By Laurie Maddox
WSL Special Correspondent

BOUNTIFUL, Utah – Junior midfielder Nikki Searle scored five goals to lead Lone Peak to a 9-8 victory over Cache Valley and the Knights’ first girls lacrosse title in the Utah Lacrosse Association Division II state championship game Saturday at Viewmont High School.

Lone Peak (14-1) jumped ahead early, taking a 4-0 lead on three goals by Searle and a fourth by midfielder Brenna McAllister before Cache Valley was able to get on the scoreboard.

Jenesey Hammer had four goals for Cache Valley (13-2), three of them coming in the second half, as the team’s attempt to rally and tie the score in the final minute fell short.

Lone Peak never trailed, and its defense shut down Cache Valley’s transition game for most of the first half. The two teams traded goals, and Cache Valley pulled to within one with 24 seconds remaining. But it could not capitalize on its final possession before time ran out.

McAllister scored three goals for Lone Peak and Tracy LeBaron added one to round out the scoring.

For Cache Valley, Brittany Molen had two goals and McKenzie Irwin and Kalei Niemann added one apiece.

“I never really felt pressure until this morning, and I decided to just come out and make it the best game I could,” said Searle, a second-team, All-State selection. “It took a long time to settle in that we were even going to the championships, much less winning them.”

Cache Valley Coach Danielle Callister praised her team’s comeback effort.

“We had a slow start,” she said. “It’s hard to be down 0-4. But at the end of the first half and all of the second, the girls came back and fought hard. I’m really proud of them.”