TOOELE — When Mackenzie Landward's stoppage time penalty kick shot past Park City keeper Hannah Pimentel and struck the back of the net Tuesday afternoon at Stansbury High School, it propelled the Stallions to a memorable 2-1 win over their rivals, and ended the Miners' dominance over the Stallions.
“A lot of times it felt like we were in a frozen pond, just waiting to break through,” Stansbury head coach Jeremy Alverson said when asked what this win meant to him and his team. “To get a win in a game like this, on our home field and against a great Park City team … it just felt like we finally broke through the ice.”
Early on, it did not seem that Stansbury would break through much of anything, let alone the Park City defense. The Miners routinely squashed any Stansbury attempt to get the ball into the visitors third. It took ten minutes of play before the Stallions were able to attempt a shot at goal, an effort that was easily blocked by Pimentel. The home team only managed one more shot attempt the rest of the first half, a free kick by Jaycee Wilkinson that sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Freshman forward Lauren Hoglin led an aggressive Park City attack that stood in stark contrast to its foes. The Miners had many opportunities to get on the board, thanks in part to three attempts by Hoglin. In total Park City racked up nine shot attempts in the first half, five of which were on target.
The Stallions came out an entirely different team in the second half. Within four minutes Stansbury secured a free kick, taken by Sydnee Barton, but it sailed left of the post. Only a minute later the Stallions were on the attack again, but again the shot attempt, this one by Maddy Graber, sailed wide.
Stansbury finally broke through with a little over 20 minutes left in the game when Landward, courtesy of an excellent lob pass by Sammy Howa, sprinted past the Miner defense, avoided a charging Pimentel, and drove the ball into the goal for a 1-0 edge.
“As a coach, I just try to stay out of the way,” Alverson said when asked what his message was to his team at halftime. “A lot of times the girls just organize themselves. I listen to what they say, but they make the adjustments. I just give my opinions on a few things.”
The lead was short-lived, however, as Hoglin and the Miners quickly responded with a goal of their own with about 18 minutes remaining.
The final minutes of the match were heated and physical as both sides searched for the go ahead score. After multiple fouls, assessed to both teams, the officials were forced to give a yellow card in attempt to control the game.
Their efforts were in vain and just seconds into stoppage time Stansbury midfielder Kendall Bell was taken down inside the Park City box, providing the Stallions and Landward with the game winning penalty kick.
“She stepped up calmly and sank it,” Alverson said of the winning goal. “Mackenzie scored both goals but this was a team effort from a lot of great girls. This was a solid breakthrough game for us.”
With the win, Stansbury improves to 10-4-1 with a 6-1 record in region play (the Stallions also finished a perfect 7-0 at home), while the Miners fall to 9-6 and 6-1 in Region 13.
Up next, the Stallions will travel to Tooele High School Thursday to face the Buffaloes, while Park City heads to Grantsville High School to take on the Cowgirls.
Email: twood@bonneville.com