Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — With one touch of a deep free kick, Hauroa Morgant delivered Juan Diego the ultimate cherry on top of a 16-1 season.
Make that 17-1.
Morgant scored the only goal of the match midway through the first half, and Juan Diego's defense did the rest in clinching the program's first state title since 2016 with a 1-0 win over Morgan in the 3A state championship Friday at America First Field.
"It's cohesion and humility. People came off the bench, and never complained about their time," Juan Diego coach Joe Baca said. "They're familiar with each other, playing outside of the high school together (during club season). We as coaches just have to put them together to make sure they work that way.
"As coaches, we just have to put them together so they can take that trophy home. And today they executed."
Morgant opened the scoring in the 24th minute, bending a free kick from 30 yards out under the crossbar to give the Soaring Eagle a 1-0 advantage with his 36th goal of the year.
Like Cristiano Ronaldo standing over a free kick, Morgant strode confidently before perfectly placing his boot on the ball and sliding the ball over the wall of four defenders with pitch-perfect placement in the top shelf.
It was a single moment of brilliance, the kind of which is normally reserved for an international soccer star or a player only referred to by their first name.
"He didn't do much on the ball, and I thought we did our job, it was just that one kick. It was beautiful, it was a banger, there's not much else I can say about it," Morgan senior Tyson Adams told the Standard-Examiner.
But for Morgant and the Soaring Eagle, it was the only moment that mattered to end a seven-year state championship drought.
"I work on that every day," Morgant said. "But I just felt it, and it went in. That's all I can say.
"It means everything," he added of the championship. "We worked so hard since the beginning of this season. We created a relationship together; we're brothers right now. I'm really grateful for them, and to have them in victory."
Danny Gutierrez tried to double the advantage midway through the second half, but the Juan Diego striker's counter attacking shot sailed over the bar. Morant narrowly missed a chance of his own with 15 minutes remaining.
The Soaring Eagle's second goal never came — only their second title, a championship to pair with the 2016 trophy, a historic team that set a program record with 14 shutouts.
Or program co-record, at least.
Juan Diego goalkeeper Indra Suarjana made four second-half saves to preserve the one-goal win for his team over a Morgan squad that survived penalties in Wednesday's semifinals. That includes pawing down the last kick of the match, a save with one second to go that kept the Trojans (11-7) goal-less and earning the 14th shutout of the year for his own group.
"The shutouts have been amazing," Baca said. "These guys have been amazing; five goals scored on them all year. But defense is key; it really wins games."
