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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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 — Cole Simpson remembers exactly where he was three years ago when Wasatch won its first boys soccer state title in a decade: in the southwest corner of then-Rio Tinto Stadium, a middle schooler who hoped to get his own chance to win a championship soon enough.
That day came Thursday.
Simpson had a goal and an assist as Wasatch won its second 5A state championship in three years with a 4-2 victory over Alta at America First Field.
Jackson Hanley, Jayden Cosper and Liam Davis each added a goal for the Wasps (17-1), who capped off a nearly flawless run to the championship and allowed just four goals in four matches in the postseason.
"I just wanted it so bad after we won it," said Simpson, a sophomore, after the match. "I wanted to come in and take one myself, and we did it."
It's the fourth state title since 2011 for the Wasps, which ran roughshod over the rest of 5A to finish 17-1 including the best record after the regular season.
But living up to the expectations of the top seed can be daunting. That's why scoring a goal 83 seconds into the match — and seconds before a half-hour delay for lightning — made all the difference in the world.
Hanley opened the scoring just 90 seconds into the match, giving the Wasps a 1-0 lead mere seconds before the game entered a lightning delay.
"We were so excited when we went in and we were up 1-0. We knew if we kept playing our game, we'd match their intensity," Wasatch coach Jared Hendry said.
"We knew (Alta) was dangerous in the attack, and we had to keep their forwards without good chances. That's all our defenders tried to do … But Jackson's goal in 83 seconds, that was so cool."
Wasatch couldn't take advantage of any more chances for the rest of the half, and Alta drew level when Canon Downey was called for a penalty (and ensuing yellow card for dissent) on a run into the box in the 36th minute.
Brock Bennion reset the match from the spot, converting inside the left post to lift the Hawks to a 1-1 halftime draw.
But the draw only lasted six minutes into the second half, when Jayden Cosper ran onto the end of a ball chipped over the goalkeeper to finish a goal through contact in the 46th minute that put the Wasps back on top, 2-1.
Simpson made it 3-1 with a rocket that caromed off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net in the 57th minute, a goal that turned out to be the match-winner — even if the Wasps didn't know it just yet.
That's because Liam Davis finished off the scoring for Wasatch with a cracker in the 66th minute, dethroning the defending 5A champions with a 4-1 advantage before Preston Ludlow pulled one back for the Hawks (14-4) with 12 minutes remaining.
And the Wasps might not be done just yet.
"We've got a really good JV team, too," Simpson said. "I think we can win a few more, too."
Added Hendry: "They're already talking about next year. We'll take that when it comes. But these boys are so terrific. They work hard in the offseason, they go play in the offseason, and then when they come play for our community, they're just proud and hungry for more."
