SPRINGVILLE — A year of experience can make a world of difference, especially for the Springville girls soccer team. Last year, Red Devils coach Mikelle Roth felt her young team lacked aggression during many games.
This year the Red Devils are a year older and it's beginning to show when they step onto the soccer field. After a slow start against Judge Tuesday when it fell behind 3-0, Springville finished the game strong to make the game close at 4-3.
Despite a tentative first half by the Red Devils Thursday, Springville led from start to finish in a convincing 5-1 win over the Orem Tigers.
"I was pleased with the second half," Roth said. "The first half we were kind of shaky. I just told them to settle down and mark up on Tamika (Wilson).
We can't leave her open."
Springville's Jessica Bradford opened the scoring early for Springville when she connected on a centering pass from Crosby Joyner in the sixth minute.
Four minutes later, Orem's Wilson sent a rainbow kick from 30-yards out into the left corner of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Wilson nearly gave her team a 2-1 lead in the 21st minute but another long kick bounced off the crossbar.
Springville took the lead for good in the 28th minute when Sydney Hamilton scored off a beautiful pass from Kimber Killpack, who received the ball on dead sprint inside the 18.
"Defensively, after they got the first goal we settled down and played well," Roth said.
In the second half, Springville finished off the Tigers by scoring three goals. In the 57th minute, Erin McBride gave Springville a 3-1 lead by slipping behind several Orem defenders to score on a shot near the edge of the penalty area. Killpack earned her second assist of the game on the goal.
Orem poured salt in its own wound with an own goal giving Springville the 4-1 lead. In the 77th minute Joyner raced inside the box and punched a shot into the goal.
"I feel like this team is stronger than last year," Roth said. "We seem more aggressive than we were last year."
Despite the loss, the experience the young Tigers are getting will be valuable come Region 7 play. Orem boasts of a team of 16 freshmen, 12 sophomores, one junior and three seniors.
In other girls soccer games Thursday:
NONREGION
DAVIS 3, BINGHAM 2 (2OT): Marissa Eddy scored a golden goal in the second overtime to give the Darts the victory and a little satisfaction over the team that put them out of the playoffs last season. Alyssa VanderVeur scored twice in the loss.
BOUNTIFUL 3, NORTHRIDGE 2: Bountiful kept Northridge scoreless in the second half as the Braves earn their first preseason win.
ROY 3, FREMONT 2: Tauni Huddleston scored twice for Roy in a narrow victory over Fremont.
BONNEVILLE 3, LAYTON 0: Jessie Baddley led the offense while Ciara Florence led the defense as the Lakers shut out Layton. Baddley finished with two goals, and Shelly Manuel earned the shutout as goalkeeper.
MILLARD 1, CARBON 0: Millard's Kylie Labrum's lone goal on a penalty kick early in the first half was the contest's only fireworks in a low scoring win over Carbon.
PLEASANT GROVE 5, NORTH SANPETE 2: Chelsea Peaepke and Illi Kelsie each scored twice for Pleasant Grove in the preseason win over North Sanpete.
JORDAN 2, SKY VIEW 0: Lori LeFevre and Lindsay Janicki each scored one goal in the second half as the 'Diggers blank Sky View. Cindy Woolsey and Kristen Sauer split time as goalkeeper.
CEDAR 4, TAYLORSVILLE 2: Four different scorers found the back of the net as Cedar doubled up on Taylorsville in a preseason win.
EAST 3, JUDGE MEMORIAL 1: East notched two second half goals in the tournament win over Judge Memorial.
JUAN DIEGO 3, PAYSON 0: Kara Vitacca scored one goal in each half for Juan Diego as it shuts out Payson in Delta. Kate Purnerdrown kept Payson scoreless as goalkeeper.
MOUNTAIN CREST 4, CLEARFIELD 0: Mountain Crest overwhelmed Clearfield with four first half goals in a shutout win over Clearfield. Alyssa Shelton hosted the shutout as goalkeeper for Mountain Crest.
COTTONWOOD 5, OLYMPUS 3: Kilee Quigley scored four of the Colts' five goals in a win over Olympus. Marli Martin scored the only other goal for Cottonwood.
HIGHLAND 11, GRANITE 0: Nine different players for Highland combined for 11 goals in a shutout win over Granite. MaKensie Wilson and Lauren Piper split the shutout as goalkeeper.
LONE PEAK 3, TIMPVIEW 2: Laura Goodrich scored twice as Lone Peak edged past Timpview in a close match.
ROWLAND HALL 6, TOOELE 0: Vicky Heagy, Katy Mohrman, and Liz Elliot all scored two goals each in a win over Tooele. Megan Jones and Lindsay Hunter split time in goal for Rowland Hall.