Maple Mtn. soccer edges T’Wolves in 2OT

Maple Mountain's Kennedee Tracy couldn't have scripted any better finish to her team's game against Timpanogos.

After picking up the Eagles first goal of the game in the first half on a penalty kick, Tracy found the net one more time in the game - this time in the form of a double-overtime, game-winning goal that lifted Maple Mountain to a 3-2 victory over the host T'Wolves on Tuesday.

The T'Wolves loss was the first one of the season for the dominant squad.

"Bailey [Nielsen] came back and checked the ball and Kennedee made a run off of her. Usually it's Kennedee checking and Bailey running on that play, but this was just the opposite," Maple Mountain coach Carolyn Esplin said. "I was really pleased that Kennedee was able to put that in."

Tracy got behind the Timpanogos defense and the race was on in an all out sprint for the ball. After securing possession, Tracy fired a shot past the diving Timpanogos keeper for the game-winner.

"Kennedee has a no-quit attitude, that's what I love about her," Esplin added. "She will always work hard and she doesn't get down on herself. I think she deserved that goal today."

The Eagles goals didn't come easy throughout the contest-failing to score on a myriad of shot attempts on the Timpanogos goal, including several missed opportunities from Tracy.

But when it came down to the goal that made the difference, Tracy had no problems connecting.

"She (Tracy) missed some opportunities early on," Esplin said. "We had a lot of missed opportunities as a team, and usually in soccer it's the team who capitalizes on those that gets the win, and that's what we were able to do today."

With the T'Wolves clinging to a 2-1 lead in the final few minutes of regulation play, it was Bailey Nielsen who found the back of the net for the Eagles to tie the game at two goals apiece and send it into the sudden-death overtime periods.

The T'Wolves seemed to have control early after they jumped out to a lead just minutes into the contest after Jordyn Chung-Hoon took a pass down the center of the field, beat multiple Maple Mountain defenders, and fired a line-drive kick that soared past the Eagles keeper for the early Timpanogos 1-0 lead.

Timpanogos added some insurance later on after a Lexie Henrie goal bounced off of Betts hands, off the top post, and in for a Timpanogos 2-0 lead later in the half.

The Tracy penalty kick cut the Timpanogos lead to 2-1 heading into the halftime break.

The T'Wolves had a chance to pick up the victory in the second overtime period, but Maple Mountain keeper Kara Betts made a crucial game-saving stop that led to the Tracy goal less than two minutes later.

"She had a great game," Esplin said. "Kara really helped us a lot today, she made some great saves. She was just awesome."

For Esplin, the fight and the victory was something she has been looking for from her team throughout the season, and it couldn't have come at a better time in the season with the playoffs just around the corner.

"We were thrilled," Esplin added. "I felt like what we did today has been missing from this team the whole season. I'm very pleased that they finally know what it takes to win like that."

Maple Mountain (11-3) will look for continued success Thursday as it plays host to Provo, while Timpanogos (11-1-2) will look to rebound Thursday at Springville.

http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/high-school/soccer/article_793f7284-e998-11e0-bd16-001cc4c03286.html