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Kaysville • East used a convincing 4-0 victory over Skyline to punch its ticket to the Class 4A boys' soccer state championship game Tuesday evening at Davis High.

Leopards sophomore midfielder Ryan Jiba scored two goals and Dylan Rodriguez and Matt Barker added one apiece as East controlled possession and the pace for much of the match.

"We sensed [Skyline was] wearing down at halftime, and we just kept going and had to keep playing our game," East senior captain Scott Christensen said. "We know if we stay wide, we're solid, so that's what we did."

Jiba opened the scoring just over 10 minutes into the game, and the Leopards never looked back.

Rodriguez scored East's second goal when he followed a loose ball into the 18-yard box, waited patiently for a rebound then poked the ball with his right foot past an open net vacated when Eagles goalkeeper Tommy Jensen, who dived to the ground to make the initial save.

"We've been able to possess [the ball] a good amount and then looking to get forward, we played well," Barker said. "[Rodriguez's] goal was huge. We didn't want to go into the half at just 1-0 because that's dangerous. But I think we fought hard to get it out of the corner, and that was huge to get that second one."

East's halftime adjustments paid off.

After goalkeeper Trever Elders robbed Skyline forward Nate Wixom of a goal at the 34 minute mark, East settled back into a possession-based offense with Scott Hulbert, Alex Garteh, Yves Govina, Jiba and Barker controlling the ball with quick passes in the offensive end.

Jiba finished a slaloming run with a blast off Jensen's face, then another off the post, which Barker followed for a point-blank goal from just 5 yards out in the 30th minute.

Christensen played a long cross into Jiba from 30 yards out, which Jiba headed through the hands of Axel Reyes for the final tally two minutes later.

"They started putting the balls into the box and coming across our flanks, and we just had a heck of a time clearing the [6-yard] box for the life of us," Skyline coach Shawn Kennedy said. "They got us on two in the first half, and I'm not sure how you would defend that other than to make sure everyone's doing their best to mark up and clear balls."Christensen led a back line that allowed the Eagles few runs into Elders' 18-yard box and fewer shot attempts.

"We feed off" Elders, Christensen said. "It all starts with him, and we communicate from him." —

East 4, Skyline 0

R Ryan Jiba scores two goals and Dylan Rodriguez and Matt Barker each add one in the win.

• East last won a state title in 2006.

• The Leopards post their first shutout of the postseason.