BYU-bound Colohan finishes prep career by leading twice-unbeaten Darts to 3rd-straight 5A title


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SANDY — Mikayla Colohan stood on the concrete retaining wall at Rio Tinto Stadium, belting out the Davis High fight song while a throng of students chanted behind her and girls soccer teammates pumped their fists and clapped in front of her.

It would be the last time she did so wearing the brown-and-gold checkered uniform of the Darts she has worn for four years.

But what a way to go out.

Colohan scored the game-winning goal midway through the first half to lift the Darts to their third-straight Class 5A girls soccer state title and second-straight undefeated season with a 2-1 victory over Fremont at Rio Tinto Stadium on Friday evening.

“I’ll take it. It’s the best way it could end,” said Colohan, who doubled the advantage set by teammate Olivia Wade in the 23rd minute.

“It’s the third one in a row, so it makes it that much bigger. We beat the wins record, we had all these records, and then we got (the third championship). I’ll take it.”

The Darts (20-0) have not lost a match since a 1-0 defeat at Weber on Oct. 10, 2014, the final day of the regular season. Davis also became the fourth team in Utah High School Activities Association history to win three-straight state titles and the first since Alta won four-straight from 2006-09, and was voted the top team in the country by USA Today following last season’s state championship.

Colohan has been the heartbeat of the team for four years. A year ago, she acted as a midfield facilitator for a team that featured six Division I-bound seniors, including a pair of current Utah players.

As a senior, she set out to score more — and nearly doubled her previous season's output.

“She’s our point guard,” said Davis coach Souli Phongsavath. “She sets the tone for everybody, and this year she’s had to take on a new role of scoring. She doubled her goal scoring this year from last year, in addition to providing assists for everybody else.

“With her and Olivia Wade, it’s a great one-two combo that we have there.”

Wade got emotional when asked to express what Colohan means to the Darts as she departs for BYU. But the future Cougar teammate didn’t stutter when expressing her gratitude for a teammate, best friend and future college teammate.

“Kayla is one of my best friends; I love Kayla Colohan so much,” said Wade, who scored 39 goals as a junior in 2016. “No words can describe how much she means to me and how much she means to this team. She’s one of my best friends and one of the best players I’ve ever had the opportunity to play with. I love that girl more than anything.”

Davis took an early lead when Wade redirected a corner kick from Kylee Morgan into the net in the 23rd minute.

But the lead lasted less than a minute. The Silver Wolves’ Madison Green took the ensuing restart toward the goal, then centered the ball to Courtney Talbot for a smashing shot into the top shelf to level the match, 1-1.

But the Darts never panicked.

“There was (panic) for me, but I don’t think there was for them,” Phongsavath said. “That’s why they came right back, and it only took them 10 minutes to get the game-winning goal.”

Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

With four minutes left in the half, Colohan ripped a shot from distance that struck the far post and banged into the opposite side netting for a 2-1 advantage that Davis never relinquished.

Kendyl Baker saved a pair of counter-attacking attempts in the 37th minute, diving on the ground to stop two close-range efforts while Fremont chased, kicked and struck near the prone goalkeeper’s face. She also came up with a save in the final 10 seconds as the Silver Wolves pushed desperately for an equalizer in a game controlled by Davis’ pace and ball control.

“Honestly, this is by far the best,” Wade said of the Darts’ fourth girls soccer title in school history. “This year, everyone was against us. Nobody wanted us to win because we’ve won the last two. This one is the sweetest victory because everyone was against us.”

Davis outscored its opponents 120-8 on the season, allowing one fewer goal than last year’s squad that ascended to the top team in the country in two national polls.

But more than dominance, the Darts speak of sisterhood.

“I think it’s our chemistry, on and off the field,” Colohan said. “We know what we need to do, we know our plan, and all get along. We are all best friends, and we know what we need to do to win.”

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