If there’s one thing teams should learn from Tuesday’s Region 1 game between Syracuse and Farmington it’s that giving up even one chance to the Titans can spell disaster.
From the beginning of Tuesday’s game it looked like Farmington did nearly everything correctly in the potentially region-title defining game. The Phoenix took care of the ball, held onto possession and forced the Syracuse defense to make plays.
Unfortunately for Farmington, 6A’s leading scorer Taylee Hughes was on the other side of the field, and she needed only one chance.
Hughes upped her season scoring total to 18 goals after scoring in the 17th minute, a goal that ended up being the game-winner in a 2-0 shutout of Farmington.
“We knew what we had to do, and since our first game with them we’ve known they’re a really good team,” Hughes said. “They are really good defensively, and they did really good the first 30 minutes, but we knew what we had to do, and we came and did it.”
Tuesday’s game had big implications on the standings in Region 1. A Farmington win would’ve meant a 4-1 first place tie between the Phoenix and Syracuse. But Syracuse’s win means a 5-0 region record and complete control of the region.
Syracuse narrowly missed out on a region title last year. A 1-0 overtime loss to Davis in late September was the difference between first and second place. The Titans haven’t won a region title since 2018.
“We’ve gone and beat good teams,” Syracuse head coach Jason Steiner said. “(Farmington) has beat good teams, so the region, I don’t take anything for granted. Yes, we are in a good spot for sure. Super happy and super proud of the girls and what they’ve done.”
Despite the loss, Farmington placed a lot of pressure on the Syracuse defense in the first half. A collection of saves from Syracuse keeper Erin Bott kept the game tied.
Syracuse didn’t get many good chances in the first half, but Hughes’ goal came at the hands of a well-placed pass from Jocee Eddy. Eddy has filled the stat sheet this season with 11 goals and 12 assists so far.
“I rely on the passes a lot and I rely on Jocee a lot,” Hughes said. “She gives me the passes that I need for me to finish the shots.”
Defensively, Syracuse improved as the game went on. There was a big change for its defense Tuesday as it had to cover for starting center back Hadlee Durrant. Durrant played nearly every minute for the Titans, but they now have to adjust to playing without her after she suffered an ACL tear this week.
In her absence, the defense shut out Farmington for the second time this year and stayed strong through many offensive pushes.
“These girls have absolutely adjusted really well today because Farmington is a good team,” Steiner said. “I think (Farmington) out-shot us today, so for them to come in and give the shutout and eliminate that, I’m super proud of that because we haven’t had a shutout for a while.”
There were plenty signs of life for Farmington early in the second half. The Phoenix nearly tied the game in the 50th minute as three shots narrowly went wide.
Farmington’s hopes were dashed in the 54th minute as Syracuse pushed its lead to 2-0. Titans’ Carlie Hobbs scored her first goal of the season on a free kick about 35-yards out. The Phoenix keeper had a hand on it, but it took an awkward bounce off her leg and into the goal.
Syracuse now stands as the clear favorite to take the Region 1 title, and improved its record to 12-2. Tuesday’s win marks the seventh consecutive victory for Syracuse.
“We haven’t been perfect and I think (Farmington) played really well today,” Steiner said. “We’ve kind of focused on, ‘Can we finish our chances?’ And we finished our chances today and they didn’t. That’s kind of the way soccer goes sometimes, and that’s why we love and hate soccer.”