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With only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, high-ranking teams across the state are hoping to be challenged before they begin preparations for the playoffs. That's exactly what American Fork got Tuesday as it won a challenging game over second-place Lone Peak, 2-0.

"This was a big one for us; we knew we needed to be six points ahead of them," American Fork coach Derek Dunn said after his team's victory. "To us, that was the region championship. Coming out and doing what we did today, I'm choked up as it is. That was a test against a team that's going to do great things in the playoffs."

Now on a 10-game winning streak, the Cavemen were able to knock off the Knights thanks to sophomore forward Addison Holmstead's two-goal performance and keep their Region 4 record unblemished.

After a shaky start to the first half for American Fork, Holmstead got the visiting Cavemen on the board in the 25th minute thanks to a beautiful pass from senior Brooklyn Vogelsberg. The midfield pass split the Lone Peak defenders and found the foot of Holmstead, who had gotten in behind the Knights' defense. The sophomore striker finished her one-on-one chance against Lone Peak goalkeeper Brianne Allen to give her team a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.

Holmstead quickly doubled the score line in the second half when she blasted a shot toward goal in the 44th minute. The shot proved to be too much for Allen to handle as the ball squeaked between her legs.

"I wasn't sure if that one was going to go in or not," Holmstead said about her second shot on goal. "When I saw it go through her legs I was pretty excited. I just decided to take the opportunity that I had and hope it went in."

As impressive as Holmstead's scoring was, the real accomplishment from American Fork was the defensive performance. Before Tuesday, Lone Peak had been on a five-game winning streak during which it had outscored its opponents 21-2 with four shutouts. Yet it was the Knights who got shut out Tuesday, thanks to an admirable performance from the American Fork defenders and senior goalkeeper Savanna Empey.

"I do everything I can, but my defensive line killed it. … They deserve all the credit," Empey said after Tuesday's win. "If they make a mistake, I have their back. That's all I'm there to do."

While the American Fork defense has been rock solid all season (allowing only five goals over 12 games), Empey was especially proud of the way her team defense played in a crucial game late in the season.

"The defensive effort was so important," Empey said. "We talked about that before the game, how everything is together whether we're attacking or defending. I'm so proud of the way we went out there and gave it all we had. Lone Peak is a great team; it's so fun to play in these tight games and it makes us better." —

Storylines

R Tuesday's win gives American Fork a six-point lead at the top of Region 4.

• American Fork now has nine shutouts on the season after the 2-0 win over Lone Peak.

• American Fork sweeps the season series over Lone Peak by an aggregate score of 3-0.