Provo Bulldogs advance on 2 second-half goals

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 17, 2007 | by J.G. Askar Deseret Morning News

PROVO -- After a ho-hum first half Wednesday, Provo High caught fire following intermission en route to a 2-0 win over visiting Highland in the first round of the 4A boys soccer playoffs.

Chris Dinehart and Eric Gutierrez scored goals in the 52nd and 65th minutes, respectively, to propel Provo to victory.

"We played a great second half," Bulldog coach Cesar Cardoso said. "We were able to settle down a little bit. In the first half we were trying to play the style they played with them kicking balls in the air. We had to put the ball on the ground, and that's what my guys did. I told them at halftime that we were trying to penetrate too much through the center, and once we opened up the game to the wings, we created a lot of chances."

Dinehart's score from five yards out early in the second half gave Provo a huge momentum boost. The scoring opportunity unfolded as Bulldog midfielder McKay Sorensen dribbled down the left sideline and centered the ball into Highland's 18-yard box. Provo's Francisco Loza redirected the cross with a subtle header that put the ball on the foot of a streaking Dinehart. Parallel with the right post, Dinehart unleashed a point-blank shot that Rams goalkeeper Clemente Gomez essentially had no chance of stopping.

Gutierrez's goal 13 minutes later was unassisted. Racing down the right side of the field, Gutierrez drew Gomez out of the net far enough to get the angle he needed in order to blast the ball into the net untouched just inside the right post.

From Highland's perspective, Wednesday's defeat was simply a tale of two halves.

"We had a good first half," Rams coach Eric Bliss said. "I felt like the first half was ours in terms of possession and forward play. In the second half we lost our rhythm. Provo's a very aggressive, physical, fast team, and I think we just ran out of gas."

Dinehart appeared to have scored the game's first goal in the 35th minute. When Gomez advanced out of the goal box to challenge a high pass but whiffed on the ball, Dinehart was there to convert the scoring opportunity. But officials negated the goal by ruling that Dinehart was offsides on the play.

Provo goalie Ryan Ellingson shut out the Rams without having to make any spectacular saves. The Bulldog defense did an excellent job all game long of clearing the ball so that Ellingson didn't have to deal with put-backs or congestion in front of the net.