This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Almost everything on the experience side of the ledger was checked off in favor of the Timpanogos girls' soccer team on Tuesday.
The Timberwolves went into the Class 4A state semifinals as the defending champs, with plenty of components back from the squad that hoisted the first-place trophy a year ago.
But, in a tough tussle with upstart Mountain Crest, the go-ahead goal of a 5-3 victory for Timpanogos came off the foot of a sophomore who got nary a minute of playing time on the 2013 varsity squad.
With 5:01 remaining, in a 3-3 tie, Aspyn Farrer broke down the right side and launched a shot that Mountain Crest goalie Becca Jenson got her hand on — but not enough. The ball skipped into the net just under the crossbar and Timpanogos (15-2) took the lead for good.
"I felt a little bit of pressure, but I knew I had speed and
"It's kind of a blur," said Farrer of the winning goal. "I just remember taking it down the sideline and looking up and the keeper was coming out. I just thought, 'I'm gonna take it.' "
Farrer, one year ago, was a freshman at Timpanogos and coming off a summer nursing a broken foot when she tried out for the varsity and missed the cut.
"I'm so excited. It's going to be awesome," added Farrer of playing in Friday's state championship game. "I can't wait."
With 2:38 left on the clock, the T-Wolves added an insurance goal when another youngster, freshman Tess Donaldson, converted a rebound after a shot-on-goal from senior leader Jordyn Chung-Hoon.
Earlier in the back-and-forth game, Chung-Hoon twice scored herself to even the score at both 1-to-1 and 2-to-2.
"We don't think about that [repeating] as much. We just try to work harder to get back," Chung-Hoon said.
After Chung-Hoon's second score, six minutes into the second half, it would be another 14 minutes before either team was able to break the two-all score.
That happened when Timpanogos senior Devri Hartle, on a play similar to Farrer's later tiebreaker, broke free on the right and got a clear look at the Mustangs' goal.
Hartle's shot high into the net would be answered less than three minutes later, however.
Mountain Crest (13-3-1) tied the game when junior Brynlee Welch won a duel with Timberwolves' keeper Carly Nelson in front of the goal and then tapped in the ball. Welch gave the defending champs continual problems as she also scored the first goal of the game, after eluding a couple of defenders while maintaining possession.
The Mustangs' second score came after a rush, and shot, from Abbey Bishop nearly crossed the goal line. The rebound shot was pushed through by Chantel Crosbie to give Mountain Crest a 2-1 lead with 1:30 left in the first half.
"I think we gave them fits, quite frankly," Mountain Crest coach Dennis Giles said. "Maybe at the end we game unglued a little bit, but they've got all the experience here. It's our first time. We scored first on them, wow, it's unheard of." —
More online
O Skyline 1, Timpview 0 • Sara Weixler gets a header off a corner kick assist from Bella Sorensen in the 64th minute to give the Eagles' a thrilling 1-0 victory and another chance to beat nemesis and defending champion Timpanogos in Friday's 4A championship game.