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Lone Peak's Kate Fuller celebrates with teammate Sami Schiffman following her second goal during the Knight's 4-0 win over Mountain Ridge

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Lone Peak's Nya Piercy sends in a free kick that resulted in Kate Fuller's second goal during semifinal action on Tuesday

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Lone Peak's Sadie Stratton assisted on one of her team's four goals scored in 6A state semifinal action

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Lone Peak's Hannah Heimuli battles for possession during her team's 4-0 win over Mountain Ridge on Tuesday

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Lone Peak's Kate Fuller celebrates her second goal scored with teammates

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Lone Peak's Macie Leavitt congratulates teammates Ivy Harding on her goal scored during 6A state semifinal action

Brandon Gurney, Provo Daily Herald

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Lone Peak Coach Shantel Jolley often describes her team as being relatively young this season, but it’s typically her seniors that set the tone during yet another march to the 6A state championship match.

The Knights punched their ticket to a third straight trip to America First Field, which hosts the 6A state championship, by virtue of taking a 4-0 win over Mountain Ridge on Tuesday at Zions Bank Stadium. As mentioned, it was the seniors for the Knights front and center in Tuesday’s win, with BYU commit Kate Fuller again leading the team off with a goal scored in the game’s 28th minute before topping off the scoring with just under 14 minutes remaining.

In between Fuller’s efforts was a goal scored by fellow senior, and Arkansas commit, Ivy Harding, stellar goalkeeping from senior Eliza Collings and great control of the midfield from Hannah Heimuli. The senior contributions also came from defenders Bailee Zentner and Olivia Snow to in playing big roles in keeping the Sentinels scoreless while setting up plenty of opportunity for the Knight’s attackers.

“They’re obviously our leaders,” Jolley said. “We knew that this senior class coming back that they were going to need to lead us, and lead these younger players, and they’ve done a great job stepping up and doing it.”

Although Lone Peak put forth a lot of pressure throughout the first half, it only had one goal to show for it. That changed substantially in the second half, however, with the Knights scoring goals in the 48th, 65th and 67th minute to put a definitive stamp on the final outcome.

It was Harding leading off the second half scoring off of a great assist from junior forward Sadie Stratton to put the Knights up 2-0. Sophomore Sami Schiffman scored the third goal before Fuller’s second goal of the match, which came off of a beautiful entry pass off of a free kick from sophomore Nya Piercy.

“I think we just got more composed in front of goal,” Jolley said of her team’s second half barrage. “We created some good chances (in the first half) that we didn’t finish. I think the nerves got to us, a little bit, we were definitely a bit younger this year than in the past. So we got those first half jitters out of the way and kind of settled down in the second half and played more of our game.”

According to Harding, Mountain Ridge changed up its defensive alignment in the second half, which she and her teammates took full advantage of.

“They changed their formation to a three-back, so there were a lot more opportunities to pass and to get around,” Harding said. “So finding that space in their back three was a big moment for us and we found great movement with our attacking.”

Helping provide the scoring opportunities was a backline defense led by Collings, who is in her fourth year tending goal for the Knights.

“Honestly they’re a wall back there,” Harding said. “We have Ada (Villarreal) and Nya (Piercy) who are both awesome, and then (Zentner) back there, too, so yeah, we have talent all around. I feel Lone Peak is so good at using all of our talent and playing as one. So yeah, we’re blessed.”

Indeed Lone Peak has made the most of its talent, evidenced by the opportunity now to secure three straight state championships, an opportunity not lost on Jolly nor her players.

“It’s just a culture we’ve been trying to build,” Jolley said of her team’s extraordinary success. “If the girls don’t buy into what we’re trying to do, then it’s not going to happen. So the fact that they trust us, as coaches, and they’ve continued to buy in and continue to work (is key)…We’ve got to get a lucky, too, so we’ll take that, as well.”