ST. GEORGE – Soccer players dream of having a game like Justin Brinkerhoff had Friday night.
On the fantasy checklist:
Score all of the teams goals: Brinkerhoff did it.
Record a hat trick: Brinkerhoff did it.
Win the game on a sweet overtime golden goal: Brinkerhoff did it.
Propel his team into first place: yeah, he did that, too.
The senior scored his seventh, eighth and ninth goals of the season and his second career hat trick in leading the Thunder past Hurricane 3-2 in overtime.
Brinkerhoff also has 18 career goals as a member of the Thunder soccer squad. His big night helped DH to a 11-2-1 record overall and, more importantly, an 8-2-0 record in region play, good enough for 24 points and a first-place tie with Dixie. Pine View is three points back with 21.
The Thunder finish the regular season next week with a home game vs. Pine View Tuesday and a road game at Snow Canyon Friday.
Dixie, which was idle Friday, finishes at home against Cedar Tuesday and then on the road vs. Pine View Friday.
Hurricane, 6-7-1 and 3-6-1, is in sixth place and trails Cedar by five points and Snow Canyon by three for the final playoff spot. Kyson Spendlove and Zack Wolsleger each scored a goal Friday night for the Tigers
The Thunder, Flyers and Panthers have all clinched playoff spots.
Cedar 2, Snow Canyon 1
Cedar grabbed a two-point lead in the race for the final playoff spot with the road win Friday night. Michael Briano scored both goals for the Redmen, who improved to 8-5-1 overall and 5-5-0 in region play (15 points).
The Redmen close the season at Dixie Tuesday and home against Hurricane Friday.
The Warriors, 4-9-1 and 4-6-1, have 13 points and close out the season next week with a single game Friday at Desert Hills. Snow Canyon needs to win that game and hope Cedar loses both its final games for SC to make the playoffs.
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