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- Jack McAllister's 40-yard free kick secured a 3-2 championship win for Alta.
- The victory denied Wasatch a third consecutive 5A boys soccer championship.
- Alta claimed its 10th state title, setting a new Utah record.
SANDY — There have been many great goals scored at America First Field in its 17-year history, and another one got added to the pantheon Thursday.
Two-time defending 5A champion Wasatch and Alta were tied 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining when junior Jack McAllister stepped up to take a free kick from 40 yards out.
"We had a little bit of wind against us, so I was like, 'I might be able to catch the keeper outside,'" McAllister said. "He stepped a little bit when I walked up so I was like, 'I'm just gonna go for it. Worst case, it's in the box.'"
Instead, McAllister got the best-case scenario, as the ball sailed over the Wasatch keeper's hands as he attempted to recover back toward the far post, but it was too late. The ball was in the back of the net and McAllister turned to face his student section immediately to his left.
"He's a great team player, always supporting his teammates, and that was an insane goal," head coach Mackenzie Hyer said of McAllister. "That's one for the highlight reels, for sure."
Jack McCallister buries a 40-yard goal to give Alta a 3-2 win over 2-time defending champion Wasatch in the 5A boys soccer championship game. pic.twitter.com/FsRprYJzwG
— Dana Greene (@dana_greene) May 23, 2025
Alta received a red card three minutes later, and it appeared Wasatch was in prime position to tie the game up for a third time. But the ensuing free kick went right at the keeper and the Hawks' 10 men held on for their first championship since 2022 with a 3-2 victory.
The win marked the 10th boys soccer championship for Alta, which moves the Hawks out of a tie with Bountiful and into a new record for the most championships by a school in Utah state history.
"What that means is that we are really a family," Hyer, an Alta alum herself, said. "That number 10 just reflects on all the hard work since 1983 that every Alta soccer player has put onto the field."
Alta and Wasatch have accounted for all of the 5A boys soccer titles this decade, with Wasatch winning in 2021, 2023 and 2024. This was the second meeting between the two teams in the championship game during that run after 2023, when Wasatch won 4-2.
Wasps senior Jayden Cosper scored the opener 15 minutes into Thursday's match for his third goal in the last three state championship games. Alta senior Josh Glaizer equalized with 17 minutes left in the first half with an impressive lob over the keeper for a 1-1 tie at halftime.
The deadlock didn't last long, however, as Cole Simpson banged home a header on a corner kick four minutes into the second half for his second goal during the Wasps' three-year championship game run. Glazier assisted on the second Alta goal from Tanner Kunz with 26 minutes remaining, before McAllister won it 11 minutes later.
"You just gotta keep fighting," Hyer said. "Our boys have been talking about this moment, and it was just amazing to see them never give up, to just continue to play and support each other and do all those things that were needed."
