The Lehi High School girls soccer team completed a 10-day preseason stretch with a 4-1 record, pushing the Pioneers' non-league record to 6-2 heading into the final week of preseason play. The surge included back-to-back shutouts by sophomore goalkeeper Jill Farnes and a high-scoring victory against Grantsville.
High-Scoring Victories and Offensive Leaders
The Pioneers' successful run, which took place between Aug. 11 and Aug. 20, 2026, featured a mix of high-scoring offensive displays and disciplined defensive efforts. As Lehi Free Press first reported, the team's momentum included four victories in five matches during that 10-day period.
One of the most significant victories occurred on Aug. 20, 2026, when Lehi routed Grantsville 7-2 at home. Lilie Watson led the offensive attack with three goals and one assist. Other scorers in the lopsided win included Tessa Richards, junior forward Emeri Thatcher, junior midfielder Aly Badger, and sophomore midfielder Kayla Southwick. Sophomore Eiley Baker contributed three assists during the match, while freshman Liv Seitzinger provided two assists and Ashley Gardner provided one.
Defensive Dominance and Shutouts
The team's defensive stability was anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Jill Farnes, who recorded two consecutive shutouts during the preseason surge. Farnes blanked Herriman 2-0 on Aug. 13, 2026, and Olympus 1-0 on Aug. 17, 2026.
The victory against Olympus was particularly notable as the Titans had outscored their previous opponents by a combined margin of 8-1 entering that match. Senior defender Livi Schoenfeld scored the lone goal of the game on an unassisted free kick from deep in the first half. Head coach Jonas Hartmann praised Farnes for her performance against Olympus, noting that the goalkeeper came up big on several occasions to help the team maintain a clean sheet despite a physical and fast-paced match.
Comebacks and Tactical Shifts
The Pioneers also managed a comeback victory against Mountain Ridge on Aug. 11, 2026. Trailing 1-0 at halftime following a 90-minute lightning delay, Lehi scored three goals in the second half to win 3-2. Senior forward Ashley Gardner scored twice in the second half, assisted by juniors Tessa Richards and Lilie Watson. Richards added the third goal with an assist from Watson.
In the match against Herriman on Aug. 13, 2026, the team debuted a three-defender formation featuring freshman Kaelynn Grimley. The win was secured by a goal from Richards, who was assisted by freshman forward Liv Seitzinger in her varsity debut. Richards also provided the assist for Watson's insurance goal in the 2-0 victory.
Loss to Syracuse and Coaching Reflections
The team's lone loss during the 10-day stretch occurred on Aug. 19, 2026, at defending 6A champion Syracuse. Lehi held a 2-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining before conceding three goals in a seven-minute span to fall 4-2. Watson scored the opening goal for Lehi and assisted junior midfielder Presley Shippen for the second.
Coach Jonas Hartmann attributed the loss to a mental lapse during that seven-minute window, during which the team gave up three goals on long-distance shots. Hartmann noted that the team struggled with the transition to playing on grass during that match, but expressed confidence in the team's ability to learn from the experience and close out games more effectively.
Preseason Outlook and Eligibility
Looking ahead to the remainder of the preseason, the Pioneers were scheduled to travel to Weber on Aug. 25, 2026, and visit Davis on Aug. 27, 2026. Both road matches were set to be played on grass.
The team's roster depth was bolstered as varsity transfer keeper Siena Wells became eligible for the Aug. 27 match against Davis after sitting out the required 50 percent of games. Prior to her eligibility, Jill Farnes had served as the primary goalkeeper. Coach Hartmann noted that the team's goal for the season was to be taken seriously in the state tournament picture, a goal supported by their six wins in eight preseason matches.
Looking Toward Region Play
Region 3 play was scheduled to begin at home against Skyridge on Sept. 1, 2026. The team's preseason performance has set a foundation for the upcoming competitive season, following a period of significant offensive and defensive development.
