Sandy » Even before Friday's Class 4A girls' soccer championship game began, the Timpanogos team wanted to make a statement.

Following team introductions, the Timberwolves formed a pack and charged to the sideline, while Bonneville walked a few steps behind.

After all, Timpanogos, vying for its first soccer state title in school history -- girls' or boys' -- had something to prove. For the defending 4A champion Lakers, this was old hat.

"We wanted to set the pace starting at the whistle today," said Timpanogos coach Natalyn Lewis.

As it turned out, the Timberwolves saved their best for just before the final whistle.

With just over 30 seconds left in regulation, Timpanogos forward McKenzie Adams accepted a cross-hatch pass from Gel Dickson and slammed home the game-winner in the Timberwolves' 2-1 win over Bonneville at Rio Tinto Stadium on Friday.

"I just knew I had to get the job done," said Adams.

Fact is, she'd been taking care of business all day.

Midway through the first half, Adams floated a shot from 20 yards out that skimmed past the fingertips of Bonneville goalkeeper Brittany McGregor to give the Timberwolves an early 1-0 lead.

"If there was ever a day for someone to show up, today was it," said Lewis. "She's been doing it all year in practice, but she's been overshadowed a bit."

And as long as Adams was hot, Timpanogos standout strikers Marissa Nimmer and Gel Dickson had no problem taking a backseat.

"Kenzie stepped up big," said Dickson. "This is the farthest we've been [in the playoffs] and we said to ourselves we might as well go all the way."

But Bonneville wasn't about to let the game slip away so easily.

After the break, the Lakers took control of the game and the reigning 4A MVP, Jaiden Thornock, led the charge. In the 67th minute, Thornock drew Timpanogos goalkeeper Alexa Anderson out of the box and fired off a blistering shot that bounced off a defender and hit the goal post. But without missing a step, she rebounded the deflection and knocked in the equalizer.

But Timpanogos' defense, led by Lexi Henrie, Kelsee Soelberg and Lauren Richardson, worked like a pack of wolves for the remainder, scrambling to deflect numerous direct shots on goal.

Just like they've been doing the entire season.

"We've just been counting [the state title] down this season one game at a time," said Lewis. It's going to feel really good to put that last finger down in the locker room.