This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • After losing 1-0 to Timpanogos in the 2013 4A girls' soccer title game, and again last year in a memorable final decided by penalty kicks, Skyline was ready to make a statement.
The Eagles did just that Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium as their three star seniors —Emma Heyn, Bella Sorensen and Holly Daugirda — scored in the first half of a 3-1 victory to give Skyline its first girls' soccer crown since 2001.
"This was our fourth try against a good Timpanogos team," said Skyline coach Yamil Castillo, also referencing the Wolves' 1-0 win over the Eagles in 2011. "We finally did it. I know the girls wanted this from the beginning of the season. You are not champions until you beat them."
Heyn received a great assist from Sorensen just four minutes into the contest, Sorensen blasted a free kick from the left side at the 12 minute mark, and Daugirda blasted in a header with 7:30 left in the first half to account for a 3-0 halftime lead.
That first goal seemed to be an important confidence-builder.
"It was the most important thing for us to get that early goal," Heyn said about her 26th score of the season. "It boosted our confidence and lowered theirs."
Castillo agreed, saying that the Timberwolves know how to win and that the only way to beat them was to hit them hard early.
"It was very important," Sorensen said about scoring early. "In their semifinal game, they came on hard in the last 10 minutes of the game. We knew that we had to put them in early, or it was going to be really hard."
Timpanogos, playing like champions, tried hard to make a game of it in the second half after being dominated in the first, but acknowledged that such a big early deficit made it difficult.
"That did put us on our heels," said Timberwolves coach Megan Feredy about Skyline's early goal. "They were set pieces. They killed us. We tried to battle back. We talked about [at halftime] that it might be a big deficit in soccer, but anything can happen. That is one of the things we love the most about soccer."
The Timberwolves' only goal came on a penalty kick by Imelda Williams in the 42nd minute. Timpanogos was the more aggressive of the two teams in the second half, but the early deficit was just too much.
The Eagles, who lost only one game all season, were never seriously threatened by their nemesis.
"Revenge is so sweet," said Daugirda.
Trying to savor the moment, Sorensen talked about how much fun the season had been.
"This team has been amazing," she said. "There is so much trust and unity. It has been so fun to play with them."
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
4A girls' soccer championship
R Skyline wins its first state girls' soccer title since 2001 after losing in the last two state title games to Timpanogos.
• Skyline seniors Emma Heyn, Bella Sorensen and Holly Daugirda score first-half goals for the Eagles.
• Imedla Williams scores the Timberwolves only goal on a penalty kick early in the second half.