Boys' soccer: Gundred scores in OT to lift Lone Peak past Pleasant Grove

Pleasant Grove • It took overtime to settle an outstanding boys' soccer game between Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove on Friday night, but the Knights came up with the golden goal in the 85th minute to secure the victory.

It was a high-pressure contest from beginning to end, but particularly in the last 15 minutes of regulation and during the overtime period.

The ball went up and down the field with speed and precision, and both teams had multiple opportunities to break the scoreless tie before Lone Peak finally did, but both goalies and back lines played very well throughout.

The final play unfolded as the Vikings intercepted a long pass into the goal area. Knight senior forward Tyler Gundred was hovering alone on the left wing and saw a Pleasant Grove defender pass the ball to the keeper for a clearing kick.

He reached the goalie at the same time as the ball. It wasn't fielded cleanly, and Gundred just tapped it to the right and sent it into the empty net.

"That was one of the most intense games we've had all year," Gundred said. "That Pleasant Grove team is a high-pressure team with good organization."

In the huddle prior to the start of overtime, team captain Gundred encouraged his teammates to keep the pressure on.

As he followed the ball, he said he saw the center back turn and send it toward the net and he knew that might give him the opportunity he was looking for.

"Luckily I got there and was able to give the ball that little poke," he said. But he quickly gave credit to his parents for his being in the right position in the first place.

"It was like a flashback in my head," he said. "I could hear them saying to wait for that mistake and then capitalize on it, and it worked out."

As it happened, Gundred's parents weren't actually at the game, but the years of practice and encouragement they've invested in him along the way paid off when this match was on the line.