Prep soccer: Defending-champ Flyers turn away D-Hills

Written by Bob Hudson
April 1, 2016
Dixie's Kevin Cabrera (15), Desert Hills vs. Dixie, Soccer, St. George, Utah, Apr. 1, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – Dixie used Trey Hoskins’ late goal and a defensive stand shortly thereafter to turn away Desert Hills 2-1 in Region 9 boys soccer on Friday.

dixie-logodesert-hills-logoHoskins scored his unassisted goal with 5:23 left in the game to give the defending champion Flyers (2-0) the lead. Then, on a shot by Jake Simister, the Flyers Kortland Warnick headed the ball away. Koby Imlay headed another shot for the Thunder, but Mikey Haug knocked it away. Christian Cottle got another shot off, but Flyer goalkeeper Ethan Poulton smothered it.

“They came in pretty hard from the backside,” Dixie coach Burt Myers said of that sequence. “We got Warnick’s header and Mikey got the ball into Ethan’s hands.”

Dixie's Erick Dominguez (23), Desert Hills vs. Dixie, Soccer, St. George, Utah, Apr. 1, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie’s Erick Dominguez (23), Desert Hills vs. Dixie, Soccer, St. George, Utah, Apr. 1, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

In a physical match, Dixie controlled the early going with Tauri Morales getting off a couple of shots. The Flyers Conner Buehner blocked a shot from the Thunder’s Kanon Heaton with 28 minutes left in the first half. Heaton got off another shot 10 minutes later, but Poulton knocked it away.

With 18:51 left in the half, Dixie’s Kevin Cabrere, a transfer from Los Angeles, booted in a goal off a Tyler Bennett assist.

Simister’s header off a corner kick sailed wide to end Desert Hills’ offensive efforts in the first half.

Heaton scored 20 seconds into the second half to level the score at 1-1, booting Kelton Holt’s long pass into the goal. Heaton had another scoring chance two minutes later, but Poulton recorded the save.

Morales had a 25-yard free kick with 25 minutes remaining, but the Thunder’s defense sealed the middle.

Dixie's Conner Buehner (10) and Desert Hills' Bridger Nelson (17), Desert Hills vs. Dixie, Soccer, St. George, Utah, Apr. 1, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie’s Conner Buehner (10) and Desert Hills’ Bridger Nelson (17), Desert Hills vs. Dixie, Soccer, St. George, Utah, Apr. 1, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Buehner had a shot from the 25-yard line but the Thunder’s Isaiah Hacker punched that shot over the goal.

With 10 minutes remaining, Dixie scored on an Av’ry Green to Morales connection, but the goal was nullified by an off-side call.

That set up the final few hectic minutes.

“This was a good road win, but it’s so early in the season that the intensity is only going to go up, ” said Myers. “Both teams played with a lot of emotion. It was a good chess match.”

“The first half, Dixie outplayed us,” said Thunder coach Benji Nelson. “The second half, I thought we outplayed them. Obviously Dixie is the best team we’ve played. Both teams had opportunities. We’re going to build on this game.”

It is the first loss for DH after seven wins. The Thunder are 1-1 in region.

Hurricane 3, Pine View 2

Hurricane scored twice in the first half and added another goal in the second, then held off a Pine View comeback. Kaige Steglich had an unassisted goal in the 10th minute. Tate Langston rebounded Max Gutierrez’ blocked shot in the 20th minute.

hurricane-logopine-view-logoLangston got the second-half goal off an assist from Jeff Bjarnson for the Tigers (1-1). Michael Cardenas scored in the 52nd minute for the Panthers (0-2). Kalob Dudley scored in the 71st minute.

“ We had a lot of good things working for us,” said Hurricane coach Jeff Fry. “However, we definitely found some areas where we can improve.

“Max Gutierrez really stepped up his game tonight,” Fry added. “Pine View had some great things going their way, too. Their goalkeeper made some amazing saves.”

Snow Canyon 3, Cedar 0

Kaden Wittwer scored two goals to lead Snow Canyon (2-0) to a victory over the Redmen (0-2). Wittwer took an assist from Yetzel Carillo for his first goal and a pass from Will Regalado for the second. Max Kemp had the third goal. Quinn Hargis recorded the shutout.

snow-canyon-logocedar-logo“Kolton Barber had a standout game in midfield and our defense played dynamite,” said coach Marc Wittwer. “They all made good runs.”

After two region matches, Dixie and SC are on top with 2-0 records, Desert Hills and Hurricane are at 1-1 and Pine View and Cedar are at 0-2.

The next region action will be on Tuesday with Desert Hills at Snow Canyon, Dixie at Hurricane and Pine View at Cedar.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Hudson is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He has been a sportswriter in central and southern Utah and Southeast Idaho. He has also worked as a news editor and managing editor. He has lived in St. George since 2000.

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