High school soccer: Timpanogos gets win vs. Vikings

OREM — The Timpanogos boys soccer team got two goals and dodged some bullets in the second half to pull out a 2-1 victory over Pleasant Grove on Wednesday.

After picking up their first region loss of the season in their last game, the T-Wolves did enough to rebound with a win in a scrappy game that saw plenty of chances go begging on both sides.

"It was a hard-fought game all the way to the end," said Timpanogos coach Aaron Barth. "They were bringing it down our throat to the very last minute."

The result keeps the T-Wolves in first place in Region 4 and knocks Pleasant Grove from second place into a tie for third.

The game was largely a battle of opposing strategies. The Vikings controlled the passing lanes in the midfield and had lots of possession going forward. Timpanogos countered with a more direct approach and pushed its quick forwards up on the counter attack.

For the most part the tactics canceled each other out and kept the ball stuck in the midfield. It took a couple of fortunate bounces and some quality finishing to put the ball in the net.

The first blow went Pleasant Grove's way in the 15th minute when Josue Meza found space from 25 yards out. His shot took a slight deflection and squeezed inside the post.

Three minutes later Timpanogos was level when McKay Steggell scored a similar goal that was helped into the net by a deflection.

The Vikings' possession kept the T-Wolves' defense on its toes, but Timpanogos was able to keep the ball in front of them and clean up the services on set pieces while waiting for its chance to counter.

The winning goal finally came 11 minutes into the second half when Caleb Porter timed his midfield run perfectly and beat the goalkeeper at the near post.

"Pleasant Grove is a quality team," said Barth.

Timpanogos nearly extended the lead on two more breakaways later in the half, but some heroic goalkeeping by Uli Estrada kept the deficit at one goal.

Pleasant Grove had its best chance to score in the 88th minute. Speedy forward Winston Sorhaitz outmuscled his marker and had only the 'keeper to beat, but he hit his shot awkwardly and sent the ball well wide.