ST. GEORGE — Having allowed just eight goals in 10 region games, the Dixie defense is the best in Region 9 and maybe the state. Thursday night the Flyers show Hurricane just how good that defense can be in a 3-0 shutout at Walt Brooks Stadium.
Goalkeeper Ethan Poulton got his fourth shutout of the year and his second since returning from a serious concussion midway through region play.
The Flyers scored the icebreaker with 10 minutes left in the first half on a strike from Jose “Pepe” Garcia, who rebounded his own miss for the goal. It was Garcia’s fourth goal of the season.
Dixie then put the game out of reach on consecutive goals from McLane Keenan and Chris Hall in the second half. Keenan’s came on a header over the Hurricane keeper and is his eighth of the season. Hall’s clincher came with about eight minutes to play after a beautiful cross from a teammate. It’s his first goal at the varsity level.
With the win, Dixie bounces back from its first loss of region (2-1 to Pine View Tuesday night) and the Flyers are set up to to clinch the region Tuesday against Snow Canyon. Although Dixie won state last season, the Flyers actually finished second in region, three points behind the Panthers.
Dixie, 10-3-3 overall and 9-1-1 in region, has just one region game remaining and leads Pine View by seven points (28-21). The Panthers have three games remaining, including Friday’s home battle against third-place Snow Canyon.
Hurricane, 6-6-2 and 4-5-1, also has just one game left. The Tigers are two points behind Desert Hills in the race for fourth place and a playoff spot. The two teams meet Tuesday at Thunder Stadium.
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