LAYTON — Home field did not prove to be an advantage for either team in boys soccer matches between Bonneville and Northridge this season.

Both visiting squads claimed 2-1 wins on the road, with Bonneville taking Tuesday’s Region 5 showdown to split the series.

Parker DeGroot did some fancy footwork to score what proved to be the winning goal in the 31st minute for Bonneville, breaking a 1-1 tie, and goalkeeper Karson Vanderhoof and his friends on defense kept the Knights off the board the rest of the way.

“I think I caught the center back a little bit off guard; he wasn’t ready for me to be there and I stole it from him and it was a one-on-one with the keeper and I just had to tap it in,” DeGroot said.

DeGroot’s game-winner came only 34 seconds after Northridge tied things up on a goal by Luke Rudolphi, who found the net on a rebound shot after a free-kick from midfield.

“Just knowing it’s part of the game; they’re a good team, so they’re going to score. That’s OK, but we have to be ready to keep up our game and score another one. Just think positive,” DeGroot said of Bonneville’s quick reversal of fortunes.

The Knights (7-5, 4-4 Region 5) simply had a brief lapse after their tying goal and it cost them dearly.

“When you score, or they score, you still have to keep in mind you have to play the game. We just made a silly move when we should have cleared that ball and lost focus, and it cost us,” Northridge coach Rafael Guerrero said. “It was just an unlucky play. When you make a couple of mistakes, it happens sometimes; we couldn’t come back.”

“Clank” became the operative word the rest of the game as both teams knocked several shots off the posts and strategic defenders protecting the net, but nothing got past Vanderhoof or Northridge goalie Matthew Ramirez.

“Aidan (Iverson), he saved me. Twice I think I came out and he got behind me; I love him,” Vanderhoof said. “Then after they scored and got a big mental lift, we made another goal right after and that was huge for us.”

Eric Ndayambaje scored the Lakers’ first goal in the 18th minute, giving them an early 1-0 lead.

The road has been a mixed bag for Bonneville (6-8, 5-4) but they were anxious to play the Knights again after a tough home loss in April.

“We were excited to come back and see them again. Three of our last four games have been on the road, so we’re used to it by now,” DeGroot said.

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