4A high school soccer: Bonneville no longer an underdog

Bonneville is no longer the same plucky underdog that stormed through the 4A girls soccer tournament and captured a state title as a fifth seed a year ago. The Lakers are not going to be sneaking past anyone in their quest to repeat as 4A champions.

Being the hunted instead of the hunter might make little difference. As East quickly found out in the quarterfinals, Bonneville has no intentions of going away quietly.

The Lakers spoiled the Leopards perfect season with a 2-1 victory last week to secure a spot in the 4A semifinals on Tuesday. For the Lakers, the victory over East was the sixth game decided by a goal or less this season. Bonneville has gone 5-1 in those matches.

A generous dose of controversy enveloped the match because the bracket pitted two region champs in the quarterfinal round and forced a coin flip, which resulted in the state's only unbeaten team going on the road in the second round.

Lakers coach Lane Barker said winning the coin flip and playing on their home field, in front of a friendly crowd, helped his team in a tight game.

"This is our friendly environment here – with a nice big field where we feel comfortable," Barker said. "So that was huge."

Bonneville will likely need to call on its experience in tight games against Lehi. The Pioneers won the Region 7 title convincingly a year after playing in 5A and are seeking their first state girls soccer title since winning the 3A championship in 1996.

Defense has been a calling card for Lehi once again. Behind leaders like defender Makelle Yates and goalkeeper Briar Sands, the Pioneers own 4A's top scoring defense – giving up just 0.67 goals per game. Lehi ranked second only to Alta in the same category in 5A competition last fall.

The Pioneers have shut out four of their last five opponents overall and have won 14 straight games where they hold opponents to one goal or none.

Shutting down the Laker offense will offer Lehi its biggest test yet. Jaiden Thornock leads the state with 24 goals and Allie Shaw has tallied 15 to form a deadly one-two punch for Bonneville.

Tuesday's other 4A semifinal promises to be a high scoring affair. Timpanogos and Springville both utilize high powered offenses that have overwhelmed more than a few opponents this season.