SANDY — When Alta and Bingham squared off Thursday afternoon, it pitted the past two champions of 5A girls soccer —Alta in 2002 and Bingham in '03. According to Alta's star midfielder, Katie Larkin, the game had some extra significance.
"It was very important to us," she said after Alta's 3-1 victory. "We wanted them to know that even though they took state last year, they still haven't beat us. We wanted them to know that we are still on top."
Alta won both meetings last season.
Alta was playing in its second game of the young season because of an unexpected invitation.
"We got a call from the defending high school national champions from California to come and play them over Labor Day," Alta coach Lee Mitchell said. "We had to think about it for about a second before we accepted."
Because of the travel game, Alta did not play any preseason games.
Mitchell said his team was still "getting our legs under us." If that is the case, teams had still better plan on Alta being one of the best in the state.
From the beginning, the Hawks controlled play. Alta took advantage of Bingham's midfield problems as Larkin, Whitney Feller and Katie Clark dominated the ball possession. They made the transition from defense to offense quickly and efficiently. They passed the ball to the forwards and out to the wings with precision, created chances for Alta.
"We have some awfully good midfielders," Mitchell said.
In the 38th minute, the Alta pressure finally paid off. The score came with a bit of controversy. Larkin took a ball to the left side of the penalty box. She chipped the ball over the keeper charging out to meet her and into the net. Only problem was there was an Alta player in the offside position. The linesman raised his flag for the call, but after a brief conference the two officials ruled that because the player did not touch the ball the goal would be allowed. It was the only goal of the half.
Bingham tied the score just 12 minutes into the second half. Jenny Ford scored on a penalty kick after she had drawn a foul inside the box. Alta answered right back. Just six minutes later, Katie Fellows scored following a Lisa Crump cross into the box. Larkin added an insurance goal in the 63rd minute after she beat the goalie and a defender to a 50/50 ball in the box and slotted it into the open net.
Larkin, who has committed to play for BYU next season, netted her sixth goal in only two games so far this season.
"Katie Larkin will do a lot more than score goals this season," Mitchell said. "She does a lot out on the field for us."
Said Larkin: "I have high expectations for us. We want to go out and show people what we can do and that we will not give up."
In other prep soccer games Thursday:
REGION 1
NORTHRIDGE, DAVIS : No information reported.
LAYTON 4, WEBER 3: Layton scored thee second-half goals to defeat Weber. Chelsie Jones scored twice for the Lancers.
REGION 2
HILLCREST 2, BRIGHTON 1 (2OT):Dani Bain's goal in overtime gave Hillcrest its second straight region win. Lauren Bagley scored for Brighton.
JORDAN 10, COPPER HILLS 0:Lacey Christenson and Amber Nordhagen each scored two goals for Jordan.
RIVERTON 1, WEST JORDAN 1 (2OT): Riverton's Erin McCarthy scored on a penalty kick midway through the second half but West Jordan's Amelia Tucker scored with 12 minutes to go to tie the score.
REGION 5
WOODS CROSS 20, CYPRUS 0: The Wildcats scored four goals in the first five minutes of play . Ten different players scored, led by twin sisters Kelly (six goals) and Abby Robinson (four goals).
BOUNTIFUL 2, HIGHLAND 1: Tied 1-1, Chelsea Cox scored the game-winner with 15 minutes to play to lead Bountiful over Highland. Rebeca Schmidt got things going early for the Braves by netting a first-half goal. Hadley Stocking evened the score for the Rams before Cox's game winner.
EAST 2, MURRAY 1: With the match tied at 1-1, Kiersten Nilsson's goal in the 75th minute lifted East.
OLYMPUS 3, WEST 2:Rachel Perkins scored two goals for Olympus.
NONREGION
BEAR RIVER 2, BOX ELDER 1:Lesley Jensen scored off of a rebounded free kick with five minutes to play to give Bear River the win. Keisha Hardy got the Bears going in the first half by netting a 35-yard free kick. Tiffany Petersen scored the lone goal for Box Elder on a penalty kick.
OGDEN 2, LOGAN 1: Logan jumped in front 1-0 in the first half but Ogden rallied in the second, led by goals from Courtney Slama and Shaylee Stegen.
SNOW CANYON 4, MORGAN 2: Snow Canyon picked up its first win of the season.
ROY 4, BEN LOMOND 0:Stephanie Quinlan had a hat trick while Allie Zimmerman scored once. Noelle Maki picked up the shutout.
TIMPANOGOS 9, AMERICAN FORK 0:Shantae Adams scored four goals and recorded one assist as Timpanogos beat American Fork.
WASATCH 4, PLEASANT GROVE 2: Wasatch netted goals from four different players and shut out Pleasant Grove in the second half.
PARK CITY 7, ROWLAND HALL 1:Ellie Reid scored three goals in the second half for Park City. Stevie Thuren, Penny Moffett and Kelly Islieb also had goals.
DIXIE 1, LEHI 0:Savanah Lawrence scored five minutes in for Dixie. Kylee McArthur picked up the shutout.
LONE PEAK 4, PROVO 1:Whitlie Murdoch, Chelsi Roberts, Lauren Hair and Becca Hofheins all scored goals for Lone Peak.
GRANTSVILLE 6, GRANITE 1:Marissa Moore led Grantsville with three goals.
VIEWMONT 9, KEARNS 0:Erin Dalley and Makell Hansen scored two goals apiece for the Vikings.
E-mail: mblack@desnews.com