- Syracuse Titans won their first 6A girls soccer title, defeating Lone Peak.
- Taylee Hughes scored the opening goal; Talia Thompson sealed the 2-0 victory.
- Goalkeeper Erin Bott's performance was pivotal in denying Lone Peak's scoring attempts.
SANDY – The Syracuse Titans made history Friday night, defeating two-time defending champion Lone Peak 2-0 to capture the school's first-ever 6A girls soccer state title — and in the process, denied the Knights a three-peat.
In a defensive battle through the first half, both goalkeepers shined under pressure.
Syracuse's Erin Bott and Lone Peak's Eliza Collings traded highlight saves as both teams pushed for the opening goal. Bott made a diving stop on a shot from Ivy Harding, while Collings turned away a near tap-in off a corner kick to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.
Missed chances by the Knights would go on to haunt them later with plenty of chances to take an early lead. Sadie Stratton missed Kate Fuller on a breakaway after Stratton gained the attention of three Titans defenders. She was unable to see Fuller sprinting down the left side of the field as Stratton took a contested shot that was saved by Bott.
The second half started out with Lone Peak putting the pressure on Syracuse, controlling possession for the first 14 minutes of the half. The Knights had two great chances to get on the board, but Hannah Heimuli's shot sailed just above the goal post while Stratton was called offsides and her goal was waved off.
"We didn't start the second half quite the best," Syracuse head coach Jason Steiner said. "But (Erin's) just been a stud all season, and just kept getting better and better as the year goes on. You've got to have a little bit of luck, you've got to be healthy, and you've got to create your own chances, and we did that today."
After withstanding a flurry of Lone Peak attacks early in the second half, Syracuse struck first. With 21:58 remaining, Taylee Hughes broke through the Knights' back line after a long kick from midfield and calmly slotted the ball past Collings to put the Titans up 1-0. It was the first goal Lone Peak had conceded all postseason.
"I think that was actually my first shot of the game," Hughes said. "I knew I had to finish every chance I got. Luckily, it came to me and it was perfect."
Lone Peak pressed hard to equalize, but Bott and the Syracuse defense refused to bend. With just over two minutes left, sophomore Talia Thompson put the game — and championship — on ice, sprinting past her defender for a breakaway score that doubled Syracuse's lead to 2-0.
"It's surreal. It's awesome," Thompson said. "At first, we were all nervous, but then we watched film and realized this team is not unbeatable. We've played so well this year, and this was something we could actually make happen — and we did."
Thompson had a chance to put a goal on the board for the Titans in the first half but her shot went wide left of the net on a fast break opportunity. She didn't miss the second chance she got.
"I always start off games like a little nervous. And so first strike, it felt good. It went wide, but it felt good. I think that started my momentum really well, which I was happy about. And then just seeing that go in and we knew it was real now, and that was just the most exciting thing."
For Bott, the shutout carried personal meaning after last year's semifinal loss.
"Last year in the semis, I didn't play my best game," Bott said. "I wasn't locked in like today, so I knew what I needed to do — and it feels amazing."
As the final whistle blew, Syracuse players rushed the field, celebrating a season built on belief, resilience, and redemption.
"These girls are amazing," Steiner said. "At the beginning of the season, I told them it was going to be a special ride because of them — and I think they believed in that. Every moment this year has been a little bit about redemption."
From Bott's redemption in goal to Hughes' clutch finish and Thompson's late dagger, Syracuse's first state title was the perfect ending to a season defined by grit and resilience.
