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Sandy • The Alta boys' soccer team scored a pair of goals seven minutes apart late in the first half then held on to defeat Orem 2-0 in Region 7 play Tuesday.

The Hawks used a set piece in the 24th minute to get what turned out to be the only goal they needed.

Senior defender Kyron Sidwell took the corner kick and placed the ball perfectly at the feet of senior midfielder Noah Plowman, who one-touched it into the right side of the net.

Plowman admitted he doesn't get many chances like that and was pleased he was able to capitalize on this one.

"The ball fell right to me," he said. "I was in the right place at the right time. In practice we always work on that play, so it paid off.

"Scoring first is a huge deal. It sets your opponent on his heels. They had the momentum in the first 10 to 15 minutes, but the goal turned it a bit in our direction."

The home squad used that subtle shift to put more pressure on the Orem net and added to the advantage with a penalty kick by sophomore midfielder Ethan Bell.

Plowman, normally a wing midfielder, was moved to the back line six minutes into the second half when one of his teammates left the game with an apparent injury. He stayed there for the balance of the match.

"I help wherever I'm needed," he said. "We're a team. We preach family. We don't care whether someone's a sophomore, junior or senior. Anyone who comes in is expected to play well, and they do."

Another player who stood out in the match was senior left midfielder Rick Lowrimore, who rotated positions freely in the attacking half of the field.

"We play defense first," he said. "If the other team can't score, they can't win. After that, we try to stay as wide as possible and get a good service into a forward so they can get the ball into the goal."

"There's not an easy game in this region," Alta coach Lee Mitchell said. "There weren't any last year and there aren't any this time around either." —

Alta 2, Orem 0

• Alta improves to 8-1-0 overall and 6-1-0 in region with the shutout win.

• Orem falls to 5-5-0 overall and 4-3-0 in region.