This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
USA Today in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America named Utah's two-time Class 5A soccer champion Davis as the top girls' team in the country.
The Darts finished 20-0 behind stars such as 2014 Tribune MVP Ireland Dunn, sophomore U17 national team member Olivia Wade, midfielder Mikayla Colohan and defender Haylee Cacciacarne. Davis coach Soulyvanh Phongsavath was notified of the selection Tuesday.
"There was a New Jersey team [Northern Highlands] ranked number one most of the year and we were behind them," he said. "The girls and I kept keeping tabs on them. They won a shootout in their semifinals [last] Tuesday and we thought that was our last chance. But in the Saturday final, they lost 1-0. We were hoping we would get moved up, but sometimes the committee jumps up a team."
Davis had been moving up the Super 25 all season, and the Darts' run to their second state championship with nine players who have committed to Division I college teams and another with an offer culminated in the state title.
The last Utah team believed to have won a mythical national championship was the 2012-2013 Lone Peak boys basketball team.
Phongsavath has coached six of the team's seniors and junior Colohan since they were 10 and 11 years old. Of the 40 girls on the Darts' team, he coached 20 when he was involved with the La Roca club soccer program.
"My job this year was more managing rather than coaching," he said. "We didn't have to work on a lot of big things. We worked on game plans and specific things, like weaknesses different opponents had."
The Darts had some scares during the season and in the state tournament, especially when Wade had to miss games to play on the national team.
Phongsavath said the first game of the season against Lone Peak was difficult, because it had been a while since they played together. A Layton game that the coach and Wade both missed was difficult.
Under the lights at rival Viewmont, the Darts missed a penalty kick, gave up a penalty kick and gave up an own-goal before prevailing 3-2.
"That taught us that if we didn't stay focused all the time, we could lose to anyone," said Phongsavath. "We were that close to losing what we had worked so hard for."
The Darts, again playing without Wade, also got a scare in the state tournament when American Fork took them into overtime. Dunn scored the golden goal in that one.
"That was high-pressure," recalled Phongsavath. "We missed several opportunities and that was the first time we had been in overtime all season. Then anything can happen with a golden goal. With one mistake, you could lose."
But the Darts never did and rolled to not only a state championship, but a national title as well.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton