Boys soccer: Grant’s goal puts Farmington over Fremont in the nick of time
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- Farmington’s Austin Judd, right, battles Fremont’s Payton Clark (6) on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Fremont’s Payton Clark (6) wins a header over Farmington’s Josh Foster (11) on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Farmington’s Cole Janke (14) battles for the ball over Fremont’s Cam Graves on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Farmington keeper Jaxon Beynon makes a save against Fremont on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Fremont’s Dylan Bruce (10) and Farmington’s Jackson Cheney (12) chase the ball on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Fremont’s Dylan Bruce (10) tries to keep the ball from Farmington’s Jackson Cheney (12) on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Fremont’s Ezra Morrison pursues the ball in a match against Farmington on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Farmington’s Jackson Cheney stumbles near the ball in a match against Fremont on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Fremont’s Brennen Martin, right, moves the ball up the field as Farmington’s Jackson Cheney gives chase on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
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- Farmington’s Drake Arnold flicks the ball in a match against Fremont on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Farmington.
FARMINGTON — Farmington senior midfielder Toby Grant has a scholarship offer to play soccer at Vermont next year but, for the time being, Phoenix fans can revel in his performance on the pitch for the rest of his high school career.
Grant scored a double overtime, golden goal penalty kick with 3 minutes, 6 seconds remaining and Farmington nipped Fremont 3-2 in a battle at the top of Region 1 on Wednesday.
“He’s a solid player. A lot of people don’t know about him yet … one of the best players in the state for sure,” Farmington coach Aaron Soelberg said. “Our catalyst. He plays that defensive middle for us; kind of the glue guy.
“(He) gets us connected; bridges from the back line to the front line. The team has a lot of confidence in him,” Soelberg said.
Grant already had one penalty kick goal that gave the Phoenix (6-1, 2-1 Region 1) a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute and had no trepidation to try it again.
“I already made one; second one’s easy. 2-1 now. Whoever the team feels most confident with,” Grant, a captain, said. “They chose me and I appreciate it. I do hope the players like me a little bit. I’m glad I have the confidence to go up there and kick that one.”
Fremont (4-3, 2-1) goalie Tucker Pattillo was the tough-luck player whistled for both of Grant’s penalty kicks — not dirty by any means, just aggressive plays in the course of the action.
Farmington’s game-winner came out of a scrum where several players were airborne pursuing a free kick and collided in a heap in front of the net.
“My teammate went up for a header and the keeper went up to punch the ball and hit him in the center of his face, right in front of the ref, resulting in a PK. The call did not surprise me,” Grant said. “I went up there, iced it. Game. Walking up there, all I thought is this game’s over.”
The Phoenix 1-0 lead lasted until halftime but quickly evaporated just one minute out of the break.
Sophomore Ezra Morrison scored the tying goal for the Silverwolves 13 ticks into the second half and, when senior captain Payton Clark netted a penalty kick at the 41-minute mark, Fremont suddenly led 2-1.
“We kind of got calm, the defense fell asleep, and they (Fremont) had a good shot,” Farmington goalie Jaxon Beynon said. “We didn’t play our best in the first half, but we turned it on towards the end and when we got even, it gave us a boost.”
That tying goal came in the 70th minute when senior captain Cole Janke slipped one into the bottom left corner, making it 2-2 and sending the match into extra time.
“As the game went on, the team thought we’ve got to get going here and it felt like the last 15 minutes we hit another gear that we know we can play at,” Soelberg said. “The frustrating thing is it takes so long to figure out. The message in the second overtime was we can’t settle for a PK shootout. Let’s keep the ball on the floor, find our strikers. Get it to our playmakers on the outside and control the possession.”
Farmington has become the cardiac kids of late. All three of its region games have gone into extra time, winning the last two after an opening loss on PKs to Layton.
“I think this team is used to it. It’s a great region. No games are going to be easy,” Grant said. “We got shocked by Layton, but I think we bounced back and figured things out against Davis, and now Fremont. We can head to Weber off of a win.”
WEBER 4, LAYTON 2
LAYTON — Weber outscored Layton 2-1 in each half for a region win.
Luke Pack scored two goals for Weber (4-3, 1-2 Region 1). Garrett Graves and Jayce Rydalch also netted.
Layton (2-3, 1-2) did not report stats.
BASEBALL
LAYTON 17, WEBER 9
PLEASANT VIEW — In a game that saw 20 walks, Layton jumped on Weber 14-4 through two innings to take Game 2 of the region series.
Tanner Neil hit 2 for 2 with three RBIs for Layton (9-2, 2-0 Region 1). Andres Cedeño hit 3 for 5 and drove in two. Talon Hansen and Isaac Anderson also had two RBIs.
Tyce Abbott doubled and hit 3 for 4 to lead Weber (4-8, 0-2). Ashton Burnett hit a solo home run. Jarett Hill drew four walks.
ROY 3, BOUNTIFUL 1
BOUNTIFUL — Roy held Bountiful (4-8, 1-1 Region 5) scoreless until the seventh in a region win.
Cade Gaskill scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the first for Roy (2-10, 1-1) and Cameron Baty on a fourth-inning walk. Gaskill singled in Jack Sorensen in the fourth for Roy’s third run.
NORTHRIDGE 12, BONNEVILLE 4
WASHINGTON TERRACE — Beau Nelson hit 3 for 5 and drove in two runs as Northridge topped Bonneville in region play.
Boston Wright hit a solo home run for Northridge (10-2, 2-0 Region 5). Jon Olsen doubled and drove in two. Ryan Small also totaled two RBIs. Tytan Redd allowed three earned runs in six innings, striking out five.
Jet Hirschi hit 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI for Bonneville (7-5, 0-2). Kaycee Parkhurst doubled and Parker Sorensen drove in a run.
SOFTBALL
BOX ELDER 13, SKY VIEW 3
SMITHFIELD — Box Elder plated 10 runs in the fifth to turn a 3-0 deficit into a run-rule, non-region victory.
Kellie Malan gave up two earned runs on five hits and struck out two in the circle while hitting 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs at the plate to lead Box Elder (10-3). Kennadie Blackmer doubled, drove in three and scored three runs. Alexis Hales and Paige Baker also hit doubles.
Sports editor Brett Hein contributed to score reports.