In a rematch of last year’s semifinal on Friday in the 6A girls soccer state championship game, Syracuse flipped the script, avenging its 3-0 loss to Lone Peak with a 2-0 victory to claim its first state championship in program history.
The Titans entered as underdogs against a Knights squad that had posted 11 consecutive playoff shutouts dating back to a 2022 semifinal loss, a remarkable streak of 943 minutes without conceding a postseason goal.
From the opening whistle, however, it was all Titans. They created two dangerous chances inside the six-yard box within the first five minutes, though they couldn’t capitalize.
In the 13th minute, Syracuse fired a point-blank shot that the Knights’ goalkeeper deflected across the goalmouth, only for another close-range attempt to be blocked by a waiting defender.
The Titans earned seven corner kicks in the first half but couldn’t break through. Lone Peak managed one quality scoring chance, but a diving save from Erin Bott kept the match scoreless at halftime.
“The first half gave us a ton of confidence,” said Syracuse coach Jason Steiner. “We’ve been preaching that it’s just another team we have to go play. We came in believing we could compete and dominate here.”
The second half opened at a slower pace, with both teams trading modest chances as the adrenaline settled. In the 49th minute, Lone Peak appeared to take the lead on a well-placed cross and strong finish, but the goal was waved off due to significant contact with the goalkeeper, keeping the match scoreless.
Syracuse quickly turned the momentum back in its favor. Off a free kick from midfield, Eva Christensen sent the ball curling toward the net, where it skipped past a crowded group of players and landed at the feet of Taylee Hughes, who sent it into the net for the game’s first goal.
“We knew we needed to stay positive coming out of halftime. Our motto this year was that our second half had to be stronger than the first,” said Hughes.
Reflecting on her decisive goal, she added, “It’s so exciting. You want to score in the finals. We’ve been practicing set pieces, and Eva put a good ball in. I kept running just in case it went over, and then it was right there. I knew I just had to place it.”
Lone Peak increased the pressure in the 72nd minute with a free kick just outside the box that led to three quick shots. The final attempt, from about eight yards out, looked bound for the net until Hughes stretched out and got just enough of her toe on it, delivering the biggest play of the game on either end of the field.
“Our coaches taught us defense from the start. (Steiner) taught us how to play defense as forwards and has emphasized that with our front line. It is super good to have them because it allows me to do my job and stay fresh for the plays I need to make,” Bott said.
The pressure never let up, as Lone Peak fired multiple shots on goal that were stopped by Bott and her backline while the Knights searched for an equalizer.
“We knew what we had to do. Once we went up, we had to keep it locked down,” Christensen said. “Our goal coming in was to get a shutout today. It took a lot of communication and trust in each other. If we don’t communicate, one of their balls would have gotten in.”
With just over two minutes remaining, Syracuse broke free on a counterattack, and Talia Thompson found the back of the net, sealing the Titans’ victory.
“I’m just happy for the girls,” Steiner said. “It’s all about them. It’s fun to be here on the sideline and enjoy this special ride because of them.”