ST. GEORGE — It’s been seven years since Pine View won the Region 9 soccer title outright, but the Panthers took a huge step toward ending that drought with a 3-1 victory at home vs. Snow Canyon Tuesday night.

The Panthers, 10-2-2 overall and 7-2-1 in region play, lead Dixie by three points with two games remaining. Pine View hosts last-place Canyon View Wednesday night and can clinch at least a tie for the region title with a win in that game. PV then closes the regular season next Tuesday at home against fourth-place Cedar. Two wins or one win and a loss by second-place Dixie would give the Panthers their first title since 2007.

Tuesday night Pine View broke open a 1-1 tie with the Warriors by pounding home a pair of second-half goals. Braden Johnston found the back of the net twice and Michael Wade also scored as PV avenged an earlier loss this season to Snow Canyon.

Justin Jones was solid between the posts for PV, which is tied for fewest goals allowed in the region and leads Region 9 in goals scored. Johnston and Wade are tops on the team with seven goals apiece on the year.

Navy Dalton scored his first tally of the season for the Warriors, who fell to 6-5-2 overall and 5-3-1 in region play. With 16 points (to PV’s 22), SC’s hopes of a region crown are still alive, but the Warriors would need to win at least two of their remaining three games and hope Pine View loses one or both of its games.

The Warriors play at Hurricane Wednesday and then close the season with home games next week against Dixie and Cedar.

Dixie 3, Hurricane 0

The Flyers remained just three points behind Pine View with the key home win Tuesday night.

Konner Aitken, Tyler Bennett and Jonathan Acosta all scored and Hayden Mathews earned his fifth shutout of the season in goal as Dixie cruised to the easy win. The Flyers scored two of their three goals before halftime.

Dixie, 9-3-2 and 6-3-1, is off Wednesday before a crucial game next Tuesday at Snow Canyon. The loser of that game is likely out of the race for the region title while the winner may still have a shot at catching Pine View.

Hurricane, 5-7-1 and 2-7-0, has just six points in region and is just barely alive mathematically for the final playoff spot. The Tigers would have to win out and have both Desert Hills and Cedar hit slumps to close out the year to have a chance.

Cedar 2, Canyon View 0

Kaeland Osborne got the shutout for the Redmen in the important road win.

Brock Shipp and Jonny Brower each scored and Cedar improved to 8-4-0 and 5-3-0. The Redmen host Desert Hills with major playoff implications Wednesday night. A Cedar win would all but clinch a playoff spot for the Redmen while a DH win would tie them with Cedar for fourth place and that last playoff spot, though Cedar has played one less game.

Canyon View, 3-9-1 and 1-7-1, plays at Pine View Wednesday night.

Region 9	W	L	T	GS	GA	Pts.	W	L	T	GS	GA	Pts.
Pine View	7	2	1	24	9	22	10	2	2	39	11	32
Dixie	6	3	1	16	9	19	9	3	2	24	14	29
Snow Canyon	5	3	1	17	13	16	6	5	2	23	20	20
Cedar	5	3	0	15	9	15	8	4	0	31	11	24
Desert Hills	4	5	0	9	13	12	5	7	1	17	20	16
Hurricane	2	7	0	10	15	6	5	7	1	27	16	16
Canyon View	1	7	1	6	29	4	3	9	1	19	35	10

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