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WOODS CROSS — Kaden Amano didn’t want the 80 minutes of regulation of Layton’s Class 5A state soccer semifinal to be the way the Lancers’ season was remember.
Sluggish. Tired. Defensive. Call it whatever, but Layton didn’t feel like it was playing its best soccer in finishing scoreless with Copper Hills, 0-0.
With one kick, Amano made sure to leave a lasting impression.
Amano scored the lone goal of the match with one minute left in the first extra-time session, and Layton edged Copper Hills 1-0 Tuesday at Woods Cross High School.
“Our coaches point that it was us seniors’ last chance,” Amano said. “We put it all on the line.”
The Lancers (13-2) advanced to face Herriman in the state final at 4:30 p.m. MDT Thursday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“It’s an amazing feeling with this group of kids,” Layton coach Rick Talamantez said. “I’ve had 13 of these guys for four years, and to take them back to Rio Tinto is a blessing.”
Copper Hills (13-5) had the better of the first half, out-shooting the Region 2 champion Lancers 6-3. Were it not for a few key saves by Layton goalkeeper Sam Hunter in the second half, extra-time might never have happened.
“Sam is amazing. Sam is probably the best goalkeeper in the state,” Talamantez said. “He comes up with those saves that no one else can. He plays with a lot of heart, and he wants to make his teammates look good.
“(Copper Hills) is a fantastic team. They caught us off. But in the overtime period, we said ‘we’re going forward’ … We wanted to be more direct. We wanted to get the attack in. Having one or two shots on goal in regulation isn’t enough, so we just wanted to go forward.”
Just as the defense stepped up in regulation, Amano stepped up in the extra period.
Layton’s leading scorer tallied his eighth goal of the season, slotting home a ball off the rebound that sent the Lancers into a frenzy.
“It took a deflection, and left me pretty wide open. I just had to beat the keeper,” Amano said. “I was surprised, but I tried to just hit it and give myself a chance at goal.”
