MaxPreps 2015 Utah high school girls soccer finals recap

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SANDY, Utah – Can Davis (Kaysville) stake a claim as the best high school girls soccer team to ever come out of Utah?

The Darts (20-0) made a compelling case after wrapping up a perfect season with a 1-0 victory over Weber (Pleasant View) in the UHSAA Class 5A championship game on Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium. Ranked No. 23 nationally by MaxPreps, Davis has claimed back-to-back state titles and has won 24 straight games dating back to 2014.

"It's like Christmas morning honestly," junior midfielder Mikayla Colohan said. "Nothing compares. It's the best feeling in the world."

Davis struck first in the 11th minute on a goal from Colohan. Sophomore forward Olivia Wade crossed the ball in to her just outside the top of the 18-yard box as Colohan trailed Ireland Dunn. Colohan quickly unloaded a left-footed blast and sent the ball zooming inside the far post to put the Darts ahead 1-0. It turned out to be the only goal Davis needed. Weber (16-3-1) pressured with repeated counter attacks in both halves, but the Darts' back line held firm. Seeing Davis rise to the occasion defensively was not unexpected.

The Darts allowed just eight goals all season while scoring 109 goals. Davis coach Souli Phongsavath
said he has never coached a defense in his career that could match the talent and effort from this year's.

"This one is the best because they didn't let in any soft goals," Phongsavath said. "Every goal that we had scored on us was earned 100 percent. They were great goals. It's difficult to play in games where we're up big and not to let up and not to have a lapse of focus or anything. They just kept it."

During their second consecutive successful playoff run, the Darts did not let the pressure of an undefeated record or national ranking ever get to them. Davis clamped down on one opponent after another.

The Darts allowed just one goal in four playoff games and notched back-to-back shutouts to close out a perfect season. They finished with 15 clean sheets in 20 games.

"This defense is amazing," Davis goalkeeper Kendyl Baker said. "I rely on them for everything and they always back me up. I know I can always trust them."

Skyline (Salt Lake City) 3, Timpanogos (Orem) 1

Given a third chance to eliminate Timpanogos from a state championship game, Skyline finally finished the job. The Eagles jumped on the Timberwolves early and coasted to a 3-1 victory, securing the Class 4A title on Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium.

For Skyline (18-1-1), it marked the team's first state title in girls soccer since winning the Class 5A crown in 2001. It also marked the first time since 2007 that neither Timpanogos nor Bonneville finished as the Class 4A champion.

The Eagles fell to Timpanogos (9-6-3) in the Class 4A title game each of the last two seasons. Skyline grew determined not to finish second a third straight time.

"Since we've been here twice, I just wanted to block out the atmosphere and focus in on the game and just playing the game and winning this yea," senior forward Emma Heyn said. "None of the other stuff mattered."

Skyline opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Heyn tapped in a shot set up by a corner kick from Bella Sorensen. Sorensen, a senior midfielder, took her turn finishing off another shot in the 13th minute, blasting home a direct free kick from just outside the top corner of the 18-yard box to put the Eagles ahead 2-0.

Holly Daugirda tacked on a third goal before halftime. Heyn crossed the ball into Daugirda in front of the goalmouth and the senior forward headed it home, extending Skyline's lead to 3-0 in the 33rd minute.

"That's our ultimate goal — to jump on them early," Sorenson said. "If you put a team away early, they can't get back because they don't have the momentum from the beginning. When we start with that momentum, it builds and our confidence builds. Our attacks get better and cleaner and our stops get harder. Everything just gets that much stronger."

Timpanogos finally broke the ice in the 42nd minute. Senior midfielder Imelda Williams blasted home a penalty kick inside the left post, cutting the Eagles' lead to 3-1.

Logan 3, Cedar City 1

For the second straight season, a first-time champion claimed the 3A girls soccer crown. Logan took control early and knocked off defending champion Cedar 3-1 on Saturday at Rio Tinto Satdium.

Logan (13-4) wasted no time jumping on Cedar. The Grizzlies struck first in the 9th minute when Veronica Sullivan headed in the ball off a corner kick. Logan extended its lead to 2-0 in the 26th minute after Kennedy Michel blasted the ball off a cross into the upper right corner of the net.

Cedar (14-6) cut the deficit in half in the 39th minute. Morgan Myers settled a cross and sent it into the left upper corner of the net to steal some momentum for the Lady Redmen going into the locker room.

"They didn't give up," Logan forward Demi Lopez said. "Cedar just kept going at us. That put us on our toes a little bit, even being ahead, because they came back with that goal. It definitely kept us on our toes. We didn't get comfortable the whole game."

Cedar saw its comeback hopes evaporate in the 60th minute. Lopez tacked on an insurance goal to give Logan a two-goal lead again.

Millard (Fillmore) 1, Maeser Prep Academy (Lindon) 0
Strong defense has been Millard's trademark throughout the season. The Eagles turned to their defense one more time to cap off a successful championship run.

Buoyed by a first-half goal from Anna Camp, Millard knocked off Maeser Prep 1-0 to claim its first Class 2A girls soccer championship on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Eagles (13-3-1) earned their 10th shutout of the season in their first championship game appearance since 2008.

It was not a simple task. The Lions (15-2-1) came into the title game having shut out five consecutive opponents, averaging 6.8 goals per match in that span. The Eagles had to absorb endless pressure and counter attacks from Maeser Prep late in the second half.

Millard scored its only goal when Camp finished off a shot inside the 6-yard box in the 10th minute.

"I was hoping we could get more in," Camp said. "It was kind of nerve wracking only being ahead by one, but I guess it was enough in the end."

The Eagles ended their season with 11 straight victories.

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports.