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SANDY — Soccer championships are a team accomplishment, but all eyes were on Maple Mountain goalkeeper Anya Gulley at the end of Friday night's penalty shootout to decide the 5A title winner against Bountiful.
Gulley saved two of the Redhawks' first four shots to set up a game-winner by Hannah Bailey as the Golden Eagles won 4-2 in penalties after a 1-1 draw in double overtime. "MVP" and "that's our goalie" chants filled the air as Gulley was pulled away from the trophy celebration for interviews.
"I was really happy and relieved because it was a long, hard-fought game for us," Gulley said of how she felt after the second save, knowing the next shot by her team could win it all.
Game goes to PK's, Maple Mountain keeper Anya Gulley saves two and Hannah Bailey makes this shot to claim the 5A state title over Bountiful pic.twitter.com/mRrHvZGm7o
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) October 21, 2023
Maple Mountain was in the driver's seat after a goal by Kesley Jewkes put the Eagles up after just 20 minutes, but Bountiful was awarded a penalty kick 13 minutes into the second half, and Belle Sorensen converted to tie the game up at 1-1. The stalemate lasted 32 more minutes in regulation and then two 10-minute overtime periods to send the state final to penalty kicks.
It was a marathon end to a marathon playoff run for Maple Mountain, who entered the postseason as a 10-seed and won four one-goal contests to reach the championship game against fifth-seeded Bountiful. The young upstart Eagles continued their Cinderella run to coronation, with the sophomore Gulley leading the way.
"The first part of the season was a struggle, and honestly I never thought we could make it this far," Gulley said. "But as we went into the state tournament, we just played as a team and we really worked and did our best to get here."
It is the second state title for Maple Mountain after winning its first in 2017.
