Checking in on Utah high school soccer, including one team going for perfection
Checking in on Utah high school soccer, including one team going for perfection
Top-seeded Wasatch will put its undefeated season on the line in the 5A state championship after surviving Hunter on penalties, 4-2 Monday afternoon.
Plenty of people would’ve doubted the impact that goalkeepers would have on Wasatch’s 5A boys soccer state semifinal Monday when the Wasps went down 1-0 just eight minutes in against Hunter.
Not Jackson Medina, though.
The senior made a pair of saves in the penalty shootouts — three, but one was called back by the assistant referee — as top-seeded Wasatch stayed unbeaten, 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 finish at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.
“Right when we headed to PKs, I knew that we had it in the bag,” Medina said. “I saved three right away, and I knew I had it under control. But I knew my teammates were going to help me and we were going to score.”
Jeffrey Aguilar Perez gave the Wolverines (14-2-1) a 1-0 advantage in the first half. But as the Wasps were dropping their heads, Medina felt an aura of confidence.
“Right when they scored, I saw everybody get down. But I knew that we were going to score; I knew we were going to get back. I wasn’t worried at all.
“I think everybody knew that we had this under control. They scored right off the bat, and we had a long game ahead of us.”
His belief in his teammates paid off as Wasatch (16-0-1) pelted Hunter’s goal, looking for a breakthrough. Finally, Jace Kirkham lofted a ball from the end line midway through the second half and Jayden Cosper connected with the header to equalize, 1-1.
Cosper wasn’t done yet, scoring in the shootout to held send Wasatch through to the 5A state championship for the second consecutive season Thursday at 1 p.m. MT at America First Field.
“It was one of the craziest moments of my life,” Cosper said. “This team is really well put together, and always comes out with the win. I just love this team.”
The Wasps will face seventh-seeded Roy in Thursday’s 5A championship.
Hart, Royals stun Skyhawks for first championship appearance in 21 years
Aidan Hart scored the match-winner in extra time as Roy stunned third-seeded Salem Hills, 2-1 to advance to the Royals’ first state title match since 2003.
David Rangel gave Roy (14-3) a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, sliding the set piece inside the left post to give the Royals a lead they would hold through halftime.
But Salem Hills (14-3) responded, earning a penalty with 24 minutes left that Carson Bybee pulled back to equalize.
Everything was set for another penalty kick shootout to decide a state finalist. But Hart didn’t want to wait that long, and finished two minutes into extra time to send the Royals (14-3) to their first championship match since wrapping up a 16-0 season in 2003 and winning the 4A state title on penalty kicks.
4A state semifinals
Murray’s Abdul Shaher scored the match-winning goalden goal 30 seconds into extra time as fourth-seeded Murray stunned No. 1 Layton Christian 3-2 Tuesday morning at Zions Bank Stadium.
Matheus Alvarenga and Yan Simas each scored a goal for LCA (15-2), which took a 2-1 lead late in the second half. But Carlos Nieto-Rosales equalized on a penalty kick to force extra time and set up the Spartans’ dramatic finish.
Dillon Curtis also scored for Murray (15-2), which will face Ridgeline in the 4A championship match Thursday at America First Field.
The second-seeded Riverhawks (15-2) led 2-1 in the second half of their own semifinal before Green Canyon’s Colby Knight equalized.
But Tate Hickman scored on a header with 90 seconds remaining to send Ridgeline through to the final.
6A state semifinals
Farmington held off Pleasant Grove, 4-2 on penalty kicks to advance to Thursday’s 6A championship match.
Ben Wright scored for the top-seeded Phoenix (16-1), and goalkeeper Jaxon Beynon made the crucial stops in the shootout.
Golden McMurtey scored for Pleasant Grove (11-6).
Farmington will face American Fork, which will look to win its first state championship in 40 years after a scoreless semifinal against Bingham that saw the Cavemen advance 6-5 on penalty kicks.
American Fork’s Sam Nettesheim scored the decisive sixth penalty, and goalkeeper Sebastian Barreda saved the next attempt to send the Cavemen to their long-awaited destination.