Region 9 boys soccer: Dixie and Snow Canyon at top of the table, Crimson Cliffs 1 game back

Written by E. George Goold
April 17, 2024

ST. GEORGE — The boys soccer teams from Dixie and Snow Canyon are both 7-1 in region play while Crimson Cliffs is one game behind at 6-2 as the stretch run to the 4A state playoffs begins.

The Flyers and Warriors had big wins and the Mustangs avenged an early-season loss to backyard rival Desert Hills to keep pace with the frontrunners.

According to the most recent RPI (ratings percentage index) numbers which are used to determine playoff seedings, three Region 9 teams are in the top 10 in 4A: Dixie (fifth), Snow Canyon (seventh) and Crimson (eighth).

Undefeated Layton Christian Academy is the No. 1 team, according to RPI.

Following are recaps of recent action on the Region 9 pitch.

Snow Canyon 3, Cedar 2 (2 OT) | Snow Canyon 5, Pine View 1

Snow Canyon’s Fernando Garcia (right) scores the Golden Goal against Cedar in a Region 9 soccer match, Cedar City, Utah, April 12, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, Cedar City News / St. George News

At Cedar City April 12, the Reds and the Warriors battled for 100 minutes until sophomore Fernando Garcia kicked in the game-winning golden goal with just 6 seconds remaining in the second overtime period.

The Reds had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half of the contest, thanks to an early score by Mason Palmer. 

Snow Canyon scored twice in the second half, as Reggie Mackay and team captain Caden Morris each netted a goal. 

Meanwhile, Cedar saw another goal by Palmer, tying the score 2-2 and sending the game into overtime.

Both teams battled throughout one scoreless 10-minute overtime period and most of the next one before Garcia made his way down the left side and kicked the ball into the net, just past the reach of goalkeeper Sam Murray.

“Anytime you go to Cedar, it’s a grind,” said Snow Canyon head coach Kendal Nani. “Coach (Scott) Kamachi and his crew always bring a good fight and it was a battle. I’m glad we came out on the right end of it.

Snow Canyon’s Reggie Mackay (17) lofts a ball against Cedar in a Region 9 soccer match, Cedar City, Utah, April 12, 2024 | Photo by Jeff Richards, Cedar City News / St. George News

“The grit from our players once again, especially from our captain, Caden Morris, and our sophomore Reggie Mackay, was just outstanding. The golden goal with a few seconds left in overtime by Fernando Garcia was top quality and the timing could not have been better.”

The Warriors played at Pine View on Tuesday, defeating the Panthers 5-1. Garcia and Mackey both scored solo markers as did Caden Morris, Joshua Jensen and Brandon Perez Toscano.

Andy Prudencio netted Pine View’s goal.

Snow Canyon has a bye while the Reds next play at Pine View Friday at 7:30 p.m.

– written by Jeff Richards

Dixie 4, Pine View 1 | Dixie 8, Hurricane 0

At Pine View April 12, Taylor Kogan assisted Iker Meza for Dixie’s go-ahead goal, then Kogan scored off of an assist from Joe Pasley to make it 2-1 for the Flyers at halftime.

Dixie cemented the win in the second half with two goals by Melvin Contreras. Meza assisted the first and Contreras scored unassisted on the second.

At Walt Brooks Field on Tuesday, the Flyers rolled the Tigers with five first-half goals and then three more in the second.

Kogan started things off with Dixie’s first tally, assisted by Tucker McNary. Pasley set up Gunnar Woods for the second goal.

Daniel Briones scored unassisted for the Flyers, then Hurricane got on the board with a penalty kick goal converted by Dominique Alarcon.

Christopher Terraza scored (assisted by McNary) and Woods found the net for a 5-1 Dixie lead at halftime.

Kogan scored twice to complete his hat trick in the second half and David Diaz accounted for Dixie’s final goal. Meza had two second-half helpers and Briones also assisted a score.

The Flyers next play at Crimson Cliffs Friday at 7:30 p.m. while Hurricane hosts Desert Hills the same day and time. 

Crimson Cliffs 8, Hurricane 1 | Crimson Cliffs 3, Desert Hills 2

Desert Hills goalkeeper Aidan Chinn clears a ball against Crimson Cliffs in a Region 9 soccer match, St. George, Utah, April 16, 2024 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News

At Hurricane April 12, the Mustangs erupted for four goals in each half and declawed the Tigers.

Ryan Smith and Easton Lott both scored twice for the winners while four other Mustangs – Bitner Mitchell, Hinckley Heaton, Luke Erekson, Caden Cox – posted single scores in the big win.

Cox also recorded an assist for the Thunder, which got solo helpers from Ezekiel Wier, Presten Patchett, Aidan McArthur, Jace Esplin and goalkeeper Brody Fielding.

Dominique Alarcon netted Hurricane’s goal in the setback.

Tuesday at Desert Hills, the Mustangs kept a lead throughout most of the game and gained a little payback for a shootout loss to the Thunder March 22.

Hinckley Heaton scored one goal and assisted another to lead the Mustangs in the win. Ryan Smith and Luke Erekson recorded the other two markers for Crimson.

Boone Heaton scored both of the Thunder’s tallies in a tightly-played contest. Noah Nield and Zach Davis recorded assists in the defeat.

Region 9 boys soccer standings (region, overall) as of April 18:

  1. Dixie  7-1, 9-1
  2. Snow Canyon  7-1, 9-2
  3. Crimson Cliffs  6-2, 7-3
  4. Desert Hills  3-4, 4-5
  5. Cedar  2-5, 2-7
  6. Pine View  2-6, 2-8
  7. Hurricane  0-8, 0-10

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eric George Goold came to St. George News from southwestern Colorado, where he was a radio news reporter. He has been a journalist for over 20 years in five different states. He graduated with a master's degree in English from Kansas State University and writes nonfiction as well. Goold has been published in Sunstone Magazine and has done multiple public readings about local history. When he has free time, he enjoys chess, movies and dogs.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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