The Sentinels, playing down two players due to yellow cards, erased an 8-6 deficit early in the fourth quarter with two goals to tie it with 5:40 left, and kept winning faceoffs to help the effort.

But the Phoenix had two more goals left and had the last say, claiming Farmington’s first state title in the sport with a 10-9 victory at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.

Following a whistle against Mountain Ridge (17-4), Hailey Larsen scored her third goal of the match to give Farmington (18-3) a 9-8 lead with 4 minutes left.

Mountain Ridge wasn’t done, scrambling with less players to strip Farmington goalie Elle Erickson behind the net and recover for a good look by Layla Holmstead, which beat Erickson back into position to tie it 9-9 with 3:11 left.

Erickson more than made up for it in the next minute, logging a huge save on a clean MR shot, then blocking another after a whistle gave the Sentinels a free run from short range.

With 1:30 remaining, Kate Carter went top shelf for the winner on a pass from Alexandra MacAuley to put Farmington ahead 10-9.

The Phoenix won the ensuing faceoff and, with the Sentinels out of legs, Farmington salted away the remaining clock and celebrated the championship.

OTHER SCORES

5A girls final: No. 1 Park City 16, No. 3 Olympus 6

— Brett Hein, Standard-Examiner

American Fork repeats in 6A boys soccer

American Fork put to rest any doubt of who is the top dog in 6A state soccer on Thursday with a 1-0 win over Bingham at America First Field.

Its reward was a second-straight 6A state championship trophy, repeating a feat achieved 40 years ago, the last time the Cavemen won back-to-back state championships — or any boys soccer championship — for that matter.

As the players celebrated their remarkable achievement, Caveman Coach Casey Waldron reflected on what earning back to back championships says about this year’s team.

“Last year everyone thought it was a fluke,” Waldron said. “This year, what meant more to us coaches and the boys, was to be able to go back-to-back and that isn’t a fluke. It almost kind of validates last year’s championship (more.) So, for me, that’s what stands out.”

Standing out in American Fork’s validation process was senior striker Lewis Knecht, who accounted for the game’s lone goal in the 30th minute of play. Knecht was presented an open goal courtesy of a quality assist from fellow senior Demetri Larsen and made certain to capitalize.

OTHER SCORES

5A boys final: No. 2 Alta 3, No. 4 Wasatch 2

4A boys final: No. 4 Crimson Cliffs 3, No. 2 Dixie 0

— Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald

Spanish Fork makes Cinderella run

What happens during the regular season can prove completely irrelevant in the postseason, a fact exemplified by Spanish Fork baseball during its remarkable postseason run.

With the 5A state championship final series on tap, the Dons find themselves as one of the two teams left standing despite being tabbed a No. 20 seed prior to the tournament. It’s a level of seeding that rarely advances past the first round of any tournament competition, let alone clear to the finals of a double-elimination format.

“No one expected us to be here, but it was not unexpected from our end,” said Spanish Fork coach Hadley Thorpe. “It’s a testament to our team and their approach. Our motto this season has been, ‘Til’ the end,’ and that’s the approach we’ve had with every game and it’s carried into the postseason.”

The Dons will square off against No. 2-seeded Brighton with play beginning on Friday and extending until Saturday in the best-of-three series. It’s a position that seemed almost laughable as recently as six weeks ago as Thorpe’s team struggled to a 2-11 start to the season.

Particularly notable about Spanish Fork’s run has been two wins over defending state champion and No. 1 seed Maple Mountain. Despite losing twice to the Golden Eagles by convincing margins in the regular season, the Dons came out on top of their crosstown rivals, winning 5-2 in bracket play on Monday before taking a thrilling 6-5, extra-inning win on Wednesday night to advance to the final round.

— Brandon Gurney, Daily Herald