And while the victory widened the gap to four points for the Region title, the game was as close, hard fought and thrilling as any fan could have hope for.
ìItís always like this when Bountiful and Woods Cross play each other,î said victorious coach Dave Wigham. ìWoods Cross is a very good team. They came after us with everything and Iím so proud of the way our girls hung in there and got the job done to get the win.î
Just 10 minutes into the game, Woods Crossí Nikki Fernandes showed why she is one of the best in the state as the senior took the ball and weaved between Braves defenders and fired off a shot from 10 yards away to give the Cats a 1-0 lead.
Moments later, Bountiful standout goalie Amy Clark was injured in a collision. Carly Longhurst played the remainder of the first half and kept the Wildcats at bay.
On the other end of the field, Woods Cross goalie Taylor Bolding played the game of her life fighting off an aggressive Bountiful offense with save after save. In all, Bolding saved more than 15 of the 24 Bountiful shots on goal. Clark was just as amazing with keeping several of the 14 Woods Cross shots from getting through the goal.
Woods Cross clung to its 1-0 lead until Hannah Marble found Felicia Sturgeon with a bullet pass across the front of the goal. Sturgeon controlled the ball and fired off the shot that could be heard across Davis County, tying the game at 1-1.
Clark made a spectacular save diving from the right side of the goal across to the left to keep the game tied.
In the first overtime, Fernandes broke free with 4 minutes to play but was turned away by Clark. A corner kick by Bountiful was fought off by Bolding and both teams prepared for the second overtime.
With 8:48 to play in the second overtime, it was Bountifulís Monica Okapal who scored from 15 yards out to give the Braves the win.
ìIíd say that was my best goal ever,î Okapal said. ìTo be a senior and to score the game-winner against Woods Cross was great. Theyíre our rival and so it was a big game.î
Okapal noted the fun that is found in the close games.
ìI love games like this,î she said. ìItís not really fun to win 5-0 or something like that,î Okapal said. ìThese are the best games because itís so intense out there.î
Clark, the winning goalie, who could very easily be playing as an offensive player for the Braves took the win in stride.
ìIt gets a little boring being back here, but I know me being in goal helps our team and thatís important.î
Wigham praised Clarkís sacrifice for the Braves.
ìAmy stepped in there to make us a better team and we all appreciate it and we all realize itís a sacrifice because she is a very good player,î Wigham said. ìIím just so proud of her.î
Woods Cross coach Kevin Rigby, stinging from another 1-goal loss to Bountiful, lamented the obvious.
ìThe Region 5 title was ours to win today,î he said. ìBut credit Bountiful. They did what they had to do to get the win.î
sschulte@davisclipper.com
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