Title streak no easy task

Sandy » Since the beginning of the season, Alta has been chasing down a state record four consecutive girls' soccer state titles. Before Friday night's 5A state title game against Davis at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Hawks had won three consecutive state titles-- all of them by convincing margins.

The game that started it all was a 4-2 win over Lone Peak in the 2006 5A state title game. The next year, the Hawks beat the Knights again -- this time in a more lopsided 3-0 decision. Following last year's four-consecutive shutout run to a third state title, culminating in a 2-0 win over Brighton, many thought it would be just a matter of time before the Hawks claimed their spot in the record books.

Not so fast.

In fact, Alta's shot at history came down to just that -- shots. After battling the Darts to a 3-3 after 100 minutes of play, the Hawks were forced to earn their spot in the record books by winning a shootout with an injured goalkeeper at net.

"It's the scariest thing of your life," said Alta goalkeeper Tashia Long, still nursing a severely bruised left knee suffered in the Hawks quarterfinal win over Layton. "The whole team depends on your one save or your own goal."

When Long knocked the Darts final shot away, the Hawks secured their closest win of the past four years.

Not that the margin mattered.

"It feels so good," said Long. "To do this in my senior year,

And according to junior defender Rebekah Wooden, they aren't done yet.

"[Winning state] is still going to be our goal," said Wooden, who scored Alta's first two goals. "We're going to go for as many as we can."