DRAPER -- Overcoming adversity and injury, the Lakers are back on center stage.
Defending state 4-A champion Bonneville moved within one win of a repeat Tuesday afternoon, edging Lehi 2-1 during the semifinal round of the state 4-A tournament at Juan Diego High School's Soaring Eagle Stadium.
"Lehi was very tough defensively; they played hard," said Bonneville forward Jaiden Thornock, who scored what would ultimately become the game-winner in the 70th minute of action. "We just had to keep after it and keep being aggressive."
Bonneville improved to 15-2-0 overall with its seventh straight victory and will meet Region 7's No. 3 seed Timpanogos for the state 4-A championship on Friday night at Sandy's Rio Tinto Stadium.
With the speed of the surface of Soaring Eagle Stadium, the Pioneers seemed to adjust to it faster and actually created more opportunities early.
Bonneville kept chipping away at it though and gradually came into the contest.
After finishing the first half in a scoreless draw, the Lakers didn't have to wait long to get things rolling in the second half -- thanks to a hugely lucky bounce.
Senior defender Abby Ulrich struck a free kick from 40 yards out, trying to play it to a teammate, but the ball hit nothing but empty space and took a high bounce over Lehi's goalkeeper and into the net for the 1-0 advantage just fifty seconds after the start of the half.
"We have so many weapons on this team; I knew they couldn't hold us out forever," Bonneville coach Layne Barker said. "I felt like it was only a matter of time before we broke through. Our best soccer has still never been played on the field."
Being down a goal didn't seem to bother Lehi, which continued to put solid pressure on Bonneville's defense.
The Lakers were up to the challenge, however, and finally opened up some breathing room in the 71st minute when Katie Parkinson's corner kick found its way to Thornock's feet for the 2-0 lead.
The two-goal advantage didn't last long, with Lehi's Tasha Price hitting a rocket cross-goal shot into the net to make it 2-1 just seconds later to set up a tense battle over the final minutes.
"We found a way to win; that's what was important," Thornock said. "We still haven't played our best soccer and we're hoping that comes on Friday."
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