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American Fork • American Fork didn't have a lot of scoring opportunities in the first half. The Cavemen had two, in fact, in a boys soccer match against Pleasant Grove on Friday.

But nothing hurts statistical analysis based on shots attempted like 100 percent accuracy.

Junior Nate Mumford managed to kick home both of those chances before intermission, American Fork gained early control and then held on in the second half in knocking off Pleasant Grove 3-0.

"You know, they (the Vikings) definitely had the possession game the first half, and I think that had a lot to do with the wind," Cavemen coach Casey Waldron said. "We didn't really settle into our game. But, yeah, it's great when you get two shots and get two goals."

The win keeps American Fork (6-1-2, 2-1-1) in the pack of early leaders in Region 4 play.

Mumford's first tally came in the 11th minute after a centered pass from teammate Jackson Follett gave him a solid scoring opportunity 10 yards from the goal.

"This was a big game for us because we had a chance to be in first place when it was over," said Pleasant Grove coach Chris Ecalono, whose team is now 6-3 overall and 2-2 in region.

Before Mumford got off his first shot, the Vikes had four shots — including a blast by Carson Ecalono off the crossbar in the third minute.

"I thought they were the more disciplined team and trusted each other a little bit better, and that was the difference in the first half," Chris Ecalono said. "We just couldn't finish, and they had that first chance really the first time they crossed half — and they were able to finish."

Only seven minutes after Mumford's first goal, he got another golden opportunity when Caveman Derek Childs booted a long pass from the top of the American Fork box across the field.

Mumford, in between two Pleasant Grove defenders, outraced the pair and poked in the score past Vikings keeper Kenny Hall for a 2-0 lead.

"Starting the beginning of the season kinda rough, with a tie and a loss, but now we're starting to click as a team," Mumford said. "Even if we get only a few chances a game, we're putting them away."

Pleasant Grove had 11 shots in the first half to American Fork's two. As the teams switched sides for the second, the attempts began to even out as the Cavement got off eight tries to the the Vikings' six after halftime.

In the 76th minute, a penalty kick was awarded to American Fork when sophomore Riley Gunther went down in front of the net on a scoring attempt. Cam Jolley, a senior for the Cavemen, converted the penalty for the final goal.