Despite a perfect record in five games and a 7-0 victory over Highland Thursday on the Rams' home field and a top ranking in the Deseret News soccer poll, the Bountiful girls' soccer team is not impressed with itself.
Coach Dave Wigham didn't think his squad played badly but he felt it had some improvements to make."We passed well but we need to improve," he said.
Caroline Putz, who scored three goals and assisted on another, had a similar point of view.
"We need to work together more, be a team."
The resounding victory over a building Ram squad was the first Region 2 game for both teams but it's a longer-term goal that the Braves have in mind.
"Our goal is to win state," Putz said.
"There are about seven teams that could win it," Wigham said. "We are one of them."
It was Putz who helped her squad take the first step toward that goal when she smacked a ball between the posts to give Bountiful all the scoring it needed for the game. Moments later Wigham pulled his starting forwards for a coaching chat and reserve Maria Richardson booted a second Braves goal.
Putz added another score as did senior Heidi Petersen from the halfback position, effectively killing the game's suspense by halftime. Second-half goals from senior captain Dana Hellewell, Kristi Detton and the final Putz score finished off the scoring.
Ram coach H. Kay Smith acacknowledged that his program is at a different stage than its region rival but was still pleased by his team.
"I am proud. This is the best team I have ever coached in high school. They all treat each other as equals."
Senior captain Megan McCullough hopes the Rams will not let the loss demoralize them.
"It's frustrating to play that hard and still lose. Mostly, we just need to bounce back."
In other soccer action:
Region 1
Roy 3, Clearfield 1: Fourth-ranked Roy beat Clearfield on the road behind goals from Shay Hansen, Kelsey Hepner and Stacey VanPeedri.
Fremont 2, Layton 1 : Michelle Pulley scored the game-winner in overtime for the Silver Wolves.
Weber 4, Northridge 2: The Warriors grabbed a road win by doubling up the Knights.
Region 2
Viewmont 6, Cottonwood 0: Holly Beecher led the Viking scoring onslaught with a pair of goals while Tiffany Roundy, Kathryn Smith, Brittany Harland and Kendra Baerclought each found the net once as Viewmont tamed the Colts.
Davis 5, Skyline 1: Defending champion Davis demolished Skyline to open region play for both teams. Carrie Iberson tallied two Dart goals and Kara Alexander, Paige Workman and Micaela Felix scored one each.
Region 3
West Jordan 11, Kearns 1: Stacey Jensen exploded for five goals as the Jaguars obliterated the Cougars. Molly McQueen scored twice for West Jordan as Elishia Miltenberger, Kathryn Hogan, Mary Leeman and Christy Horner notched one goal each. Tami Wilcox made the lone Cougar goal.
Taylorsville 2, Hunter 1: Katie Seamon scored once on a Lindsay Sodja pass and later returned the favor, assisting Sodja. Bethany Robinson picked up the Wolverine's goal.
Copper Hills 3, Granger 0: Louisa Holt took care of the offense with a hat trick, while goalie Leslie Stanko registered a shutout for the visiting Grizzlies.
Region 5
Mountain Crest 2, Ben Lomond 0: In a showdown for early-season region supremacy, the fourth-ranked Mustangs slid past the third-ranked Scots. Jackie Richardson - a right-footed player - scored both goals with her left foot on assists from Lisa Giles and Amber Brower. The Mustangs improve to 5-0 in region play, allowing only one goal all season, in a pre season game. Ben Lomond falls to 2-2 in region play.
Logan 3, Ogden 1 (2OT): Trailing in the first half the Tigers took two overtimes before overcoming the Grizzlies with an Alison Tribe score.
Box Elder 8, Bear River 0: The visiting Bees unleashed a stinging attack on the Bears. Ann Marie Krueger led the way with three goals, while Camilla Nielsen added two.
Region 6/7
East 3, West 0: Keeper Liz Condie kept the Panthers from scoring while Tamara Thorup notched two scores and Lindsey Wilkinson one for the Leopards.
Region 8
Timpview 1, Spanish Fork 0: Goal keeper Cami Freeze gave the Red Devils the chill with a shutout while Tiffany Christensen scored for the Thunderbirds.
Payson 1, Provo 0: Amanda Scott knocked in the game's only goal after another of her shots rebounded off the goalkeeper and bounced around the defense. Lion keeper Mindy Taylor recorded the shutout while Becky Bigler turned in a key performance from the sweeper position.
Springville 1, Pleasant Grove 0: Katie St. Clair, a freshman, scored the game's lone goal early in the match as the Red Devils prevailed on the road.
Region 10
Lehi 7, Uintah 0: Fifth-ranked Lehi pounded the Utes led by MaryAnne Vanderhoef's three goals. Hollie Bronson, Erin Dickson, Alisha Kolowich and Amber Paskett also scored for the Pioneers while Lynnsey Acay recorded a perfect game in goal.
Park City 3, Rowland Hall 0: Christy Stevens kept the Winged Lions out of the net and watched as Jordan Krieger, Nicole Hemming and Marie Fornier each scored.
Volleyball
Region 11
Richfield def. N. Sanpete 15-3, 15-7: Lindsay Moss had 10 kills and 4 blocks and Marci Kimball dished out 21 assists for the Wildcats as they opened region play with a road win over the Hawks.
Region 12
Morgan def. South Summit 15-13, 15-7: The top-ranked Trojans improved to 2-0 in region action by knocking off the Wildcats.
Rowland Hall def. Grantsville 15-8,15-10: Kristin Hilger recorded 15 points, three aces and five assists for the Winged Lions in their defeat of the Cowboys. Jenny Rasmussen added seven kills and two blocks for RHSM.
Manti def. Millard 15-9, 15-10: Takesha Cox served up nine-straight points in the first game and Katie Nillson knocked down eight kills in the second to pace the Templars past the Eagles.
Region 13
Beaver def. Kanab 15-2, 15-8: The Beavers grabbed an early region victory over the Cowboys.
Region 14
Int. Christian def. St. Joseph 15-7, 15-4: The Jayhawks suffered their first loss of the season despite six kills and four digs from Amanda Alvarez.
Region 15
Panguitch def. Valley 15-6, 4-15, 16-14: Caroline Heaton and Beverly Glover combined for 13 kills for the Buffaloes but it wasn't enough as they fell to the visiting Bobcats.
Nonregion
Spanish Fork def. Woods Cross 15-12, 15-10: The third-ranked Dons grabbed a road win over the Wildcats despite the 12-assist, five-kill performance of Shari Midgely.
Emery def. Lehi 15-5, 16-14: The top-ranked Spartans put another feather in their preseason cap with a road victory over the Pioneers.