Entering its game against Highland - a team that has established itself as a possible region title contender - the Panthers weren't playing up to coach Kris Hamlet's expectations.
The Panthers made all the right adjustments against the Rams and beat Highland 2-1 at Sugarhouse Park on Tuesday. It was West's first region win.
"This was a game we couldn't afford to lose," said Marcos Martinez, who scored the Panthers' winning goal in the 72nd minute. "We just did a lot of talking and everybody understood their roles."
West and Highland have similar playing styles. Both teams play at an up-tempo speed. Both teams have dangerous scorers in West's Jose Segura and Luis Cena and Highland's James Rogers and Erik Cortez.
The teams virtually cancelled each other out in the first half -though both teams had good looks on goal - and went into halftime with a 0-0 tie.
Hamlet said that was enough to give his team the confidence it needed. In the four region games leading up to its showdown against Highland, West wasn't playing up to its potential.
"We've had problems getting started this season," Hamlet said. "They know they played a good first half. They had confidence; this is the team we've been waiting for all year."
Highland played well for the first 10 minutes of each half but West dominated after that in the second. The Panthers got their first goal from Segura, who beat out his defender and found himself slightly open for a shot.
Martinez doubled West's score when he put the ball just over Highland's goalkeeper when he came out for the ball.
"The 'keeper was tentative," Highland coach Eric Bliss said. "We had a game plan, but we didn't execute. This is the growing pains of a young team."
Rogers scored for Highland just before the end of regulation, but five minutes of stoppage time weren't enough for the Rams to tie the game.
mthach@sltrib.com
* West's victory over Highland is the Panthers' first region win.
* Marcos Martinez scores the winning goal in the 72nd minute.
* James Rogers scores his sixth goal for Highland.
