Girls soccer: a final look back
Dramatic finishes were the norm when the state tournaments wrapped up for each classification in girls soccer last weekend. I was on hand to witness most of these games and – as a wrap-up to the girls soccer season – I thought I would share some of what I thought were the highlights and lowlights from each tournament.
5A Tournament:
Best finisher award – Alta.
The Hawks provided a pair of instant classics. They survived double overtime with Fremont with a golden goal from star forward Kealia Ohai. Then Alta outlasted Davis in an instant classic title game shootout, going to seven penalty kicks before Tashia Long came up with the game winning save.
Biggest heartbreak – Davis
It had to feel a little like deja vu for the Darts after the title game. A year ago, they scored a stoppage time goal on Brighton before losing in overtime on an own goal. This year, Davis gets a stoppage time goal once again – only to fall at the tail end of a shootout.
Team on the rise – Fremont
Watch out for the Silver Wolves in 2010. Fremont gave the Hawks everything they could handle in the semis and return virtually all their major contributors next fall.
4A Tournament:
Best finisher award – Timpanogos
The T-Wolves advanced through the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. They outlasted Bountiful in overtime on its home field, needed a late goal from Marissa Nimmer to hold off Springville and claimed a state title over Bonneville with a winning goal that literally came in the last minute
Biggest heartbreak – East
The Leopards held Bonneville scoreless for almost 80 minutes while playing with 10 players most of the time – only to see the Lakers chip in a pair of decisive goals in final few minutes of the match and bring an end to their perfect season.
Team on the rise – Bonneville
Okay, it is strange to call a team a whisker away from repeating as 4A champs as being on the rise. Still, with players like Jaiden Thornock, Allie Shaw, Avery Ford and Val Buckaway coming back, the Lakers should be an instant title contender again.
3A Tournament:
Best finisher award – Morgan
Few people outside of Morgan County saw the Trojans making a run to the 3A title game. But Morgan did exactly that and did it in thrilling fashion. The Trojans scored a last-minute goal to upset Park City, survived a wild shootout to slip past Judge Memorial and took Juan Diego to the wire in the championship game.
Biggest heartbreak – Judge Memorial
The Bulldogs seemed to be the 3A team to beat for much of the season, until the Trojans proved to be their Achilles heel. Morgan upset Judge late in the season to help cost them a share of the Region 11 title. Then the Trojans took out the Bulldogs in the semifinals to cost them a shot at their second state title in three years.
Team on the rise – Wasatch
The Wasps came on strong towards the end of the season – getting a draw against Region 10 champ Park City and a win over 2A champ Waterford. With only three seniors graduating, next year’s team could rise up and be a contender both in Region 10 and in 3A.
2A Tournament:
Best finisher award – St. Joseph
Any team that can score four goals in the span of five minutes to break open a game seemingly headed to overtime – like the Jayhawks did to Millard – knows how to survive living on the edge.
Biggest heartbreak – Millard
That bus trip back to Fillmore had to be a long one after the semifinals. The Eagles had the defending 2A champs on the ropes for 73 minutes, only to see it all come crashing down in a flurry of late goals.
Team on the rise – Millard
The Eagles are a young team and definitely showed progress from a year ago. With Waterford and St. Joseph both replacing players at key positions next year, Millard has a chance to close the gap between itself and the twin 2A powers.
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