| Carbon’s Elisabeth Smith chest traps the ball during the North Sanpete game. The Lady Dinos tied the Lady Hawks 4-4 in double overtime. The Thursday game is the closest Carbon has come to a Sanpete victory. |
A lot more than a win or a loss was riding on Thursday’s ladies soccer game at Carbon High.
According to coach Dave Capalbo, Lehi and Delta have consistently taken two of the three region eight soccer state berths for several years.
That usually leaves Carbon, North Sanpete and Grand fighting to position themselves for the remaining berth.
In Carbon’s first region match of the season against North Sanpete, the stakes were high.
Carbon soccer is entering their fourth season and has yet to trump the Lady Hawks for the third berth.
“This was an important game,” Capalbo said.
In the first half of the game, Carbon immediately took the upper hand.
A near goal in the first minute of the game by Andraya Newby and several diving stops by keeper Dani Long fueled a Dino drive.
Tabby Cummins scored the first goal of the game, sneaking a deep kick past the Lady Hawk keeper.
Heather Hughes’ goal increased the Carbon lead to 2-0 a few minutes later.
Just before the halftime whistle sounded, North Sanpete lofted a shot just over Long’s reach to make the halftime score 2-1.
The tides turned for the Dinos at the start of the second half. Two quick goals by the Lady Hawks put Carbon down 3-2.
Lacey Timothy’s goal finally silenced the Hawk drive, tying the game.
When North Sanpete scored a fourth goal in the final minutes of the game, the day’s efforts seemed in vain.
However, Cummins restored smiles to the faces of Carbon fans with her second goal of the day to end the regulation game in a 4-4 tie.
Two 10-minute overtimes did not settle the dispute, thanks to the defensive play of Whitney Montoya. Montoya stopped several drives on the goal that would have ended the game under the golden goal format.
“Some people say a tie is like kissing your sister,” Capalbo joked. “But I’ll take a tie against them.”
Carbon’s tie is the best result they have had coming out of a North Sanpete matchup.
“They played so good,” Capalbo said. “We actually had the game won but we gave it back to them in the first two minutes of the second half.”
The junior varsity game also ended in a 2-2 tie.
Carbon also had a victory against Union on Saturday. Newby’s last minute score lifted the Dinos 4-3 for the win.
Carbon will play their next region game today at home against Grand. Varsity begins at 3:30, followed by the jv game.