Girls soccer: Brighton holds off Riverton

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, I was asked by the Deseret News to cover the Brighton-Riverton girls soccer game. This was a state tournament game and was a great effort by both teams on a beautiful afternoon. Here is the article that appeared in the D-News, and will also be published in Brighton's girls soccer yearbook.

By Bruce Smith

For the Deseret News

             There were eight 5A girls state soccer tournament games Tuesday afternoon, but few games had both teams looking forward to a contest like Brighton and Riverton.

            Almost two months ago, the Bengals routed the Silverwolves 6-0. Riverton was eager for a rematch. Brighton? The Bengals wanted to make up for a first-round tournament exit last year.
            Mati Long and Stephanie Ringwood scored goals and goalkeepers Carli Olson and Tamaryn Braun teamed up for another shutout victory as Brighton advanced to the second round of the 5A tourney with a 2-0 victory at Albion Middle School.
            If coaches counted moral victories, this would have been possible for both.
            “They came out with fire in their eyes,” said Brighton coach Mark Stoker of the Silverwolves. “The tournament is different. Everyone knows it’s win or go home.”
            Brighton advanced to the second round, and will play at Davis Thursday. The Darts whipped Hunter 14-0 in another first-round contest.
            The Bengals’ only losses this season came to top-ranked Alta. The players won’t admit it, but they are hoping for another shot at the Hawks, and that can only take place in the championship game Oct. 19 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
            “Our focus is on 40-minute halves,” Stoker said.
            The Bengals were particularly pleased when Long’s 17^th goal of the season found the net. It came only seconds before halftime in what had been an evenly matched contest. Long took a nice pass from a teammate and got the kick past Riverton goalie Pume Currie, who had several big saves up to that point.
            “She (Currie) kept us in the game,” said Riverton coach Paul Moizer. “She had three or four really good saves.”
            The second half was a different story.
            “We spent a lot of time chasing the ball,” said Moizer. “They (the Bengals) controlled the ball most of the time, and they always seemed to have an extra man in the middle.”
            That left Currie busier. Several Brighton shots went over the net and one caromed off the post. Finally, Ringwood’s score gave Brighton a cushion and the Bengals were never threatened afterward.
            It wasn’t 6-0, but it was still a victory and got the first-round jinx off their back. Riverton ended its season with a 9-7 record.