Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
HERRIMAN — The confident coach. The opportunistic attack. The scrappy, physical defense.
The Herriman Mustangs won their first boys soccer championship in improbable fashion two years ago with this formula, punctuated by now-Utah Valley Wolverines forward Trevor Walk's goal on the last kick of the game against the Davis Darts.
On Friday night, behind that familiar formula, it was senior goalkeeper Jayden Newman who played the hero role in a thrilling 3-2 penalty shootout victory on senior night at The Ranch over Copper Hills, following a 0-0 draw after golden-goal extra time.
Despite having an apparent 78th-minute winner by Elijah Conley controversially ruled offside, the Mustangs (4-2-8) responded by stepping on the gas in extra time, forcing some critical saves out of Grizzlies keeper Wyatt Taylor.
Now, Herriman heads into the 6A playoffs unbeaten in four of their last five matches — including penalty shootout wins over Mountain Ridge and Friday against the Grizzlies, while Copper Hills (5-1-8) finished the regular season winless in their final six matches.
"As crazy as it sounds, we've learned how to lose and take something away from those results," Gasparini said. "It's helped us approach every match fearlessly and makes us worry a little less about region standings."
Herriman used that motivation to reach the summit of Utah high school boys soccer two years ago by beating no. 15 seed Westlake, no. 2 seed Corner Canyon, and no. 7 seed West on the road before taking out no. 6 seed Farmington in the semifinals, capped by their dramatic title-clincher over Davis.
That team entered the playoffs locked in, seemed to get better and became more confident, and Gasparini and senior wingback Jeffrey Smith said that same mentality is present this season.
And Smith should know; he, along with senior midfielder and captain Josiah Henderson and junior fullback Alex Dunham, were key cogs in Herriman's 2022 title run.
Those Mustangs also boasted a dynamic attack which included Trevor Walk, current Westminster College midfielder Broc Underhill, current Truckee Meadows Community College midfielder Landon Allen, and Grant Taylor, who is currently a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, among others.
This time around, it's players like Dunham, Henderson, Conley, and Smith who are leading the charge.
"Even when we don't put away the chances, it's still about everyone giving 110%," Henderson said. "It just shows we're willing to do whatever it takes."
For sure, there were plenty of chances to put away Copper Hills Friday for the Mustangs, and plenty of chances to be frustrated, especially after Conley's goal was chalked off.
But even after the Grizzlies seemingly swung the momentum back in their favor in the shootout — with Wyatt Taylor and captain Tyler Passey letting the home fans hear about it — Newman stepped up and quite literally saved the day thrice over, which ended with a flood of students and fans on the field.
"These guys play like winners, and that's the real bottomline," Gasparini said. "They're aligned with what the big picture is, and that's biggest piece that's present in this team and the team that won two years ago."
Maybe it's fitting that Herriman has embraced the "dark horse" mentality, and it's no wonder Gasparini said he believes Herriman can go all the away again, adding the Mustangs' playoff opponents — potentially even those waiting in the semifinal and the final — "won't know what hit them".
The brotherhood is also apparent; Smith said it was one of the primary reasons the Mustangs won the title two years ago. Whether it was motivational speakers coming in or just taking the day off to be with each other, Smith said those moments brought the entire team together.
And it's quite clear, on the evidence of the finish to the regular season, everything is coming together for Herriman Mustangs just in time once again — potentially ready to carry them to yet another state championship.
"We're just looking to win; it doesn't matter how we do it," Henderson said. "It was rough getting it together at the beginning, but we're going to be a force."
The records of the teams in soccer are denoted by wins-draws-losses. The penalty shootout victories are officially known as draws.
