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Draper • South Summit jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on American Leadership Academy then fended off a second-half comeback attempt in a 3-1 victory to claim a spot in Saturday's Class 2A boys' soccer state championship match.

Despite American Leadership entering Friday's semifinals as the only team with championship experience, the hungry South Summit squad jumped on the Eagles early, then finished off them with a late goal in the second half to clinch its date with region rival Layton Christian in the 11 a.m. title game at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Zeb Farmer, South Summit's leading goal scorer, didn't take long to put his team on top when he scored his 18th goal of the season in the fourth minute of action.

Cole Georgi doubled the Wildcats' lead in the 14th minute after getting behind the ALA backline. With the goalkeeper behind him and the end line rapidly approaching, Georgi was forced to slice a shot across the face of the goal before running out of real estate. The junior put just enough spin on his shot for the ball to curl inside the far post for the 2-0 lead.

Despite South Summit continuing to control the majority of possession in the later stages of the first half, the Wildcats struggled to find the final touch in the attacking third.

ALA was able to take advantage of the increasingly physical style of play late in the first half when it was awarded a free kick just outside the Wildcats' 18-yard box.

Striker Joseph Valle fired a shot under the defensive wall and past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Nick Beasley to cut the deficit to 2-1 just before the halftime whistle.

South Summit senior Hunter Hartman said that it was deflating to concede that late in the half.

"We were nervous for sure when they scored right at the half," Hartman said. "But we went into halftime as confident as could be.

"We weren't connecting as well as we had been [earlier in the half], but they are also a very good team. We struggled through points, but we also had our high points."

The highest of points for Hartman was when he effectively ended any chance of an ALA comeback with a headed goal off a corner kick in the 75th minute.

"Wide open," Hartman said about what he saw as the ball floated into the box. "There was nothing but the keeper on one side, and the rest of it was open. We practice that every day in training. It felt amazing."

After being regaled with stories about his father's state title campaign, Farmer said that claiming his own state championship in his senior year is enough motivation. But when South Summit lines up against a familiar Layton Christian team Saturday, that motivation could increase.

"It's going to be intense," Farmer said. "They beat us on a small field. We beat them on a big field. Tomorrow's a big field. That's all I have to say about it." —

South Summit 3, American Leadership 1

R The Wildcats score twice in the opening 14 minutes.

• South Summit is trying for its first state title in boys' soccer.

• South Summit beat Layton Christian 5-1 on March 21 but lost 3-2 on April 19.