Payson Roundup

Tanya Olsen’s successful goal shot from 10 yards away with less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime lifted the Lady Longhorn soccer team to a 2-1 win over the Round Valley Elks.

PHS coach Joe Schmidt tagged the East clash played Sept. 29 at Rumsey Park “our biggest game of the season.”

“We had to win to keep our state tournament hopes on track,” he added.

The Elks entered the game having edged the Lady Longhorns in a preseason scrimmage and were victorious, 4-2 on Sept. 19 in a mud-bog-like game played in Eagar.

Knowing they were the underdogs and locked in a battle for the postseason, Lady Horn players, “came out very determined; taking the lead when Sara Anderson followed in a shot that deflected off the (Round Valley) keeper and put it away from close range,” Schmidt said.

About 10 minutes later, the Lady Elks took advantage of a PHS defensive miscue to tie up the game 1-1.

Both the Elks and the Lady Horns had even more opportunities to score in the first half, but neither team cashed in on the chances.

The second half was a defensive struggle, with both teams going scoreless.

The coach cited goalkeeper Natalie Black for her efforts in keeping Round Valley at bay.

As the game wore on, “We were turning back RV attacks better and spending more time attacking, but couldn’t put one in the net,” Schmidt said. “The trend continued through most of the two overtime periods.”

Tanya Olsen’s successful goal shot from 10 yards away with less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime lifted the Lady Longhorn soccer team to a 2-1 win over the Round Valley Elks.

PHS coach Joe Schmidt tagged the East clash played Sept. 29 at Rumsey Park “our biggest game of the season.”

“We had to win to keep our state tournament hopes on track,” he added.

The Elks entered the game having edged the Lady Longhorns in a preseason scrimmage and were victorious, 4-2 on Sept. 19 in a mud-bog-like game played in Eagar.

Knowing they were the underdogs and locked in a battle for the postseason, Lady Horn players, “came out very determined; taking the lead when Sara Anderson followed in a shot that deflected off the (Round Valley) keeper and put it away from close range,” Schmidt said.

About 10 minutes later, the Lady Elks took advantage of a PHS defensive miscue to tie up the game 1-1.

Both the Elks and the Lady Horns had even more opportunities to score in the first half, but neither team cashed in on the chances.

The second half was a defensive struggle, with both teams going scoreless.

The coach cited goalkeeper Natalie Black for her efforts in keeping Round Valley at bay.

As the game wore on, “We were turning back RV attacks better and spending more time attacking, but couldn’t put one in the net,” Schmidt said. “The trend continued through most of the two overtime periods.”