(St. George, UT) – The Desert Hills girls soccer team came out on top in a 3-2 win over Hurricane Tuesday night and raised its region record to 2-2 (4-4 overall).

The Region 9 goal-scoring leader Berkley Bundy (8 G) put her Thunder team up 1-0 in the first half with a header after a teammate found her.

“I received a cross from Erica [Hansen], I just went in, I saw that the goalie was going to be there, I was not worried if she was going to hit me or not,” Bundy said. “I headed it in.”

However, Hurricane’s Carly Stratton (7 G) answered for the Tigers (0-4 region, 3-4 overall) and the teams remained tied 1-1 at halftime.

Desert Hills’ coach Shaley Allen advised her team during the halftime break to start the second half fast and aggressive.

“We talked about the team that comes to play in the first five minutes will get the win,” Allen said. “Both teams came out playing hard in the first five minutes.”

It took more than five minutes, but Desert Hills did strike first. In the 57th minute, Michelle Graff sent the ball past the Hurricane goalie and made the score 2-1.

A little over four minutes passed (62nd minute) when Thunder freshman Kelly Luthy kicked a ball from 20 yards out that went over the top of the goalie’s reach making the Desert Hills’ lead 3-1.

“We just put in some good shots and I just think the match was a tough game,” Allen said.

The freshman Luthy showed some skill on the shot and her veteran teammates showed some trust.

“Brittany [Hansen] passed it back and I just cut in and took a shot,” Luthy said.

Asked about the team’s current state of mind, and what the key to the Thunder victory was Luthy said, “We are feeling good. We are finding our positions and where we need each other to be on the field.”

Bundy echoed Luthy’s team-analysis.

“I feel like everything is clicking,” Bundy said. “In the preseason we had some struggles, now we know how each other plays and we know where each other should be on the field.

“We can always improve, but I do see and feel a good team unity. The unity helps so much. You need to have it in practice, and off the field.”

With a minute remaining the Tigers’ Caitlyn Hirschi kicked in a goal off a penalty kick opportunity to make the score 3-2.

The Tigers were on the unfortunate end of having two goals disallowed by officials’ rulings, calls that Hurricane coach Lacy Kennington did not agree with or appreciate.

Desert Hills won two region games in its 2010 season (2-9), and now have six more matches to improve upon that record.

Coach Allen told her team to remember the winning feeling and that they have the ability to make that feeling happen more.

“I am so happy with the effort the girls brought to the field tonight,” Allen said. “Hurricane is always a very tough competitor; it is a very physical battle with them every time.

“We’re learning week after week, and the girls are continuing to bring effort at every practice. I couldn’t ask for anything more than solid effort, and I couldn’t ask for any better group of girls to go to battle with.”

IN OTHER REGION 9 GIRLS SOCCER ACTION:

The Dixie Flyers remained unbeaten by winning in come-from-behind fashion at Canyon View 3-2.

Dixie (3-0 region, 7-0 overall) put the hammer down in the closing minutes of the match. The two teams were tied after the first half 1-1, and then the Flyers found themselves down 2-1 to the Falcons.

Then the Flyers scored two goals in the final three minutes to keep upset-minded Canyon View (0-5 region, 2-7 overall) winless in region play.

Alexa Bernabe, Aubri Challis, and Madi Jensen each scored for the Flyers while Ashlee Braun and Kenzie Bulloch tallied the Falcons’ goals.

The Lady Reds of Cedar High handed Snow Canyon its first region loss in a 2-1 match in Cedar City.

Brindley Oldroyd and Makayla Warby scored two goals in the first half to put Cedar up and both teams went scoreless in the second half.

Meghan MeKenna scored the lone goal for the Warriors (3-1 region and 5-2 overall) and Cedar raised its record to 3-1 in region and 5-3 overall.

REGION 9 STANDINGS:

Dixie (3-0, 7-0 overall)

Cedar (3-1, 5-3 overall)

Snow Canyon (3-1, 5-2 overall)

Pine View (3-1, 3-4 overall)

Desert Hills (2-2, 4-4 overall)

Hurricane (0-4, 3-4 overall)

Canyon View (0-5, 2-7 overall)

REGION 9 GOAL SCORING LEADERS:

(8 G) Desert Hills' Berkley Bundy

(7 G) Hurricane's Carly Stratton & Canyon View's Ashlee Braun

(6 G) Snow Canyon's Tirsa Snyder & Dixie's Aubri Challis

(5 G) Pine View's Kali Stubbs , Hurricane's Lynne Taylor & Canyon View's Katie Lawely