Boys soccer: Rangel helps Roy blank Bonneville 3-0 to sweep series, clarify Region 5 standings
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- Bonneville keeper Fabian Serrato, left, tries to save a Roy shot on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Roy.
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- Roy’s Alex Carreno, left, and Bonneville’s Holt Mitchell battle for possession in a match Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Roy.
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- A Bonneville player, center, tries to stop the ball as Roy’s Bronson Belnap (7) arrives from behind on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Roy.
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- Bonneville’s Colby Stone (7) and Stockton Moynier, center, track the ball as a Roy player collides with keeper Fabian Serrato on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Roy.
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- Bonneville’s Jace Anderson, right, tries to corral the ball as Roy’s Bronson Belnap (7) defends on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Roy.
ROY — Roy High boys soccer had a good practice Monday and it carried over to its game against Bonneville on Tuesday.
David Rangel scored a brace with two first-half goals, while keepers Colby Frokjer and Xander Allred helped keep the Lakers off the board, as the Royals recorded a 3-0 shutout and swept the Region 5 season series.
“This game was really important to us. We’ve been practicing for this game the whole time,” Rangel said. “We knew this team was a good team.”
The Royals (7-3, 7-3 Region 5) dominated the game early and finally found the net in the 24th minute on Rangel’s breakaway first goal.
“We practiced on the runs, making runs in open spaces,” Rangel said. “We came out and Boston (Risk) connected with me. I was going to go back post, but I saw him (keeper) slide over so I went front post instead.”
That’s where things stood until late in the half when Rangel added to the lead in the 36th minute, making it 2-0 at the half.
“If we score as many goals as we can in the first half, we set ourselves up for later on in the game,” Rangel said. “In our minds, it’s still 0-0; Tyson (Johansen) found me for that through ball and I just put it away.”
Still wary of the Lakers (6-4, 6-4), Roy wanted more and Corben Shuffenhaur tallied a goal off an assist from Johansen in the 47th minute, boosting the bulge to 3-0.
“At half, we talked about 2-0 is the most dangerous lead. The game’s not over; it was important to score another one. When we scored the third, we were pretty set for the game,” Rangel said.
Roy’s victory gave a little more clarity to the Region 5 race. The Royals sit solely in second place, one game behind Box Elder and one game ahead of Bonneville and Bountiful with four games remaining on the docket.
“We had a game plan coming in and played to it. We worked a lot on our distribution and through balls; getting the ball to our forwards,” Roy coach Craig Charlesworth said. “We had some opportunities we didn’t put away. I think we could have scored more.”
Charlesworth stuck with his plan of having Frokjer tend the net in the first half, and switched to Allred after the break. But as good as they are, with the defense Roy played Tuesday, they could have taken a seat on the sidelines and the Royals still would have won.
“We were very comfortable today and they didn’t threaten us a lot,” Charlesworth said. “It was a good game for us, to sweep Bonneville; they’re very tough and we’re happy to take two on them.”
Bonneville had only one shot on goal in the first half and it hit the side of the net. The Lakers missed a penalty kick in the second half for its only other scoring opportunity.
“We possessed a lot; that’s kind of a key to what we do. If we possess the ball, our defense doesn’t have as much work to do,” Charlesworth said. “Their No. 10 (Ashton Duran) is a very good player, and as soon as they get the ball, they look for him. We made sure somebody always knew where he was and made sure he couldn’t take the game over.
“Our message was to concentrate on defense, push the ball forward, and if we get a chance to score, put the ball in,” Charlesworth said. “Our main focus was that we didn’t give up a goal.”
Rangel echoed his coach’s feelings.
“3-0 is better than 3-1. Better to not score any goals on us,” he said.