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- Crimson Cliffs defeated Dixie 3-0 to win its second 4A soccer title.
- Coach Isaac Klingonsmith emphasized teamwork and defense as keys to their success.
- Seniors Ezekiel Weir, Bitner Mitchell and Brody Fielding led the Mustangs' victory.
SANDY — Crimson Cliffs did what no other team could do against Dixie this season with a 3-0 shutout in Thursday's 4A soccer title game at America First Field.
After scoring 12 goals in the opening three rounds of the playoffs, the Dixie Flyers were held scoreless for the first time this season in a championship defeat. The last time Dixie won a title was 2015, when it went back-to-back.
It was the Mustangs' 10th clean sheet of the season and also Crimson Cliffs' first win over Dixie in 2025 after two losses to the Flyers in the regular season.
Head coach Isaac Klingonsmith called clean sheets his "coaching philosophy" for a team that has led the region in shutouts every season since the school's founding in 2019. The Mustangs can also now claim two soccer state titles in their six-year history after the first in 2022.
"We've got boys that are coachable, with a great mentality and guys that believe in each other, most importantly," Klingonsmith said. "And that's where the team excels, is that if they believe each other, they run together, they work together; we will do well in life or soccer or anything."
Senior Ezekiel Weir opened the scoring for Crimson Cliffs just before halftime when he pounced on a rebound in the box for a 1-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first half.
The Mustangs doubled their lead just two minutes into the second half when leading goalscorer and senior Bitner Mitchell got to a ball that was headed back into the box after a corner for his 17th score of the season. He secured a brace and the 3-0 win after the Dixie keeper mishandled a ball in the box with 7:47 remaining in the match.
"I was a freshman when we won the first time and to come back and do it again is amazing," Mitchell said. "It's incredible, but I got to give all my respect to my team. I can't do any of that without them."
The final senior in the triumvirate of star performances was goalkeeper Brody Fielding, who withstood the pressure from a dangerous Dixie attacking team looking to get back into the match for most of the second half.
"The blood, sweat and tears, putting everything we have on the field and being able to feel the outcome and see the reward of the trophy and the state championship, it's just incredible," Fielding said.
