Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Bountiful won the 5A girls soccer championship, defeating Olympus 2-1 on Friday.
- Belle Sorensen and Myka Page each scored, overcoming a 1-0 halftime deficit.
- Coach Kris Hamlet praised defensive adjustments that helped secure Bountiful's victory.
SANDY — Bountiful is the 5A girls soccer champions — the first time since 2006.
The Redhawks had advanced to the state semifinals each of the past four seasons, including back-to-back losses in 2022and 2023.
On Friday afternoon, Belle Sorensen made sure to finish the job.
The senior had a goal and an assist as Bountiful rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to upend Region 5 rival Olympus 2-1 at America First Field.
"To get there both my freshman year and sophomore year, and the semifinals last year, this year I just wanted to leave it all out on the field," said Sorensen, who will graduate in December before going to play at Utah Valley. "To finally get the ring, I'm so glad the team pulled through.
"We all worked so hard this season, and it means so much for me to go out my senior year like that."
Myka Page also had a goal and an assist for the Redhawks (14-5), who lost to the second-seeded Titans twice in region play by an aggregate score of 9-4.
There was no punking the defense this time as Bountiful denied their region rivals a repeat title and sixth in program history.
"We knew we had to adjust some things at halftime," Bountiful coach Kris Hamlet said. "We decided to switch things up at halftime, and feel like it made a difference in the game.
"We felt like we needed to be a little closer to Olympus' attackers; we were giving them too much space, and we just felt like we needed to clamp down a bit and make them work a little harder. I think we did that in the second half. Our back line was amazing … and ultimately, they did what they needed to do. They really stepped up."
Keira Bradley gave the Titans (15-5) the early edge with a goal midway through the first half, and played like the higher seeded team through the break.
Less than two minutes after a chance on the counter caromed off the right post, Page took a flicked on header from Sorensen and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one to equalize in the 55th minute.
Sorensen repaid the favor 10 minutes later, finding Page after forcing a turnover about 30 yards from goal for the junior Washington State commit to finish for the go-ahead goal.
"She's such an amazing player; I love playing with her," Sorensen said of Page. "I feel like we read each other so well. It was a perfect ball by her, and I'm glad I could finish the opportunity."
The duo don't play club soccer together — Page is a Celtic product, while Sorensen plays with LaRoca. But the chemistry built up between the two is undeniable.
"Since my freshman year, we've been a dynamic duo, always passing to each other," Page said. "I've been more of a passer, she's been more of a finisher, but I feel like it's so perfect for us to work together."
The two will go their separate ways after the season. But the chemistry has been undeniable "all season" — and beyond — Hamlet said.
"I think they're just two great players who know where each other is going to go, and they know their strengths," he added. "They both deliver awesome assists to each other, and they're so confident that the other one is going to finish. They're just two very talented players that know how to play together."
