While battling out their soccer matches in the top-heavy Region 7, Tooele went to Mountain View to sneak out a victory. However, it was not in the cards as the Bruins scored four first-half goals en route to a 6-0 drubbing of the visiting Buffaloes in Orem.

Heather Peterson scored two goals for the Bruins and Abbey Cotant had a goal and an assist in the victory for Mountain View. Tooele continues to look up at Mountain View, Orem and Springville in Region 7 standings but looks to contend for the fourth spot in region.

Mountain View started out the game strong, working as a team to pressure the Tooele defense. Tooele did hold strong with the help of Lizzi Stewart, who was moved back to defense to help her team, and keeper Kelsey Johnson.

“We moved Lizzi Stewart back to defense and I thought she did a great job back there,” said Tooele coach Donna Ward.

The Buffaloes also made a run at the goal in the eighth minute as Erica Pool got free with the ball but the chance was soon cleared.

With the constant pressure, Mountain View finally broke through with a goal in the 15th minute. Off of a cross from Stefani Solorzano, Cotant headed the ball toward goal and was cleaned up by her teammate McKell Salmon for the early 1-0 lead.

Mountain View later released Peterson on Tooele. She scored two goals within eight minutes and the Bruins added another three minutes before half-time for the 4-0 half-time lead.

The Bruins didn’t let up in the second half either, as they continued to control the ball and added on two more goals.

Tooele did fight hard throughout the contest. Kahri Golden and Sierra Strate worked their tails off in the middle trying to advance toward the Mountain View goal but were turned away by the Bruin defense. Airica Stewart also made a run in the final 10 minutes but Mountain View was able to escape with the shutout.

“Sierra (Strate) played just about all game and played really hard the whole game,” said Ward. “As a team we just need to communicate better and learn to pass to each other in the open field.”

Even with the loss the Tooele coaches see drastic improvement for a young team with only two seniors, especially with the JV squad who has made leaps and bounds during the season.

Tooele now holds an 1-3 record in Region 7 play and will be busy next week traveling to Utah County. They face Provo on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and then travel to face Orem on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Jake Gordon: jgordon@tooeletranscript.com