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Woods Cross girls' soccer coach Dave Newman has been bringing his team to East's compact field for six years and has yet to win.
So taking a 1-1 tie and a point in the Region 5 race with the Leopards on a blistering hot Thursday afternoon felt like an improvement.
"It's always tough to play East and it's tough when you play here," said Newman. "We practice with a field that we shrink [dimensions of] because it is so difficult to play. I've been coming here for six years as a coach and never won a point. So, if we can get a point, I'm happy."
For much of the contest, it looked as though the Wildcats might come away with more than a point.
The Wildcats came out on fire, getting an early goal from Kennedy Yost that looked as it might hold up.
"It was nice getting one early," she said. "We held them for a while. We were pretty equal."
East tied the game 10 minutes into the second half when freshman star Emily Jensen dribbled past a defender on the left of the goal and flicked in the tying goal with her left foot.
"That was an unbelievable hustle goal," said East coach Rudy Schenk. "I am real proud of her. She's just a gritty little player."
It was the fourth goal of the year for the freshman, who seemed to always be in the right place at the right time.
"We came back," said Schenk. "That was one heck of a high school game. They got on us. They were on us for the first 25 minutes. We settled in, and I thought we played well in the second half. We got the equalizer and, from there, it was gut check for both teams. We had chances. They had chances."
Woods Cross' best two chances for the win came late in the first overtime, when East goalie and senior captain Joselyn Hanrath made two tough saves.
"Their goalie made a good save," said Newman. "That is what a goalie is there for. She has been a good keeper for East for a few years. I will be glad when she graduates."
East and Woods Cross established themselves as two of the better 4A teams Thursday and figure to battle for the Region 5 title much of the season.
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Woods Cross 1, East 1
R Kennedy Yost gets an early goal for Woods Cross.
• Freshman Emily Jensen ties the game for East 10 minutes into the second half.
• East goalie Joselyn Hanrath preserves the tie with two big saves in overtime.