Crimson Cliffs wins 4A boys soccer state championship with overtime victory over Ridgeline

Written by Jeff Richards
May 11, 2022
Crimson Cliffs players celebrate their 1-0 victory over Ridgeline in the 4A boys soccer state championship at Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The Crimson Cliffs Mustangs won the state 4A boys soccer championship Wednesday afternoon with a 1-0 sudden-death victory over Ridgeline.

Crimson Cliffs players and coaches pose for photos after defeating Ridgeline in the 4A boys soccer state championship at Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News

With less than one minute remaining in the first overtime period, senior Ryan Woolley took a pass from teammate Camden Squires and sent it into the upper corner of the net for the game-winner.

That lone goal came after the teams had battled for 80 scoreless minutes in regulation, plus more than nine extra minutes of overtime play. 

“We had more control of the game by overtime,” Crimson Cliffs head coach Isaac Klingonsmith told St. George News. “Our midfield was playing better than Ridgeline’s by that point. They were able to get the ball up to Camden, who disguised his pass to Ryan as a shot. Ridgeline’s backline was in disarray. The pass was the perfect ball to Ryan Woolley, who took a prep touch and put it in the far post upper 90 for the win.”

Both teams had several quality shots and scoring opportunities during both halves. Possibly the closest either team came to scoring was about three minutes before halftime, when Ridgeline’s Daxon Flygare nearly headed the ball into the net from a corner kick, but the ball sailed just wide.

“It missed wide by one foot,” said Klingonsmith, adding that many spectators in the crowd thought the ball actually had  gone into the net past Crimson goalkeeper Dade MacDonald.

“It looked in if you were on the fan side of the stadium,” he said. “It was a great attempt by Ridgeline. Dade was in a great position to make the save, but luckily the header went wide.”

Crimson Cliffs goalkeeper Dade MacDonald stops a shot vs. Ridgeline, 4A boys soccer state championship at Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Anna Stringham, St. George News

MacDonald, a senior, capped off his high school career with his second shutout in as many days, having held Desert Hills scoreless for 100 minutes in a hard-fought semifinal just 24 hours earlier. Reserve goalkeeper Treyden Stringham, a junior, had a share of the shutout in Wednesday’s final, as he came in the game for a few minutes during the first half when MacDonald went to the sidelines to be evaluated after a collision with another player.

“Dade was urged to be more aggressive on coming out of goal,” Klingonsmith said. “There were some shaky moments, but the back line held really well.”

Dade finished with a total of six saves. Ridgeline took 12 shots on goal, with eight of them on target, and also took 13 corner kicks. In comparison, Crimson Cliffs took seven shots on goal, three of which were on target, including the game-winner. The Mustangs took just three corner kicks during the match.

Klingonsmith said he had his players conserve their energy during the first 40 minutes against Ridgeline.

“For the first half, I had the boys not push more than 15 yards past our half when we did not have the ball,” he said. “I knew if we chased, we would be out of gas for the second half. When we won the ball or had the ball, we played our normal attacking style.

“With the game being 0-0 at halftime, I felt confident that we could play our normal game, so I pushed the team higher and let them play. The second half, we played as we normally do.”

Klingonsmeth lauded both state finalists and the quality of the championship match.

“Both teams left it all on the field,” he added. “Ridgeline played hard and they were a very tough opponent. It was a thrilling victory for us.”

The match was staged on the immaculately maintained natural-grass pitch of Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, home of professional soccer team Real Salt Lake.

Ridgeline, the defending state champions and the No. 3 seed in the tournament, had defeated Dixie 4-1 in Tuesday’s other semifinal. The RiverHawks finished their season with an overall record of 14-4.

Meanwhile, the Mustangs, who capped off their 16-2 season with a state championship trophy, are scheduled to be honored with a celebratory parade, including an escort by police vehicles and fire engines, when they arrive back in town Wednesday evening.

Klingonsmith said the team’s bus should be arriving at the St. George Costco shortly after 7 p.m., with the victory procession of vehicles scheduled to make its way along a 5-mile route from Costco to Crimson Cliffs High School.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Richards, a native of Salt Lake City with family roots in Panguitch, lived in Moab for 20 years before joining St. George News in 2017. Jeff is a longtime journalist and secondary school teacher. He and his wife Penny are the parents of five daughters. They also have three young grandsons. Jeff and his family enjoy swimming, camping, sightseeing, reading, and taking pictures.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @stgnews@moabjeff@stgnewssports

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