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SANDY — The ball almost moved in slow motion as it traveled through the air — first rising and then slowly falling toward the goal.
"When she shot that I saw it going and saw it going," said Skyline senior midfielder Lily Boyden.
"It took forever," added Skyline coach Yamil Castillo.
Skyline senior Berlyn Dibble had received a back pass from Boyden and found herself unmarked about 35 yards out. After a quick glace at the goal, she opted to give it a go.
Ambitious? You bet. Championships, though, are won with strong ambition.
The ball's long, slow journey ended in the back of the net; a state-championship golazo that helped Skyline to a 3-1 victory over Lehi to win the 5A girls soccer title.
Dibbles' long goal broke a 1-1 tie in the second half and helped Skyline cap off a perfect 20-0 season.
"I usually hit post on those kinds of play," Dibble said. "So I was so happy when it went in — best feeling in the world."
Thats especially true considering the midfielder had been looking for a goal all season. The Eagles have put up big goal tallies all season, but even with all the four-, five-, or even six-goal matches Skyline has had this season, Dibble has never appeared on the score sheet.
That changed on Friday. She picked a good time and a and even better goal to get her first.
"I'm so proud of her because that's all she wanted to do," Boyden said. "It was an amazing goal. … I was just so happy for her and for us because it gave us the momentum we needed to keep going and win."
Boyden, though, offered plenty of that herself, scoring the game's opening goal in the first half, and then clinching the title with a tally in the waning moments of the match. Two goals and an assist — a pretty special way to cap off the season.
It was the type of performance Skyline has come to expect out of the senior, who was in her first and only year in the program.
"When she came and tried out I didn't know who she was," Castillo said.
It didn't take long to see how special she was. After a couple preseason games, Castillo couldn't stop himself thinking: "Were gonna win with this kid."
That initial impression turned out to be more than correct. With her stellar showing in the 5A championship game, she finished the season with 32 goals, 11 assists and, most importantly, zero losses.
"She's incredible, very humble, hard working, she's a team player," said the Skyline head coach. "That is what's most impressive."
But, as Castillo was quick to point out, he could say that about his entire team. You don't go undefeated without a special group. Skyline showed Friday — and for the entire season — it was special.
"Those kids believe in each other," Castillo said. "They played together and they played for each other."
