Region 10 soccer: Flyers survive nail-biter on the road; Mustangs off to strong title defense

Written by E. George Goold
March 25, 2023
Dixie defeats Snow Canyon 1-nil in a Region 10 soccer match, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The Dixie Flyers soccer team rebounded from a Region 10 loss in the best possible way, with a Region 10 win.

Dixie defeats Snow Canyon 1-nil in a Region 10 soccer match, St. George, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

Dixie won a traditional 1-nil match at Snow Canyon Friday night, helping the Flyers move on from a 3-nil setback three days earlier at Desert Hills.

“The game was a tough battle on both sides of the ball,” Dixie coach Travis Wilkinson told St. George News, adding that Snow Canyon coach Zac Hales had the Warriors prepared and well managed.

“We are really excited about things coming together with our defense,” Wilkinson said.

Dixie standout Andy Lagomarsino switched positions, moving from the attack to the backline to help bolster the Flyers defense.

“That has made a huge difference,” Wilkinson said. “His tactical blocking, communication and ability to get forward made him our ‘Man of the Match’ tonight.”

Goalkeeper Peyton Abbott posted the shutout behind the defensive line of Lagomarsino, Edni Meza, Grant Carter and Hamilton Allen.

Dixie’s winning goal came a little more than midway through the first half. Iker Meza collected the ball and drove to the outer edge of the box, pulling defenders with him.

He whipped a cross ball to Melvin Contreras, who elevated and beat a Snow Canyon defender to the floating sphere for a glancing header into the far side of the net.

Dixie improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in Region 10 play after the win. The Flyers host defending 4A state champion Crimson Cliffs Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Snow Canyon’s record dropped to 2-5 overall, 1-3 in Region 10. The Warriors next play at Hurricane, Friday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m.

Crimson Cliffs 5, Pine View 1

Crimson Cliffs defeats Pine View in a Region 10 soccer match, Washington, Utah, March 24, 2023 | Photo courtesy Anna Stringham, St. George News

The Mustangs continued to stampede, winning their fifth game and third Region 10 contest.

Crimson (5-1, 3-0) tallied three times in the first half and twice in the second.

Owen Klingonsmith led the way with two goals for the Mustangs. Noah Nield, Hudson Morby and and Aiden McArthur scored the other tree markers for the winners.

Camden Squires recorded two assists for Crimson and Mason Manwaring, Hinckley Heaton and Connor Denney dispatched the other helpers for the Mustangs.

Pine View got on the board in the second half with a score by Russell Jones.

Crimson is at Dixie on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. Pine View (2-5, 0-4) hosts Cedar at the same date and time.

Other scores 

Also on Friday night, the Cedar Reds defeated Hurricane 1-0 at Hurricane. Landon Palmer scored the game’s only goal in the first half, assisted by Sam Murray.

Also, in Tuesday night’s action earlier in the week, Crimson Cliffs posted a 2-0 win over Snow Canyon, while Desert Hills shut out Dixie 3-0 and Hurricane defeated Pine View 3-1.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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