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Bonneville's Brynlee Needham (35) holds off Box Elder's Karli Andersen (5) as Bonneville's Natilee Cherry (6) looks on during a Region 5 match Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Bonneville's Miley Falk (31) keeps the ball away from Box Elder's Oakley Norman in a Region 5 match Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Bonneville keeper Lily Atkinson (99) secures the ball in a Region 5 match against Box Elder on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Box Elder's Brooklyn Hadfield heads the ball in a Region 5 match against Bonneville on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Box Elder's Taylor Nye (20) and Bonneville's Camila Arreguin (10) jostle for the ball in a Region 5 match Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Bonneville's Moza Bikyeombe, right, moves around Box Elder's Oaklee Wylie in a Region 5 match Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Box Elder's Taylor Nye (20) and Bonneville's Camila Arreguin (10) jostle for the ball in a Region 5 match Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Box Elder's Oaklee Wylie (3) corrals the ball in a Region 5 match against Bonneville on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Box Elder's Brooklyn Hadfield chases down the ball in a Region 5 match against Bonneville on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Washington Terrace.

BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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WASHINGTON TERRACE — Early in the second half of a girls soccer match against Box Elder, Bonneville sophomore Maggie Anderson made a play that will not be recorded as a stat, though she preserved a one-goal lead for the Lakers, when she crossed behind keeper Lily Atkinson and knocked away a point-blank sure shot for the Bees.

Anderson then got on the books when she scored a golden goal just 1 minute, 12 seconds into overtime for the Lakers.

Bonneville thus opened Region 5 action with a scintillating, 2-1 victory over the Bees on Thursday afternoon.

Anderson’s winning goal came on a free kick from well beyond the penalty box, and Box Elder keeper Emma Nelson mishandled the missile and the ball crossed the end line.

“A couple of games I’ve hit good balls and almost scored, so they wanted me to shoot this one,” Anderson said. “Trying to get it on frame and bomb it at the keeper, make sure she drops it … ended up crossing the line after she hit it.”

The Lakers (3-0, 1-0 Region 5) led 1-0 at the half on a penalty kick by senior captain Meili Larsen just 38 seconds into the game, and Box Elder (2-2, 0-1) made a strong bid to get even in the 49th minute.

Box Elder had a two-on-one break against Atkinson and she had to decide which way to react. Taking on the point, and now out of position, Atkinson exposed the left corner of the net where Taylor Nye carefully tapped what would have been the tying score for the Bees.

But Anderson got to the ball and kicked it harmlessly away, maintaining the 1-0 edge for Bonneville.

“(Atkinson is) always going to go out so you have to cover her and if you’re in the right spot at the right time, you can block it,” Anderson said. “I play club with our keeper; hoping she’ll get it, but if not, I’m there.”

Atkinson was quick to credit Anderson for the play, noting a reciprocal effect permeating the Laker team.

“That’s what she does. We have such a good chemistry and I’m so grateful for her; amazing play,” Atkinson said. “My defense … they have my back and I have theirs. They worked hard the whole time.”

The Bees sent the game into overtime on a tying goal by junior Ariana Poll with only 32 seconds left in regulation.

“Their shot was good, but I think we let down because we knew there were only 30 seconds remaining and we thought it was over,” Anderson said.

With a goal 38 seconds after the start, another with 32 ticks left on the clock, and the game-winner just 1:12 into overtime, it brought home the necessity of playing the entire 80 minutes and more at full tilt.

“I knew they were pressing, but I thought our team had it,” Atkinson added. “It was an amazing shot. Credit to her.”

Credit also to the Lakers, who bounced back for the winning goal when they could have collapsed after Box Elder’s late heroics.

“We had to have a high mindset and make sure we were all strong enough to keep the energy up and make sure you get a goal,” Anderson said.

Box Elder coach BJ Barber was proud of his team after the tough loss.

“We’ve got a lot of heart, a lot of effort and attitude; don’t quit until the end,” Barber said. “We had a game last week where we won in overtime the first 10 seconds … good game against a good team. Nine times out of 10 that shot doesn’t go in. It happens.”

There are eight teams in Region 5, so league play starts earlier than many of the other regions and this was a good opener for both schools.

“Always having the lead is a little bit stressful, but I was confident in my team and knew we would pull it out eventually,” Atkinson said. “Come overtime, I had faith in my team.”