Down a man, Baker’s boot lifts Weber over Layton in shootout for 6A second-round boys soccer win
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- Weber High’s Luke Pack, left, swings to strike the ball in front of Layton’s Davis Madsen (25) during a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High goalkeeper Boston Smith, center, reaches to block a Layton shot during a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton High’s Yoiner Fonseca (17) controls the ball as Weber’s Tommy Longhurst (21) arrives to challenge in a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton’s Kobe Woodyatt (24) and Weber’s Crew DeVries joust for possession during a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton High’s Crew Hawley (10) battles with Weber’s Carter Archuleta for the ball in a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Carter Archuleta, left, moves away from the pursuit of Layton’s Crew Hawley (10) in a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton High players react as the official issues a yellow card to the Lancers during a 6A playoff second-round game against Weber on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Carter Archuleta, right, presses the ball past Layton’s Rushton Hennessy, center, in a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton High’s Liam Kuerth tries to body the ball for control in a 6A playoff second-round game against Weber on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton High’s Liam Kuerth (9) swings his leg to strike the ball in a 6A playoff second-round game against Weber on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Tanner Booth heads the ball during a 6A playoff second-round game against Layton on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Layton High’s Kobe Woodyatt (24) shields the ball away from a Weber player during a 6A playoff second-round game Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Brighton Burrup looks upfield with the ball during a 6A playoff second-round game against Layton on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
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- Weber High’s Crew DeVries chases the ball during a 6A playoff second-round game against Layton on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Pleasant View.
PLEASANT VIEW — Mavrick Baker was lying on the sideline of the soccer field, nearly in tears.
One would wonder whether those were tears of joy or pain.
After regulation play and two overtime periods against Layton on Tuesday, the Weber High senior had just scored the winning goal in the fifth round of penalty kicks.
Baker raised both arms in jubilation before being engulfed by teammates and home town fans who rushed the field near the east goal.
He bounced through the crowd, ripped off his jersey, then grabbed the back of his leg and collapsed to the artificial turf as his entire body cramped up.
Wonder on.
What mattered most is that the No. 6 Warriors advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 6A state tournament, tying No. 11 Layton 1-1 through 100 minutes of soccer, then winning the shootout 5-4 on Baker’s boot.
“We train after every practice for a shootout; this was our moment and we took it. All of us made our PKs. That’s the game,” Baker said. “It’s a great feeling. Whoever is confident steps up to take the kick … that’s what the outcome is. Who wants it most.”
It was tied 2-2 following two rounds of alternating penalty kicks; Crew Hawley and Cody Miller netted for the Lancers, while Tanner Booth and Jack Hammons countered for the Warriors.
Weber senior keeper Boston Smith then blocked Layton’s third attempt and sophomore Jaden Millar gave the Warriors a 3-2 advantage.
“Once I thought I knew where they were going, I had that locked down. We practice them (penalty kicks) a lot. We went to penalty kicks and I wasn’t nervous at all. I knew we could do it tonight,” Smith said. “Shoutout to the coaches who put in the overtime; we wouldn’t be here without the coaching staff.”
Yoiner Fonseca and Edwin Tamoua then scored for Layton, as did sophomore Jonah Sheen for Weber, setting the stage for Baker’s game winner.
The first half was headed for a scoreless tie before Luke Pack found the back of the net with only 29 seconds remaining, giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead at the break.
Baker had a part in that goal when he collided with Layton goalie Jack Gibbs and two other Lancers near the frame and the ball squirted out in front of the net for a tap-in by Pack.
“Their kid thought the ball was going out of bounds; I won the ball, tracked down the keeper and deflected it to Luke,” Baker said. “Luke Pack has been working all season for it. He was there as he always is.”
This in spite of being down a man after Weber senior Carter Archuleta was tossed on a red card at the 34-minute mark after a dustup along the Layton bench.
“It was all in the effort our boys put in. We overcame the red card by working harder than the other team,” Baker said.
Layton drew even at 1-1 on a goal by Isaac Kartchner, which caught the right corner in the 63rd minute, and that’s where things stood until the penalty kicks.
Smith was determined to fight back and complimented his defense for their help in keeping Layton off the board the rest of the match.
“My defense won the game. “Jack (Hammons), Tanner (Booth), Crew (DeVries) and Tommy (Longhurst) played the whole game. All props to them,” Smith said. “They played so good today; we wouldn’t be here without them. When we got the red card I was nervous for a minute, but our team stepped up big time … upped the intensity.”
Weber (13-5) and Layton (8-8) faced off twice during the Region 1 regular season, splitting a pair with one-goals deficits and Tuesday showed how evenly matched they were.
An emotional Layton coach Rick Talamantez reflected on the conclusion of his team’s season as the lights went out at Weber’s football stadium.
“Weber is a very good team … very strong players. The game kind of went back and forth; they just got the edge on us,” Talamantez said. “I’m proud of my team; for everything they’ve done all season long. They’ve fought hard every game. They finally came together and tried to make a run.
“Each and every one of these boys has brought the passion back to me to keep coaching,” Talamantez said.
Next up for Weber is a Thursday match at No. 3 Skyridge (13-5) in the quarterfinals, where the Warriors hope for a better outcome than last season.
“We lost in the quarterfinals last year, but we’ll make it different this year,” Baker said. “We’d played Layton twice and haven’t seen Skyridge, but it should be a good game and I’m looking forward to it.”
Like Baker, Smith is a little banged up and had to briefly leave Tuesday’s game, but says both players will be ready for their next battle.
“I got a little creek in the thigh and I’m still bruised, but we’ll be back on Thursday,” Smith said.
DAVIS 1, FARMINGTON 0 (2OT)
KAYSVILLE — Nick Forsyth kept a clean sheet and Kyle Livermore scored on a Kasen Smith assist in the second session of extra time to lead No. 5 Davis (11-5) to a home win over No. 12 Farmington (6-8) in the 6A state second round.
Davis will host No. 13 Bingham (8-7) in the 6A quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Thursday. Bingham beat No. 4 Herriman 2-1 to advance.
SCORES, NO STATS REPORTED
6A second round
No. 3 Skyridge 5, No. 14 Syracuse 0
No. 10 Pleasant Grove (0) def. No. 7 Fremont (0) 5-4 PKs
5A second round
No. 9 Northridge 2, No. 8 Viewmont 0
No. 1 East 2, No. 16 Roy 0
Justin B. Johnson contributed to score reports.
