finish what it started.

In heartbreaking fashion, the Lakers fell in the state championship game with a goal in the 80th minute last year. It was their second straight appearance in the title game after taking the 4A title in 2008.

This year, Bonneville would like to re-claim the hardware.

Well, folks, the Lakers are well on their way to doing just that after an impressive 6-0 win over Pine View at Bonneville High School on Thursday afternoon in the second round of the 4A girls state soccer tournament.

"Well, the motivation is how we lost in the last seconds last year in the championship game. We talk about what that feeling was like 'cause I have 10 returning seniors," said Bonneville coach Layne Barker. "They've been playing together for a long time, they deserve it. Hopefully, we can win a couple more games."

After an early goal by Emilee Tafuna'i, the Lakers struck again in the 16th minute when Jaiden Thornock scored on a header from a perfectly placed ball from Taufuna'i.

The game began to spin out of control for Pine View when Bonneville's Sadee Sholly stumbled upon a free ball a quarter length away from the goal. She instinctively fired a bullet that hit nothing but net in the lower left corner of the goal to push the Lakers' lead to 3-0 with nine minutes still remaining in the first half.

"I think we played with a lot a heart. The girls were playing real good technical soccer, too. We're passing in possessions," said Barker. "At the first of the game, I noticed they were trying too hard to get that first goal with a bunch of long balls, but after that they settled down. It was nice-looking soccer; I was very happy with that."

Thornock would later add her 17th goal of the season just two minutes into the second half. The do-it all forward, who recently committed to take her talents to BYU come season's end, only heightened the chatter for Ms. Soccer honors with her performance on the field.

The action would slow for the rest of the second half until Bonneville's Paige Coles and Lexie Stratford each added goals within a two-minute time span with hardly any time remaining in the contest.

With the win, Bonneville advances to play East in the 4A semifinals at Juan Diego High School on Tuesday. Things get kick-started at 1:15 p.m. between the Lakers and Leopards. The two teams have not met since last years' quarterfinal matchup, which saw Bonneville escape with a 2-1 victory.

e-mail: tphibbs@desnews.com