WASHINGTON TERRACE — On the first cool night of the soccer season, Bountiful High hoped to throw some extra heat into the closing stretch of the Region 5 title race.

Sadie Beardall had a few things to say about that. Four things, to be precise.

In a 4-2 win against the Redhawks late Tuesday night, Bonneville’s speedy junior forward scored four goals in two separate two-goal bursts on either side of halftime to secure an outright Region 5 championship for the Lakers.

They woke up Tuesday with an 8-0 region record. Bountiful had a 7-1 region record. Come Wednesday, it’s Bonneville and only Bonneville with its hands on the trophy for the second year in a row and the fifth time in six seasons.

“This is what we were looking forward to, this is what we were building for in a region that we believe is an extremely tough region,” Lakers head coach Tyler Anderson said. “Anytime you can get to where you win a region title, that’s a big deal.”

There’s one region game left in the regular season, which the Lakers will probably want to win, and then the focus will turn exclusively to the state tournament. One doesn’t have to search very far or wide to find Bonneville’s motivation for 2021.

The Lakers have been state runner-ups two straight years, both times via golden goal against teams from Salt Lake City.

With many key players returning this year, there’s been a sense that once again Bonneville can get to the last game of the season at Rio Tinto Stadium.

After Tuesday’s win, the Lakers will likely earn a top-four seed in the final RPI standings and be well-positioned to make a deep run in the state playoffs.

“I’m very, very proud of my team. We play as a team, work as a team, finish as a team,” Beardall said.

Tuesday’s scoring started midway through the first half when Summer Diamond, a speedy junior forward who forms a potent attack with Beardall, raced down the right side and delivered a cross right on Beardall’s head. Beardall did the rest and the Lakers took a 1-0 lead.

About two minutes later, Diamond again raced down the right and crossed to Beardall in the box. The shot was blocked, but the rebound fell to Beardall and she sent it home to double the lead.

Action during a prep soccer game between Bonneville High and Bountiful on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, in Washington Terrace.

Bonneville went 5-0 in the first round of region play with two 1-0 wins, a double-overtime win and a penalty shootout win. So far in the second half of the region, it’s been four wins by a combined 14-3 scoreline.

Anderson said the team is finally finding its rhythm with its movement and passing, and also with its health.

Diamond, in particular, has been out with injuries most of the season and just returned to full fitness last week, Anderson said. Diamond provided the direct pass for Beardall’s first and fourth goals, and pretty much assisted the second one.

“I’m happy she was able to recover quickly. I’m glad that she’s able to play at her own level, she’s a wonderful player,” Beardall said.

In between Beardall’s goalscoring, Bountiful nearly had a goal of its own on a shot from about 50 yards away that Lakers keeper Ellie Scholer backpedaled and tipped onto the crossbar before corralling the ball.

Meantime, the Redhawks protested, claiming they had a goal. Play went on and whatever halftime talk the Bonneville coaches gave the players, it worked.

Beardall, who recently verbally committed to Utah Valley University, scored shortly after the restart for her hat trick then, five minutes later, rounded the keeper in a one-on-one situation to score her fourth.

Bountiful scored late, but the final score had long since been decided.

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