ST. GEORGE — Seven years ago, Pine View won the Region 9 soccer title, then went on to take the 3A State Championship. Panthers coach Sam Johnston, whose team clinched the 2014 region title with a 2-0 win over Cedar Tuesday night at Panther Stadium, is hoping history can repeat itself.

“When you get to this point and you win a one-seed, you kind of have (winning state) as a long term goal,” Johnston said. “Our goal is to make it there and then we’ll see what happens.”

Pine View only allowed nine goals in 12 region games this year, a big part of why the Panthers are region champs. Cedar didn’t get many chances Tuesday night, with PV goalkeeper Justin Jones turning back any thought the Redmen had on breaking through. Jones, who recorded his sixth shutout of the year, said his work with his defenders in getting the job done is all about communication.

“Me and Kyler (Reese), our center back, have played together a long time,” he said. “We’re experienced. We listen to each other. We communicate with each other. We put our heart and soul into it.”

Michael Wade got a tap in on a rebound from a Michael Cardenas shot in the first half to break the scoreless tie. The score remained 1-0 until the 78th minute when PV got the insurance goal. Braden Johnston headed in a cross to begin a celebration as the several hundred Panther fans started to feel the region title at that point.

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After the final gun, Pine View players leaped with joy and Coach Johnston got the traditional Gatorade shower.

The Panthers end the regular season on a four-game winning streak and have shut out their opponents in five of their last eight games. The last time a team scored more than a single goal on PV was Mar. 21 when Snow Canyon beat Pine View 3-2. Since then, the Panthers are 7-1 and have outscored opponents 21-3.

“Having a 1-0 lead today, well you never feel really good about that,” Coach Johnston said. “So getting that second goal kind of eases the stress level for me so that was nice.”

Pine View finishes the regular season 12-2-2 overall and 9-2-1 in region play. The last official day of region is Friday, but the Panthers have a bye. Pine View is off until the first round of the playoffs, which the Panthers will host May 1 against Region 11’s fourth place team, likely Grantsville or maybe Bear River. Game time is set by the UHSAA at 4 p.m.

Cedar, 8-5-1 and 5-4-1, is now tied for fourth place and the last playoff spot with Desert Hills, though the Redmen have two more games and the Thunder have just a single game left.

STGNews video produced by Dallas Griffin

Dixie 2, Snow Canyon 0

Hayden Mathews notched his third shutout this month and the sixth of the season for the Flyers, who have the inside track on the No. 2 seed with Tuesday’s road win.

Caesar Perez and McLane Keenan both tallied second-half goals for Dixie, which needs a tie or win Friday vs. Canyon View or a loss or tie by Cedar on Wednesday or Friday to get the two-seed.

Dixie, 10-3-2 and 7-3-1, has won four of its last five games with a double-overtime loss to Desert Hills as the only blemish since Apr. 1. The Flyers finish the year with a home game Friday against last-place Canyon View.

The Warriors, 7-6-2 and 6-4-1, have 19 points and are solidly in third place with one game remaining. SC is home for Cedar Friday night, with the Redmen fighting for a playoff spot.

Desert Hills 3, Canyon View 2 (2 OT)

The Thunder kept their playoff hopes alive with the thriller at home Tuesday night, finally ending it in the second extra period.

Desert Hills, 6-7-2 and 5-5-1, has just a lone game remaining, Friday at Hurricane, but still has a shot at the playoffs. The Thunder need a win and need a Snow Canyon loss Friday or a bad week from Cedar.

Region 9	W	L	T	GS	GA	Pts.	W	L	T	GS	GA	Pts.
Pine View	9	2	1	30	9	28	12	2	2	45	11	38
Dixie	7	3	1	18	9	22	10	3	2	26	14	32
Snow Canyon	6	4	1	19	16	19	7	6	2	25	23	23
Desert Hills	5	5	1	12	15	16	6	7	2	20	22	20
Cedar	5	4	1	15	11	16	8	5	1	31	13	25
Hurricane	2	8	0	11	17	6	5	8	1	28	18	16
Canyon View	1	9	1	8	36	4	3	11	1	21	42	10

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