High school soccer: Bruins hold off the Braves in 4A tournament

BOUNTIFUL — With two fantastic finishes, and then 40 minutes of hanging on for dear life, Mountain View's boys soccer team is back in the semifinals.

The No. 3 seed from Region 7, the Bruins made the most of their chances, scoring twice in the first half and then holding on for a 2-1 victory over Region 6 champion Bountiful in the 4A quarterfinals on Friday.

Champions in 2009, the Bruins were bounced in the first round last year but they've demonstrated much better focus in the playoffs this year.

"It's a big improvement. Last year we got a little too cocky, but this year we're getting in it," said Mountain View striker Chris Reyes, whose goal in the 37th minute turned out to be the game winner.

Trailing 2-0 at the half, Bountiful trimmed the deficit in half two minutes into the second half on a goal from Colton Parker.

With Mountain View dropping into a 4-5-1 and bunkering in the rest of the way, the Braves dominated the proceedings in the second half and had numerous opportunities to equalize, outshooting the Bruins 10-1 after halftime.

Mountain View keeper Keegan Black was simply too good.

"We told him, 'You haven't really had to overexert yourself this year, but let's win the game for us,'" said Graham. "So he said 'I'll win the game for you,' and the second half he did."

He got some help in the 80th minute, though, as David Hardman blocked a close-range Bountiful shot with Black out of position following the initial save.

Mountain View moves onto the 4A semifinals and will face Highland — another No. 3 seed — at Woods Cross High School on Tuesday at 1:45 p.m.

The Bruins can only hope for another fantastic first half.

Alex Cordero and Reyes scored two minutes apart late in the first half to give Mountain View the lead.

Cordero's 35th-minute goal was his first of the season, and was a wonder strike from 30 yards out with the ball curling away from the keeper the entire time.

Less than two minutes later Reyes doubled the Bruins' advantage on a shot that deflected off a Bountiful defender and up and over the keeper.

"Their defense was amazing, I couldn't get behind them they were so fast, but I got a shot on them and it went in," said Reyes.

With the lead, Mountain View defended in a 4-5-1 formation for the first time this year and barely held on.

"Bountiful really picked it up, that was their A game in the second half," said Graham.

Mountain View played without starting left back Kevin Augustin, who was participating in the state track meet. His return in the semifinals will be a huge boost for the Bruins defense if it's forced to play a 4-5-1 again.

Email: jedward@desnews.com