(St. George, UT) – The Lady Warriors kept their hat in the ring for Region 9 title hopes by beating the visiting Flyers 1-0 Tuesday night.

Snow Canyon had not played at home in over a month, and they wanted to give their home crowd something to cheer loudly about—it was not easy.

Warriors’ junior Sarah Henderson capitalized on a penalty kick opportunity in the 76th minute scoring the only goal, giving Snow Canyon the win.

A handball foul was called on a Dixie player setting up the chance, and Warriors’ coach Kenny Kunde without hesitation selected Henderson to make good on the one-on-one challenge.

The junior said she tries to frame those situations in her mind.

“I just try to tune out the crowd noise and kick them like in practice,” Henderson said. “It [heart] definitely got pumping knowing that this could be the deciding play.

“But I felt pretty calm when I took it.”

The teams battled to a 0-0 halftime score, reminiscent of their 1-1 double overtime tie on September 1.

“Dixie did great job of putting pressure on us,” Kunde said. “They put a few [balls] off the bar and off the posts. It was just about hanging tough and fighting through it.

“And when things started getting a little chippy, our girls said enough is enough and started putting pressure on them, and created that opportunity.”

The Warriors won the 2010 Region 9 title, and now face 3A No. 2 ranked (Deseret News) Cedar on Thursday in a match that may well decide who claims this year’s title. The Flyers gave their best effort in trying to knock off the defending region champions, and the No. 4 Warriors’ title defense is not over.

“Dixie did a great job tonight,” Kunde said. “Everybody plays good against us. That’s just the way that it is. We’ve been a pretty good team the last few years, and we have to be on our game every game, because everybody is giving us their best shot.

“It’s a good problem to have.”

Snow Canyon senior keeper Cecilee Horlacher said the team’s target is the 3A state title and that they embrace the upcoming challenges.

“We know what we are going up against to get to state,” Horlacher said. “Every Tuesday and Thursday I am ready.”

IN OTHER REGION 9 ACTION:

Cedar High won 2-0 over Pine View. The Lady Reds scored a goal in each half, getting goals from Hannah Smith and Makayla Warby. Tara Shipp registered another shutout as the keeper.

At Desert Hills High school, Thunder keeper Janessa Houston and Falcons’ keeper Jaycee Slack both keep the slate clean bY turning away all shots against them. The teams battled through double overtime to a 0-0 final.

REGION 9 GIRLS SOCCER STANDINGS

Cedar 7-1-1 (9-3-1 overall)

Snow Canyon 7-2-1 (9-3-1)

Pine View 6-3-1 (6-6-1)

Dixie 4-4-1 (8-4-1)

Desert Hills 3-4-2 (5-6-2)

Hurricane 1-7-1 (4-7-1)

Canyon View 1-8-1 (3-10-1)

REGION 9 GIRLS GOAL SCORING LEADERS

11 G Kali Stubbs(Pine View)

10 G Berkley Bundy (Desert Hills)

9 G Ashlee Braun(Canyon View)

8 G Carly Stratton(Hurricane)

7 G Aubri Challis(Dixie), Lynne Taylor(Hurricane)

6 G Tirsa Snyder(Snow Canyon), Kenzie Cox(Dixie), Brindley Oldroyd(Cedar), Katie Lawely(Canyon View), Makayla Warby(Cedar)

5 G Callie Stewart(Snow Canyon)

REGION 9 GIRLS SHUTOUT LEADERS

5 Tara Shipp(Cedar)

2.5 Tayosha Turek(Pine View), Cecilee Horlacher(Snow Canyon)

2 Kelsey McCann(Dixie), Janessa Houston(Desert Hills)

1.5 Bailee Hirschi(Hurricane)

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