Region 9 girls soccer: 5A Syracuse escapes Thunder country with narrow win

Desert Hills' Kenzie Done fights for a loose ball, Desert Hills vs. Syracuse, Girls Soccer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 19, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Moral victories can be nice, but Desert Hills coach Benji Nelson was having none of that after his team lost a home match 2-1 Wednesday night against Syracuse.

soccer“I’m very proud of our effort and the way we played, especially in the second half,” he said. “But we just need to finish.”

The Titans led 2-1 at intermission, with both goals coming off in succession off the foot of Kylie — the first was Kylie Harris and the second was Kylie Johnson.

Thunder Striker Brook Lott takes on the Syracuse goalkeeper, Desert Hills vs. Syracuse, Girls Soccer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 19, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Thunder Striker Brook Lott takes on the Syracuse goalkeeper, Desert Hills vs. Syracuse, Girls Soccer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 19, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

Brooklyn Lott pulled the Thunder to within 2-1 before halftime, but that’s how the score would stay, despite an aggressive second half by the Lady Thunder.

“Syracuse only crossed our half six times in the second half,” Nelson said. “We had so many chances to score and played really well. But we didn’t finish the goal. The second half we played great.”

The aggressive preseason schedule has seen Desert Hills face two 5As and one 4A school and though the Thunder are 0-2-1, each game has been close. The gauntlet continues Saturday as DH travels to face Westlake, another 5A foe, for a 10 a.m. kickoff.

Hadley Cowan (4) reaches for a ball, Desert Hills vs. Syracuse, Girls Soccer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 19, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Hadley Cowan (4) reaches for a ball, Desert Hills vs. Syracuse, Girls Soccer, St. George, Utah, Aug. 19, 2015, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

“We’re very young, with just two seniors,” Nelson said. “But we have a lot of young talent and we’re learning a lot this preseason. We’ve just got to stay positive and come out every game and perform.”

Elsewhere, defending state champ Cedar improved to 2-2 with a 2-0 shutout of Spanish Fork on Tuesday night.

The Lady Reds continues to get strong play from Holly Carpenter and Julia Hunt as they each notched a goal. It is Carpenter’s fourth and Hunt’s third of the young season.

Megan Giddings got the shutout between the posts, the first of her varsity career. Cedar next plays at Parowan Sept. 4.

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

 

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