But the ball took an unfriendly bounce over her head and, suddenly, Hyatt was chasing it down with a speedy Skyline forward on her back. The backup keeper recovered with cat-like reflexes, dove on top of the ball, and the Park City crowd took a collective deep breath.
"I do that a lot, I normally come out a little too early," said a smiling Hyatt, who shined in her second game in goal with the varsity squad. "It was just bad timing. I knew I had it, but I was just a little freaked out."
After starting the season with two wins last week, the Miners returned home to face two more 4A opponents -- Bountiful Tuesday and Skyline Thursday -- and each match turned into a test of mental and physical stamina. Park City head coach Chip Cook said the official mistakenly played 45-minute halves on Tuesday, so in reality, her team played a total of 210 minutes and walked away with two 1-1 double-overtime draws.
Following Thursday's match against Skyline, players were noticeably gassed. Senior captain Rachael Papez put her hands on her knees and tried to catch her breath.
"What happens when you're tired physically, your mental acuity goes down a little bit, but I was proud of them," Cook said. "Boy, we're getting fit."
Park City and Skyline played a seesaw match in which both teams saw their share of possession, shots on goal and emergency defending. Hyatt played a large role in keeping the speedy Eagle attack at bay in the first half, making two point-blank saves to keep Skyline out of the net.
The Miners controlled the flow of the match early in the second half as Papez and junior forward Jessica Dancy each was able to get behind the Skyline defense but couldn't convert on a couple golden opportunities.
"We look for execution," Cook said. "Skyline is a good team, but it was those small execution things, the final ball that wasn't there for us. The idea was there, but the execution just fell a little bit short. As we get more comfortable with everybody, get a little less stressed throughout the course of the game, it will settle itself out."
Skyline took control of the match midway through the second half and hit the post twice before eventually taking a 1-0 lead on a shot by forward Ashley Aberton.
Despite having played 110 minutes two days prior, the Miners did not quit. In fact, they responded a couple minutes later after a Skyline defender was whistled for a handball in the box. Park City junior winger Maggie Reigelsperger stepped to the spot and buried her attempt into the top-left corner of the net, emphatically knotting the match at 1-1.
"When I walk to the spot I'm usually super nervous," she said afterward. "I have to not psych myself out or else I miss."
For the remainder of the second half as well as the two overtime periods, the Miners and Eagles threatened, but to no avail.
Cook said she was impressed by the play of her backup goalkeeper, who played in the absence of senior captain Skye Mooney. More importantly, she was glad Hyatt, who had her left hand stepped on and kicked by a Skyline attacker, was able to scramble and recover the bouncing ball seconds before the second overtime session concluded.
"She played such a great game and she's doing so many great things for the team," Cook said. "She has improved a ton. I wouldn't have been upset as a coach (if Skyline had scored), I just didn't want that to happen to her because it would have been an unfortunate way to end this week."
The Miners will get a much-needed rest this weekend as they prepare for more top-flight opponents. Next Tuesday, 4A Olympus, which toppled the Miners in a 4-3 thriller a year ago, returns to Park City.
Reigelsperger and Hyatt were both nursing their respective knocks after the game, applying large bags of ice to injured backs and hands, looking like Friday couldn't come soon enough.
"I think we're looking forward to the weekend," Reigelsperger said, laughing.
After 210 minutes of 1-1 soccer against quality opponents, she reiterated how important Hyatt was for a talented Park City team that was without its senior captain and goalkeeper.
"She saved us so many times," Reigelsperger said. "She's a really level head. She doesn't get that nervous, or maybe she doesn't express it at least."
One thing's for sure: The ball bounced Park City's way Thursday.
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