High school soccer: Bonneville blanks Orem in 4A first round

OREM — The Bonneville girls soccer team made the long bus ride to Utah County worthwhile, as it upset Orem 1-0 in the first round of the 4A state tournament on Tuesday.

The Lakers' Jaiden Thornock scored the game-winning goal just seconds into the first overtime period to beat the defending state champions and advance to the quarterfinals.

Orem, the second seed from Region 7, had only lost one other time this year and came into the game boasting the state's best defense statistically. But, Bonneville paid no attention to the statistics and outplayed the Tigers for large portions of the match.

"I liked our chances as the game went on," said Bonneville coach Drew Wilhelmsen. "They're the favorite team I think and doubt starts creeping into their mind as the game goes on and they get a little nervous."

Whether or not it was nervous, Orem struggled to find its way in the game. The Tigers produced fewer chances than the Lakers and had a much more difficult time going forward — especially in the second half.

The only thing that kept Orem in the game was its back four and some big saves by goalkeeper Hilary Smith.

"I was worried about that coming in," said Wilhelmsen of the Tigers' defense. "They're impressive. Their 'keeper came up with several outstanding saves."

The longer the score remained tied, the more confidence Bonneville showed.

"As we started we knew we were coming in as the underdogs," said Thornock. "We weren't quite sure if we could do it, but once we started playing we knew we could."

There was some controversy near the end of regulation. Deep into second-half stoppage time, the Bonneville goalkeeper spilled the ball in traffic and it was knocked into the net. But the referee waived off the score, ruling that the Tigers had interfered with the goalkeeper.

"I thought they scored so I was freaking out," said Thornock. "But then we had a little pep talk and I got pumped and I was like 'I'm going to do this.'"

Less than a minute into overtime Thornock scored from just inside the box, creating some space around her defender and squeezing her shot inside the post.

"My teammate Avery Ford had the ball at the top of the key," said Thornock. "She passed me the ball and I took a touch and then hit it. We kept getting our shots but they weren't going in. I think we just had to keep our heads in it."

Bonneville will play Region 6 champion East in the quarterfinals on Thursday.