ST. GEORGE — After a regular season full of disappointing, gut-wrenching defeats, the soccer team from Dixie High School is getting some major payback in the 4A state playoffs.
First, the Flyers posted a convincing 5-1 victory over Region 10 rival Cedar in the opening round. Then Dixie went to Layton Christian Academy last Saturday and shocked the No. 1 Eagles 2-1.
The No. 8 seeded Flyers (10-7) advanced to the semifinal round Thursday, May 11, at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. They will face No. 5 Green Canyon (11-6) at 10 a.m.
Thursday’s other 4A semifinal, played at the same venue at 12:30 p.m., matches defending state champion and No. 2 seed Crimson Cliffs (13-3) against No. 6 Mountain Crest (10-7).
The semifinal winners will meet in the state title game at 7 p.m. Friday May 12, at the America First Field in Sandy.
Here are recaps of 4A state quarterfinal soccer games from Saturday, May 6.
Dixie 2, Layton Christian Academy 1
The LCA Eagles (9-3) came into the quarterfinal matchup having scored 37 goals while yielding six all season.
“We knew that if we put a lot of attack against them early, get that first goal and make them play from behind, maybe we could rattle them and get them off their game plan,” Dixie coach Travis Wilkinson told St. George News after the win.
Hayes Thompson got that critical first goal, set up by Andy Lagomarsino’s aggressive challenge in the LCA box.
“Andy is always ambitious, and that got him into the box,” Wilkinson said. “He beat the (LCA) kid inside, and the defender got his hands on him. Andy is pretty smart about holding his ground and the kid had to put him down.”
After Lagomarsino drew the foul that awarded a penalty kick, Wilkinson said there was no doubt who the Flyers wanted taking the shot.
“Hayes Thompson was coming off a four-goal game (in the opening round win over Cedar),” Wilkinson said. “He just wanted it and he stepped up. He buried it and that got the momentum going.”
Wilkinson said the early goal caused LCA to play a little more aggressively on offense, pressing more than they usually would to find an equalizer.
Then in the second half Iker Meza, Dixie’s brilliant playmaker at midfield, launched a 40-yard free kick toward the LCA goal. Wilkinson described it as a skipper, a ball that bounced right in front of the Eagles’ keeper and was tricky to corral.
The ball caromed off the goalie right to Dixie’s Darinel Briones, who tucked the ball inside the far post to give Dixie a solid 2-nil advantage.
“(Briones) came off the bench and was at the right spot,” Wilkinson said. “He saw the keeper stepped hard at an angle and tucked it right under him.”
Wilkinson described LCA as “very well coached. They’re the most technical team we’ve played and it’s easy to see why they were so highly ranked.”
Dixie’s back line played together and goalkeeper Peyton Abbott was a stonewall in the cage. Yin Simas scored for LCA with an assist from Bernardo Manzano, but Dixie’s defense held strong the rest of the way.
“It was one of the biggest emotional wins that I’ve experienced in all my coaching,” Wilkinson said. “We were super excited and stoked to get that win.”
Crimson Cliffs 4, Sky View 2
The Mustangs scored twice in each half, holding off Sky View’s challenge in Washington Fields.
The defending 4A champs distributed points evenly as four different players scored goals and four different Mustangs recorded assists in the victory.
Senior Owen Klingonsmith did both for Crimson, scoring and assisting a tally for the winners.
Also netting markers for the winners were Ryan Smith, Hinckley Heaton and Easton Lott.
Collecting helpers for the Mustangs were Mason Manwaring, Camden Squires and Hudson Morby.
Sky View scored both of its goals in the second half, coming off the boots of Ean Haws and Cris Boto. Kyle Robinson recorded an assist for the Bobcats.
Mountain Crest 3, Desert Hills 1
Mountain Crest, 4A’s other Mustangs, upset the No. 3 seed Thunder at Desert Hills.
Mountain Crest scored in the first half, taking a 1-nil lead into intermission and quieting the home crowd.
The visitors controlled the ball for much of the second half, sitting on a late two-goal lead and not allowing the Thunder many counterattacks.
Eli Clark, Sam Hunt and Max Carpenter each scored a goal for Mountain Crest in the win. All the markers were unassisted.
Dan Simister got one back for Desert Hills, turning an assist from Zach Davis into a second-half goal that would end up being the Thunder’s only tally.
Green Canyon 1, Ridgeline 0
The Wolves advanced to set up their semifinal matchup against Dixie after upsetting Region 11 rival Ridgeline on the road.
Maynor Delarca scored the only goal of the game, giving Green Canyon the margin of victory in the first half.
Updated May 8, 11 p.m. to correct the date and time of the 4A state championship game on Friday.
Photo Gallery
Dixie, here in an opening round win over Cedar, advanced to the 4A state soccer semifinals after a 2-1 win over No. 1 Layton Christian Academy, St. George, Utah, May 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Jacqui Knighton, St. George News
Dixie, here in an opening round win over Cedar, advanced to the 4A state soccer semifinals after a 2-1 win over No. 1 Layton Christian Academy, St. George, Utah, May 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Jacqui Knighton, St. George News
Dixie, here in an opening round win over Cedar, advanced to the 4A state soccer semifinals after a 2-1 win over No. 1 Layton Christian Academy, St. George, Utah, May 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Jacqui Knighton, St. George News
Dixie, here in an opening round win over Cedar, advanced to the 4A state soccer semifinals after a 2-1 win over No. 1 Layton Christian Academy, St. George, Utah, May 8, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Jacqui Knighton, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs defeats Sky View in a 4A state soccer match, May 6, 2023, Washington, Utah | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs defeats Sky View in a 4A state soccer match, May 6, 2023, Washington, Utah | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs defeats Sky View in a 4A state soccer match, May 6, 2023, Washington, Utah | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs defeats Sky View in a 4A state soccer match, May 6, 2023, Washington, Utah | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs defeats Sky View in a 4A state soccer match, May 6, 2023, Washington, Utah | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News
Crimson Cliffs defeats Sky View in a 4A state soccer match, May 6, 2023, Washington, Utah | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.