JUCO Soccer: Hometown Salt Lake advances to Saturday's Region 18 title match
JUCO Soccer: Hometown Salt Lake advances to Saturday's Region 18 title match
The No. 2-ranked Bruins' men's soccer team shut out Truckee Meadows 2-0, while Abbi Sanford had a hat trick for No. 4 Salt Lake women against the Lizards on Thursday.
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — The Region 19 men’s and women’s soccer tournaments featuring two of the top junior college programs in the nation is being held at Salt Lake Community College this week, and the hometown Bruins made good use of their opener.
The No. 2-ranked Bruins (15-0-2) stayed unbeaten on the season with a 2-0 win over Truckee Meadows in Thursday’s region semifinals to advance to the championship match Saturday.
Freshman Sawyer Heaton opened the scoring early for Salt Lake, finishing off a cross from Francisco Tita in the 17th minute before Joseph Picotto finished Carles Zomeno’s corner kick in the 30th minute to put the match away.
“I’m proud of the team,” SLCC men’s soccer coach Mark Davis said. “We have been working on corners all week.
“Saturday will be challenging. It’ snever easy to beat a team three times in a season.”
The Bruins will face in-state rival USU-Eastern in Saturday’s championship match after the No. 15 Eagles (11-3-1) dispatched Southern Nevada, 5-3.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT.
Region 18 women’s soccer tournament
Abbi Sanford had a hat trick as No. 4 Salt Lake earned a berth in the Region 18 title match with a 3-0 win over Truckee Meadows on Thursday afternoon.
The Bruins (14-1) took a 1-0 into halftime courtesy of Sanford’s first goal in the 29th minute from Kenadee Thomas, who had two assists.
The Fremont High product doubled the advantage in the 71st minute, finishing off a chance from Mao Ito, before finishing off her hat trick just before the 80th minute.
Essence Burrus made six saves to earn the shutout.
The Bruins will face in-state rival Snow College in Saturday’s region title match at 11 a.m. MT.